A woman in the 21st century is everything at once: bold, ambitious, intelligent, unapologetic, and, more often than not, fearless. Few fictional icons embody that energy quite like Elle Woods.
After stealing all our hearts with her iconic one-liners in the early 2000s, everyone’s fave powerhouse is back on our screens for Elle, a prequel to Legally Blonde. It follows the queen of law moving to Seattle from LA and navigating a whole new set of people who are decidedly less pink than her (I think I’d rather do law school).
What’s even better than having the Elle Woods back? Her obsession with Cosmopolitan! The references are endless, and while they all hold a special place in our hearts, here are our top five favourite and most fearless, Elle moments. Grab your Bruiser and snuggle up; let’s get this show on the road. *Warning: some spoilers ahead.*
Episode 1 – “Is that a Cosmo?”
Why yes, indeed, it is! Don’t worry Elle, we’re just as obsessed as you are. Alas, a Cosmo quiz can pull any girl out of her feels, even if it’s just for a moment. Yes, Elle, we agree, the quizzes are addictive. Our most recent issue has the most fabulous quizzes perfect for this summer!
Episode 2 – “Cosmo girls get knocked down, but they get up again”
We all face inevitable challenges in our day-to-day. Whether in school, with friends, at home or even at work, what matters is how we respond in the face of adversity. That’s what makes Elle such a warm and compelling character. She isn’t perfect, and she doesn’t breeze through every obstacle. She gets hurt, makes mistakes, and has moments of doubt, just like the rest of us. Yet she never lets those moments become the end of her story. Instead, she finds a way to learn, adapt, and keep moving forward, often with optimism and kindness intact. She’s a Cosmo girl through and through.
Episode 2 – “Cosmo girls are strong and strong people fight“
Strength isn’t about being fearless or never struggling, it’s refusing to give up when life gets tough. Every Cosmo girl – and everyone else if we’re being honest – has faced moments that have rocked their confidence. But true strength comes from standing back up, fighting for what matters and believing in yourself when things may not go to plan. We’re all powerful in our own ways.
Episode 8 – An inside peek of Cosmopolitan HQ
Fashion, shoes, magazines… immediately, yes. Everything about the show’s Cosmopolitan HQ feels like stepping into the pages of the magazine itself. It’s fast-paced, creative, and full of the energy that brings every cover, feature, and fashion story to life. For anyone who’s ever dreamed of working in media, this moment offers a fun behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world where creativity, storytelling and style comes together and honestly, we couldn’t be more obsessed.
Episode 8 – A Cosmo girl is fearless and “fearless is finding something new”
Our last standout Elle Woods X Cosmopolitan moment is when she dares to be fearless, not just with her words but with her actions. It is quite easy in this industry to just go with the status quo. We see this with fashion and repeated styles and every day with trendy videos on socials. While it may work, it is also incredibly safe, and safe will never be groundbreaking. Elle daring to do something to shake things up exemplifies exactly what we strive to be, not only at CosmoME but as individuals. After all trends will fade, but courage, originality, and conviction are what leave a lasting legacy. We’re still talking about Elle 25 years after the first Legally Blonde.
Already renewed for season two, we can’t wait to see more Cosmo references!
Want to look as cool as Elle? Find all our favourite summer essentials here.