TV big sisters we wish were related to us IRL
The Spice Girls may have marketed the phrase “girl power,” but it’s big sisters all over the world that made it a lifestyle for their younger siblings. Sisters are one of the most magical relationships in the world. Fiercely protective and strong, big sisters pave the way for their mini-mes to discover the world, proudly showing them the way and occasionally laughing when you fall. But despite the fact that they may be the ones to trip you up now and again, they’re also the first ones to help you back up, brush off the dirt, and say, “HEY! Are you wearing my jeans?”
Sorry big sis. We just want to be like you! And we kind of want to be the little sisters to seven of our favorite TV big sisters:
DJ Tanner, Full House
Brainy, beautiful, and always fashionable (um, no one can rock some bright colored socks and a side pony like DJ Tanner), DJ is the big sister that’s always going to be on your side, no matter how much you irritate her. Remember the episode where Stephanie doesn’t want to go to the mother-daughter sleepover and DJ skips her fun night to take her? All the feels. She’s the sister who will wring your neck for ruining her favorite sweater, but help you out when you steal one to replace it.
Mallory Keaton, Family Ties
Lovable, under-achieving Mallory Keaton is the big sister that your friends are totally obsessed with. The girls want to go shopping with her and the guys want to take her to a movie. Despite her almost flunking out of high school, she bounced back with as much volume as her fabulous hair and became a fashion design major. With her cool boyfriend, her great style, and her love for her family, what else do you need? Oh, except maybe my favorite quote from Mal, “The meaning of life? That’s simple. Try to be happy, try not to hurt other people, and hope to fall in love.” Ugh. Mallory, you’re the best. Can I borrow your earrings?
Buffy Summers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Not only is she busy protecting all of us from the undead and going to high school, she’s also a pretty awesome big sister. Because her sibling was given to her as the human form of the key, which was the power to unlock the gates between worlds, Buffy had a hard time not seeing her new little sister as a huge burden. But when it comes down to it, Buffy insists that the two of them are real sisters, no matter how their relationship came to be (which is a good thing, ’cause there’s some crazy stuff happening there). Everyone talks about how protective a big brother is, but is he the vampire slayer? If you need a dose of girl power, Buffy Summers is the best one for the job.
Daria Morgendorffer, Daria
With her dark, cynical self, Daria is the quintessential outsider and totally different from her entire family. What makes her a great sister, however, is how confident she is in herself. She is the outsider that other outsiders connect with, making them feel less alone, but to those who don’t understand her, she is an inspiration to live your life the way you want, and not how society tells you. Besides, no one can come up with quips and comebacks like Daria.
Hilary Banks, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
If you ever wanted an older sister that you would feel both affection and irritation towards, you probably want Hilary Banks. A fashion forward woman, Hilary is usually focused on her hair, what others think of her, and money. But the catch is, she doesn’t try to hide these obsessions. She’s proud of who she is, regardless of any stereotypes others place on her, and feels deep empathy and love for those around her. Who could forget the episode where a woman gave birth on her television show and the way Hilary’s eyes lit up while holding the newborn? She is good as gold, and that makes for a pretty excellent big sister. (Plus, she would totally take you shopping whenever you wanted.)
Clarissa Darling, Clarissa Explains it All
The girl had a pet alligator named Elvis— what other reason do you need to want Clarissa Darling as your big sister? Luckily, there’s plenty of reasons to wish you were this fab girl’s little sis. She is totally cool, down-to-earth, and proud of her unique personality. Sure, she wants to pummel her little brother most of the time, but we can chalk that up to siblings being siblings. If you wanted fashion advice, she’d give you plenty, but it’s the computer programming interests and love of rock music you’ll want to talk to her about. A role model for girls everywhere, Clarissa knows she can do and be anything she wants, and she’s not afraid to go for it.
Denise Huxtable, The Cosby Show
A free spirit, Denise isn’t like the rest of the Huxtable clan. She’s intent on discovering the world for herself and not interested in following what others tell her. She may not always have everything together, but her attitude that she can’t handle anything is inspiring. She’s the big sister who will make you a knock-off designer shirt (and I mean, super knock-off) and tell you that if someone doesn’t like how you’re living your life, then they don’t belong in it. If you ever want to feel totally special and cool, having Denise Huxtable around to remind you of that is exactly what you need.
[Image via ABC]
