The Influence of the ‘Female Trio’ in Pop Culture

BY: TYLER M.

Charlie’s Angels. Powerpuff Girls. Destiny’s Child (in their later years). What do all these groups have in common? They are all prominent and impactful female trios that have paved the way for future generations as well as left their unique marks on pop culture. With the up and coming release of the newest reboot of the classic kick-butt trio of powerful women on the horizon, I felt inspired to take a look back on one of the greatest tropes to ever direct the stream of pop culture from the original 1970s Charlie’s Angels all the way to mainstream cartoons like Powerpuff Girls to some of the biggest names in the music industry like TLC.

The Start of it All: When thinking back to where this instantly recognizable trope began, We first must acknowledge the start of something some would argue is even more influential. The ‘Powerful Woman’. Looking back to the first mediums for entertainment that were created, women played a very specific role. The prize. In many old folktales, fairy tales, Shakesperian plays, and even some modern-day stories, it has been the standard that the (typically) male lead is to complete a quest and as a reward for this, he is to win the love of his betrothed. Whether this is the princess, queen, or just female love interest, that is how it remained for a very long time. So when did women start to break the mold and how did these newer, more forward-thinking molds form? It starts with the slightest of differences. Something like the woman actually assists the hero in his quest. Then maybe she has a quest of her own. Then she could even be the lead and take charge, or even do the opposite and go against the norm and be the villain. This was only the beginning in a long line of slow, yet impactful steps to achieving equal gender representation in pop culture media.

Breaking the Mold: With the steady rising influence of the powerful women and their representation becoming more and more influential with each passing decade, the concept was so daring and controversial at the time that it became a media sensation during the ’70s and ’80s. From this sprung a joint creation of Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts. This creation would become a five year and 110 episode sensation that would launch the age-old and fan-favorite trope of the ‘kick-butt’ all-female trio. That creation was Charlie’s Angels. This show marked a turning point at how the general populous viewed the female hero and continues to inspire all-new generations of female empowerment. It was released on September 22 of 1976 and ran through June 12th, 1984. It quickly gained a cult following and would be the inspiration and reference for many other great creative minds who want to express themselves and break the mold, both male and female alike. For example, the Australian Cartoon Network hit animated show Totally Spies drew heavy inspiration from the awesome dynamic of Charlie’s Angels. Having three female spies who saved the world while dealing with their own personal dramas brought a whole new generation of kids on board to this ever-expanding genre of pop culture. Even Destiny’s Child, the famous female trio of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams created one of their most memorable songs Independent Women for the soundtrack of the 2000s film reboot of the cult T.V. classic. Though impactful, this was only the beginning of what would later be some of the greatest pieces of modern-day pop culture.

An Eternal Legacy: With the rise of this ever-empowering trio of powerful women, the amount of eternally popular versions of this trope has also risen. From some of the best music groups in history like TLC and Destiny’s Child. To forever nostalgic cartoons of the early 2000s like Powerpuff Girls and Totally Spies. To other T.V. shows that followed suit like the sisters of the Charmed series. Even Charlie’s Angles themselves have received two reboots since the original, those being the early 2000s movies featuring Lucy Lui, Cameron Diaz, and Drew Berrymore and the newest one featuring Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska which premiered Friday, November 15th of 2019. These trios of powerful and successful women have come a long way since their first portrayals on the big and little screens. They have forever made an impact on young boys and girls who want to feel the same type of empowerment and have made their mark on creating equal opportunity and equal representation for women in today’s ever-expanding and complex pop-culture. This is what will be their eternal legacy.