Let me start by saying that I love strong female heroes. Laura Croft, Jean Gray, Rogue, Storm, Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batwoman, Doctor Aki Ross (Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within), the 2016 Ghostbusters. These are just a few of the strong female characters I’ve grown up with and love, but the hero that started it all for me was Princess Leia played by the indomitable Carrie Fisher.

Princess Leia was the first strong female hero I saw on the big screen. She was no nonsense, take charge, funny, smart, tough as nails, and drop dead beautiful. She taught me that princesses weren’t helpless twits who needed some big strong knight to save their honor or their life. Princess Leia was a bad ass.

Carrie Fisher wasn’t just an actress to so many of us who grew up watching her and dreaming about adventures in a galaxy far, far away…she was our Princess.

Though Carrie had some tough times throughout her life, and struggled with addiction and mental health issues, she loved her fans and we loved her.