Mindy Kaling is basically the greatest person ever.
Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but she has taught me a lot about how to be a better me. There’s an American Express commercial where she talks about how everyone always told her she would make a great ‘best friend’ but wouldn’t make it any further than that in television. Well, look at her now. The Office, The Mindy Project, Inside Out. It’s almost as if, everywhere you turn, there she is.
Besides being absolutely hilarious, she is a great role model for women everywhere. Let me tell you why.
- Confidence. She owns every ounce of who she is. She doesn’t feel the need to conform to Hollywood’s standards because she’s done pretty well exactly the way she is. This is a rare occurrence in show business these days.
- Resilience. I can’t even begin to guess how many people told her ‘no’ on her climb to the top. Did she give up? Nope. She brushed herself off and kept on trying (and boy, am I glad she did).
- Fearlessness. She’s not afraid to speak her mind. She’s honest, she’s funny, and, even better, she’s able to laugh at herself.
After years of celebrities going to rehab, getting arrested, and just generally spiraling, it’s incredibly refreshing to have someone like Mindy on TV (or Hulu now, I guess). I haven’t been one to model my life after someone famous for many years now, but between Mindy and Lena Dunham, I may just start. There’s a lot to learn from strong, confident women who are following their dreams and Mindy is just one of them.
Good job, Mindy, and thank you.
Facing Fearless 