Powerful, assertive female archetypes have flooded movies and television programming to combat the idea that boys were ever stronger than girls. This characterization of the double X genotype takes from both the post-feminism era and girl power movement to find its foundation. More recently, the “head bitch in charge” (HBIC) mentality was made popular in the entertainment public discourse by the infamous New York, whose claim to fame includes two losses on “Flavor of Love” and her own “I Love New York” spin off series. However, HBICs have always been present in the entertainment sphere, even in kids shows. Here are a handful of head bitches in charge you may remember from your grade school and sleepover days:
Storm from X-Men
Although the platinum-blonde mutant may be one of the most maternal X-Men of the group, any villains should avoid mistakenly challenging this HBIC. With the abilities to fly and control the weather, Storm can take down almost any force that comes her way. Orphaned at an early age, she was able to end a drought in her surrogate home of Serengeti as her first large display of power. Later on in her X-Men career, she was appointed as X-Men deputy leader, defeats Callisto (the leader of the Morlocks), and frees the rest of the X-Men when they are captured by Magneto. All beware: Piss off this bitch and there will definitely be a storm a brewing.
Angelica Pickles from Rugrats
Pigtails- and purple bows-clad Angelica Pickles runs the other Rugrats like any full-sized HBIC would. The flared purple dress might be enough to trick the parents of the show, but Tommy and crew know not to mess with the pint-sized diva. But as much as Angelica puts on the front of being stone hard cold, at the end of the day she does care for the babies, often exclaiming, “Nobody picks on my dumb babies ‘cept me!” She can usually be found holding Cynthia, her doll she plays makeover with constantly and who happens to be a really cool dancer.
Gaia from Captain Planet
Spirit of the Earth, Gaia summons the Planeteers from different corners of the globe to stop the destruction and pollution of her home planet. She lives in a fortress made out of large crystals on an island in the middle of the ocean, its location hidden from those who wish to harm the environment. Gaia is able to appear in any time or place she wishes and can telepathically communicate with anyone, making her virtually omnipresent. Although she rarely fights off pollution herself, she spearheads the group of valiant teenagers who together can summon a blue man with a bad green mullet to protect her home.
Helga Pataki from Hey Arnold!
She might just be in fourth grade, but this football-loving, makeup-hating HBIC has a hard surface nobody wants to get up close and personal with. Helga runs the blacktop like a dictator and often bosses around her best friend Phoebe. The tomboy also has a more sensitive side, which, mixed with her ability to get shit done, is a deadly duo. Upon finding out her sister’s boyfriend was a cheater, she manipulates him into leaving. She also helps find Mr. Hyunh’s daughter when she goes missing. Furthermore, her hard exterior keeps her constantly teasing Arnold, even though she's secretly in love with him. Maybe if Hegla just showed a bit more of her soft side they'd be the sweethearts of P.S. 118.
The Ashleys from Recess
Nothing says HBIC more than having a fully interior-decorated clubhouse, which appears as a pile of rubber tires on the grounds of an elementary school. These four girls wreaked havoc during recess time, including jinxing Gus, leaving him incapable of speaking for almost a whole episode, and creating a playground rating system that threatened to leave the recess social ecosystem in catastrophic shambles. At all costs, keep any gossip away from his malicious clique, or else the catchphrase “scandalous” will surely be overheard.
Sailor Mars from Sailor Moon
Fiery is an understatement for this Sailor Scout. Rayne is a triple threat to evil, with her power to control fire, psychic abilities that she picked up as a Shinto priestess and ambitious personality. Defeating malicious fiends in red high heels, her signature attacks include shooting a fireball from her index fingers and harnessing a blazing crossbow. In a true act of friendship and sailor camaraderie, Sailor Mars sacrifices herself to defeat the last two DD Girls standing in the way between Sailor Mars and Queen Beryl. Sailor Mars might not be the leader of the Sailor Scouts, but her heroic qualities make her a true HBIC.
D.W. from Arthur
The mischievous little sister of the PBS series, D.W. is always trying to get her older brother in trouble. For a four-year-old, she is quite the character, having a new obsession to go crazy over every couple of episodes and watching wacky children’s television shows (her favorite being Mary Moo Cow). One of the most epic moments in Arthur history is when D.W. breaks her older brother’s model airplane, resulting with a punch that is mocked widely on YouTube. The youngin might have a bit of growing up to do before she’s a full-fledged HBIC, but she’s off to a strong start. Even her full name screams head bitch in charge: Dora Winifred Read.
Sandy Cheeks from Spongebob Squarepants
Not only is Sandy an HBIC, but also the HMUW (head mammal underwater). Much more intelligent than Spongebob and Patrick, this native Texan is the one usually solving the group’s problems, or causing them with her high-tech inventions. One of her favorite extreme sports is karate, which is actually how her friendship with Spongebob formed. Sandy is also one of the strongest and buffest residents of Bikini Bottom, often seen at Mussel Beach pumping some iron. Be warned, do not wake up this HBIC when she’s sleeping, or else she might just rip you to shreds.
Buttercup from Power Puff Girls
Sugar and spice and everything nice with an extra kick of wasabi is the best way to describe this HBIC. The most sarcastic of the group, Buttercup can be a total bitch if anyone ever crosses her. This light green heroine is quite protective of her sisters Blossom and Bubbles, and especially of her green blanket named “blankie.” She’s so badass and economical that she even began knocking out criminals’ teeth just to get money from the Tooth Fairy. With this Powerpuff Girl around, the citizens of Townsville should feel all kinds of safe.
Mai Valentine from Yu-Gi-Oh
One of the most skilled duelists in the television series, Mai Valentine is a vixen with a dangerous deck. Her signature card is “Harpie Lady,” a feminine winged beast based off of the mythological creature. The former blackjack dealer tricks her opponents into thinking she is psychic as a tactic to intimidate her opponents, but in reality her cards are scented and she’s using her smelling sense instead of a sixth sense. In the first season of Yu-Gi-Oh, she makes it all the way to the finals of Duelist Kingdom, but surrenders to save her Harpies from destruction. Her loss is even more valiant, as she gives Joey her entry card to give him access to the finals of the tournament. Mai may have not have won the tournament, but her gallant actions and fierce attitude preserve her HBIC status.
Honorable mentions: Rita from Power Rangers and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty
Notable mentions go to Rita Repulsa from Mighty Morphing Power Rangers and Maleficent from Sleepy Beauty, two HBICs that could never get around to winning (probably because they’re evil and evil never prevails).
Rita’s screeching laughter and coned-bra keep her unforgettable. The hell-bent witch also possesses a staff that at the end of each episode would be used to enlarge her monsters to megazord size. Maybe if she wasn’t too busy always bickering with her husband Lord Zedd she could get around to beating those pesky power rangers.
In the Disney movie Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent (who self-proclaimed herself as Mistress of All Evil) curses Princess Aurora at infancy due to just being denied an invite to the celebration of the baby’s birth. If picking on a baby isn’t HBIC enough, she also conjured up a labyrinth of thorny bush and can turn into a fucking dragon.