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  • - Seat belts, everyone!

  • - [Narrator] The '90s and 2000s gave us

  • some seriously iconic female characters.

  • How have they shaped our childhoods?

  • What messages did they send us?

  • Let's find out!

  • - That's it, I'm done helping you!

  • From now on you're on your own!

  • (ice crackling) (water splashing)

  • (Sokka gasping) (Katara gasping)

  • (ice crackling)

  • (both yelping) (water roaring)

  • - [Narrator] "Avatar: The Last Airbender"

  • showed us that girls were just as powerful

  • and important as boys.

  • The epic TV show had many strong dynamic female characters,

  • but no one stole our hearts more

  • than the pint-sized powerhouse Toph

  • and the marvelous, multifaceted Katara.

  • (peaceful music)

  • (foot stomping)

  • (water splashing)

  • (both sighing) (steam hissing)

  • - In five,

  • four,

  • three, (audience laughing)

  • two!

  • - I'm Carly!

  • - I'm on parole!

  • - [Both] And this is "iCarly!"

  • - [Narrator] One of the funniest live-action shows

  • on Nickelodeon's 2000s lineup was "iCarly,"

  • which featured the dynamic duo

  • of Carly Shay and Sam Puckett.

  • The two used wit and brains to get laughs, outsmart bullies,

  • and make anything they touch on the web wildly popular.

  • - Look, see the view count?

  • Only 27 people have clicked on it.

  • - Oh (sighing).

  • Okay, good.

  • Sam?

  • - Yeah?

  • - That's 27,000!

  • (audience laughing) (energetic rock music)

  • Cruisin' on down Main Street

  • You're relaxed and feelin' good

  • Yeah

  • - [Narrator] Ms. Frizzle was the redheaded

  • wonder teacher we all deserved.

  • From inside the human body to outer space,

  • The Friz and Liz took us on Magic School Bus field trips

  • that taught us about the universe and our place in it.

  • - As I always say, class, you're out of this world!

  • (all laughing) (playful music)

  • - [Narrator] Not all female icons

  • are shining examples of good behavior.

  • Some of them taught us through their actions what not to do.

  • Angelica Pickles, for example,

  • was the original bad girl of "Rugrats."

  • - Listen up, babies!

  • I'm supposed to ride in my own parade on a float

  • with lots of pink tarnations and ponies

  • and you better not mess it up for me!

  • - [Narrator] Throughout the series of TV shows and movies,

  • Angelica was famous as the brat

  • that kept the babies on their toes.

  • - Binky?

  • I don't get to squeeze no ones head or pull no one's hair?

  • - [Narrator] But she would always stand up for them

  • when it counted.

  • - Listen, lady, nobody messes with my dumb babies 'cept me!

  • (Coco grunting)

  • - [Narrator] On the live-action side of things,

  • we had role models like Moesha Mitchell.

  • Played by Brandy, Moesha went through challenges

  • and triumphs similar to real-life girls her age,

  • and always did it with style, courage, and heart.

  • - [Moesha] I never thought about Aaron

  • having other partners.

  • I never even thought about him having sex.

  • And as much as I thought I wanted to be with him,

  • the truth is I just wasn't ready.

  • And you know what?

  • There's no rush.

  • - Quick, put some on me!

  • (audience laughing)

  • - Speaking of '90s style, Tia and Tamera Mowry

  • were always on point in their show, "Sister, Sister."

  • - [Both] Hi!

  • - Cover us, Dad, we're goin' in!

  • - Come on! - Come on, guys!

  • - [Narrator] They and their blended family

  • showed us that the power of sisterhood was vital

  • and that you can accomplish so much

  • with teamwork and a sense of humor.

  • Hey, Mom

  • We're home, we're home

  • We're H-O-M-E home

  • Our room, our room

  • We're goin' to our room

  • The stairs, the stairs

  • We're gonna take the stairs

  • - [Narrator] If you were an angsty indie kid in the 2010s,

  • you could probably relate to Sam.

  • Sam marched to the beat of her own drum,

  • but showed off her vulnerable side too.

  • - But now I feel like

  • I have a chance, like I,

  • I could even get into a real college!

  • - Well, it's true, you can do it.

  • - Guys, 1210.

  • - [Narrator] Her character showed us

  • that people with traumatic pasts also deserve

  • lives filled with joy, friendship, and respect.

  • - Turn it up!

  • Forever and ever

  • - Got it, Your Highness.

  • (upbeat rock music)

  • Oh, we can be heroes

  • - [Narrator] What female icons shaped your life?

  • Just for one day

  • Let us know your faves in the comments below.

- Seat belts, everyone!

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