Mean Girls was one of those films that just instantly became a cult phenomenon, and is still just as relevant 13 years after its 2004 release. Quotes like "You can't sit with us," and "On Wednesdays we wear pink," are still commonly popping up all over social media, bumper stickers, etc...Not to mention it pretty much launched the careers of Lindsey Lohan and Rachel McAdams (though while McAdams career continues to flourish, Lohan's crashed and burned, but I digress...). One reason for its cult status is that Tina Fey's adaptation of the antagonist Regina George, coupled with McAdam's performance, is sheer perfection. You may have fervently hated Regina, but deep inside, you worshipped her. She taught us some valuable life lessons that still hold true today, and will continue to do so 13 years from now as well. Here are 15 life lessons Regina George taught us.
15 Confidence is Everything
Regina George was the epitome of confidence. She knew she was the s*%t, therefore everyone else easily accepted this fact. She walked around like she was the queen bee, and people just fell in line. Moreover, they copied her because her confidence brainwashed them into believing that looking and acting like her was the way one should. When she found her tank top in her locker missing two holes in the booby area, she shrugged, and rocked that look. The next day, everyone came in with holes in their shirts. If she would've been embarrassed and tried to cover up, she would've been the laughing stock. Confidence is that powerful. There is a reason you will find it on the majority of people's lists of what they find most attractive in a person. That's because confidence is sexy. And it is an important quality in so many different aspects of our lives. When an employer is interviewing a potential employee, they want someone who is confident in their knowledge, skills and ability to perform. How can you expect someone else to have confidence in you if you are lacking it in yourself? But beware; there is a fine line between confidence and cockiness. Regina may have crossed it too many times, which is why her status eventually came crashing down.
14 Being Popular Doesn't Necessarily Mean People Like You
Regina and her plastic clones were no doubt the most popular girls in the school. What is crazy about this is that most of the people in the school didn't actually like them. Heck, they barely liked each other. Yet, they were still considered high school royalty and everyone wanted to be around them and feed off of their popular energy.
You would think that popularity and having people actually like you would go hand in hand, but it's not the case. The reason for this is because popularity usually isn't judged on a person's personality, but rather more shallow characteristics, such as looks, money, fame, talents, who people know, etc... So it is possible to be surrounded by people who are fighting each other to get closer to you, but actually don't give two craps about you, or even really know you at all. While being popular definitely has its perks, the fact is that eventually someone else prettier, richer, younger, whatever, will come along and steal your popularity crown. And the question is, who will really be left standing by your side then?
13 Revenge Often Backfires
Regina may have been the queen of revenge, but eventually it all blew up in her face. When she found out that Cady had connived her into consuming massive amounts of carb packed bars that made her gain weight instead of lose weight, she lost it. And understandably so. So she manipulated the whole school into thinking Cady wrote the Burn book and turns everyone against her. But ultimately this led to her being completely embarrassed in front of the whole school and then getting hit by a bus. So despite the twistedly brilliant plan, she still lost big time.
Revenge may feel good at the time it is being dished out (ok, so it can feel really, really good sometimes), but ultimately what good is it doing for you? Yes, you get to witness another who may have hurt you suffer, but that's not really going to make up for your suffering, or change your situation. In fact, it may just backfire and hurt you more. Not to mention it puts you on the exact same level as the person you are targeting.
12 Friendships Come and Go
This one is kind of depressing, but it's a sad truth. Regina and Janice Ian were best friends when they were younger. And then a boy destroyed that (more on that later). Ok, so that's not exactly fair or true: the girls destroyed it themselves. And then high school comes around, and they are pretty much enemies. (Well, Janice considers Regina her nemesis, but Regina could really care less). Then Regina was BFF's with the plastics throughout high school; they were completely inseparable. By the end of the film, they all go their separate ways and find new friendships. My guess is that in college they didn't even keep in touch. This is often the way things go in life. One year you are sleeping over your friend's house every weekend, staying up all night talking on the phone, sharing clothes and makeup, creating joint diaries, the next year, you never remember to even call each other back. It happens. People change as the get older, and you may suddenly find that the person you had everything in common with feels like a stranger. Don't get down about it; just be happy you created as many amazing memories with that person as you did. Unless the burned you like Regina did to Janice. Then just try to forget about them and move on.
11 Cheating Never Ends Well
Seriously, it never does. You will eventually get caught, and someone will get hurt. Even someone as conniving and manipulative as Regina got caught. Well, she got ratted out, but that happens often too. Aaron was a great catch: handsome, caring, sweet, loyal (Ok, he kissed Cady for like a second, but immediately pushed her away.) Yet Regina just had to go and cheat with Shane the lug head. You can't have your cake and eat it too. (Which honestly is a dumb expression...what the hell do you want cake for if you can't eat it?) Before you cheat, just think how you would feel if you found out your significant other was canoodling up to another boy/girl. If you've never been cheated on, let me tell you, it feels awful. Do you really want to hurt someone you care about that much? That guilt will linger and haunt you for a long time. And let's say you are smarter than Regina, and never get caught. Holding onto a lie can start to feel like a hundred pound weight on your shoulders. If you want to be with someone else, let your boyfriend/girlfriend go. If the other person isn't worth leaving them for, then clearly you shouldn’t risk it.
10 Don't Let Boys get in the Way of Friendships
Seriously, this is the number one rule, and it applies to both guys and girls. Cady was really starting to like and respect Regina, but Regina just couldn't handle her ex having feelings for anyone else but her. (And while we are on that topic, if you broke up with someone, stop wanting and trying to make them stay stuck on you. You wanted to move on, so let them!) Making out with Aaron in front of Cady is what set forth the whole devious plan to bring Regina down. If Regina hadn't been so selfish, she may have never ended up in that back brace.
Though, I would like to note, Cady going after Regina's ex was not so great either. As Gretchen said, "Ex-boyfriends are just off limits to friends. I mean that's just like the rules of feminism." But in Cady's defense, she met Aaron first, and hardly knew Regina, so she really shouldn't have had to abide. But when it comes to real friends, like ones you actually like, don't let a dude or chick destroy your bond.
9 Gossiping Doesn't Make You Cool
Regina loved to gossip; she created a Burn Book just for that purpose. And in a sense, talking trash about others is part of what gave her power. But it's also what made her so hated, destroyed her friendships, and ultimately what brought down her reign. No one learned the harsh realities of too much gossiping more than Cady, who only started doing so as she transformed more and more into Regina. Moreover, the whole school exploded into chaos and destruction when Regina's gossip in the Burn Book was made public.
Yea, sure, gossiping can be fun at times. And it often enables people to bond; two people share in a mutual dislike of another person and connect through bashing them. Kind of horrible, but it’s reality. The "celebrity" as we know it wouldn't even exist is gossiping wasn't so popular. But words can cause serious damage. Rumors spread and destroy lives (like the one about Ms. Norbury selling drugs). And believe you me, if a person is willing to talk trash about others to you, they likely are talking trash about you to others. So next time you find yourself in a gossip session with your friends, really take the time to think about what kind of effect your words would have if the person they are about heard them.
8 You Can't Always Trust Those Closest to You
Another depressing fact. Regina learned this the hard way. (And so did just about everyone else in the film.) She brought Cady into her inner circle, thinking she was creating just another clone to worship her, when in fact, Cady was plotting against her the entire time, and Regina never saw it coming. Cody destroyed Regina's relationship with Aaron, and turned her friends against her. Regina was so trusting, she didn't even question what crap Cady was convincing her to eat, even when she kept continuously gaining weight. Maybe Regina's confidence made her believe no one would dare be dishonest to her, but boy, was she wrong. Even her two closest clones, I mean, friends, couldn't be trusted. They told her secrets to others and turned their backs on her when she was at her lowest. The moral is: trust is a gift; be mindful whom you give it to. I am not saying that you shouldn't trust anyone, because that results in a pretty lonely life. Just don't be naive. And most importantly, never betray a friend's trust if you don't want them to do it to you.
7 Exclusivity is Alluring
Part of Regina's appeal was the exclusivity of her inner circle. Just like an exclusive nightclub; if you are allowed in, you suddenly feel important and special. Outsiders could only look on in awe and wonder what it would be like to be part of the plastics. In reality, it was pretty awful, but no one else knew that. They even created rules among themselves to make it feel exclusive; ponytails once a week, pink on Wednesdays, jeans and sweatpants only on Fridays, no tank tops two days in a row. Any violation of the rules, and you couldn't sit with them.
So why is exclusivity so appealing? I guess it's because if you are "chosen" to be a part of whatever is so exclusive, you feel as if you stand out from the masses. You are given a sense of status and achievement. It can be a very successful tactic to gain popularity for yourself, your business, your social group, etc. However, it also causes people to feel as if they're either better than those who were denied, or not worthy enough to be included. And sometimes you learn that once you are in, it isn't all its cracked up to be.
6 Raise Your Friends Up Instead of Trying to Push them Down
At some point in our lives we've all had the "friend" who got off on making us feel like crap about ourselves. Regina George was that friend. She kept her minions in check by never allowing them to have the confidence she had. She'd bash them to their faces, in front of people and behind their backs. Therefor, they all carried a deep resentment towards her, and eventually rebelled.
friend should try to lift you up and make you feel good about yourself, not the other way around. Anyone who acts that way isn't a friend; they're a bully. They slowly chip away at your self-esteem and establish a sense of control over you. We've heard this scenario in romantic relationships, but it often happens in friendships too. Many people use this tactic to establish a leadership position and surround themselves with followers, like Regina and the Plastics. Don't waste your time with anyone who doesn't add to your life. Friendship shouldn't be a competition.
