26 Fantastically Feminist Female TV Characters from 2017
25. Colandrea “Coco” Conners (Dear White People)
On the first few episodes of Dear White People, Coco appears as the woman you love to loathe. Superficial, stuck-up, and privileged, she gives off a grotesque vibe.
However, by the end of Dear White People Season 1, Coco throws those judgments and assumptions back in the audiences’ faces.
Even though Samantha White gets more screen time and a “woke” qualifier, Coco is really the star of the series. Antoinette Robinson portrays Coco as a complex woman, whose latent fear seeps out through cracks in her mask.
Once revealed, Coco becomes a character that you root for. She shares her past and the forces that have made her cling to the idea that she can fit in. She grapples to internalize the truth that she is worthy of being kept safe.
Even if her journey is not as outwardly social justice minded as Samantha’s, Coco gives us a powerful and long-lasting message about inclusion, privilege and survival. The impact of Coco Conners will last well beyond 2017.
26. Meredith Grey (Grey’s Anatomy)
To say that Meredith Grey has been through a lot in her life would be an incredible understatement. She’s suffered tremendous trauma and loss, but rather than let those things break her, she’s only become stronger — and become a better surgeon. She should be an inspiration to us all.
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Which of these characters was your favorite this year? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, and be on the lookout for more of our favorites from 2017!
*Additional contributions by Hillary Esquina, Mary Misasi, Lauren Busser, and Ashley Bissette Sumerel.
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Janelle Ureta
Janelle Ureta is equal parts Veronica Mars, Raven Reyes, and Rebecca Bunch, but she aspires to add some Tammy Taylor to the mix. An attorney turned teacher, Janelle believes in the power of a well-told story. She is currently exploring how to tell short stories, 140 characters or less, on twitter. She loves to talk about TV, and right now she can't shut up about Timeless, Dear White People, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The 100, or Younger.