Alisha Wainwright: The baddest babes of ‘Shadowhunters’

We’ve spent a lot of time in recent months talking about how insane it is that Shadowhunters has been cancelled – and how even more crazy it is that it’s not been saved yet. We’re betting no network will be making moves to renew the show until 3B has finished screening, so we’re putting the fight to #SaveShadowhunters aside for the moment.

It’s high time to praise the badass babes of the Shadowhunters universe, because with characters like these, everyday is woman-crush Wednesday for the Shadowfam. This is a show so filled with fierce feminist forces that operate in a universe filled with badass women.

To celebrate the continued fight to save Shadowhunters, here’s our rundown of the bestest babes we Shadowfans quite rightfully adore.

Clary Fray

Okay, we know this is an obvious one, but Clary Fray perpetually wins our heart.

Clarissa “Clary” Adele Fairchild, a.k.a. Clary Fray from the Shadowhunters TV adaptation by Katherine McNamara, is pretty much the center of the whole Shadowhunters universe. She’s an unstoppable force in the show, dogged and headstrong, but sharp – and that’s why she’s our WCW this week.

Clary is that friend who’s always putting herself in dangerous situations to help her loved ones. When not out hunting, she’s a caring, compassionate girl with an artsy side. We know what you’re thinking: “Jeez, is there nothing Clary can’t do?” She’s a fierce feminist force in a show full of badass women. What’s not to crush on?

Here are just a few reasons we love our girl Clary:

Girl can throw a punch

In Shadowhunters the women possess basically equal strength as the men, which means we’re treated to some epic Clary fight scenes. (Katherine McNamara, you rock our world.) One of our faves has to be the S2E20 (“Beside Still Water”) rumble between Clary & Valentine.

Girl shows strength in the face of adversity

The first episode of Shadowhunters sees Clary in a nightmare: her mom has disappeared and she’s just found out she’s a Shadowhunter. Rather than cracking open the Ben & Jerry’s, Clary grabs a weapon, accepts her destiny, and leans in. Clary Fray could show Sharyl Sandenburg a thing or two about being a girlboss.

Girl ain’t afraid to lean on her girls

Clary ain’t no mean girl. One of the reasons we love Shadowhunters is because it depicts strong, healthy female friendships. We see women raising women up rather than being bitches. We love that Izzy (Emeraude Toubia) and Clary are each other’s ride-or-dies. It’s a beautiful and solid relationship right from the start.

Isabelle Lightwood

Isabelle Lightwood (Emeraude Toubia) – New York Conclave Shadowhunter, daughter of Robert and Maryse Lightwood, sister of Alec and Max, and adoptive sister of Jace Herondale – is a bold and fearless warrior with a heart of gold. She carries a silver snake whip, is always perfectly put together, and is a libertine who knows what she wants sexually.

Isabelle is the character who most embodies Shadowhunters themes of inclusivity. She is the spirit of acceptance taking people at face value and not judging people for anything other than her personal experience of them. She’s one of the most iconic and progressive female characters we can think of in recent TV history.

Here are all the reasons why Isabelle’s always our WCW:

Girl’s compassionate and open

Back when we met Isabelle, she was a confident babe who seemed to have everything on lockdown. As the show has progressed, she’s learned more about her personality and how to judge other people and their intentions.

Based on this growth, Isabelle became a truly confident, compassionate character who doesn’t have the same preconceived prejudices about downworlders many of her Shadowhunters teammates bear.

Isabelle judges others on their behavior rather than lineage or status. She also works to open other people’s eyes and encourage them to be more open. Beneath all her fire, Isabelle has a massive heart and is willing to help & advise others whenever they’re in need.

Girl’s a smart, assertive woman who knows what she wants

Isabelle has no fear when surrounded by magical forces and joining epic battles; she’s first & foremost an exceptional warrior, but she also knows how to lean into her femininity.

Isabelle is a great role model for young women watching the show, as she owns her body and sexuality. She carries herself throughout the world with great confidence across the board: in battle, love, and friendships.

Maia Roberts

Maia (Alisha Wainwright) is a deeply layered character. On the one hand she is bold and strong and can come off fearless, but on the other, she’s a warrior troubled by her past traumas.

Here’s why we can’t get enough of Maia.

Girl’s an amazing friend

Maia is a vulnerable woman always seeking out the perfect balance. She’s often afraid to let people close, but when she does, she builds everlasting bonds and strong, reliable friendships.

Although Maia has her own internal struggles, she’s always an exceptional friend. Maia could be seen as a perfect mix of Isabelle and Clary – which is why she so perfectly complements the core female leads.

Maia is both sweet & kind like Clary as well as a loyal, badass, and fierce warrior like Isabelle. Despite her reservations, Maia will always be there to help when those around need her the most.

Girl doesn’t let her past abuse define her

Maia had a tough start in life. Even though she wears those scars, she doesn’t let them affect her relationships. A victim of childhood & relationship trauma, Maia has become a fearless fighter using her past as a point to grow from, rather than playing the role of victim.

Despite her past issues, Maia has grown to be a hugely strong woman who uses charm, sarcasm, and wit to get through troubling times. We’d also like to point out that she’s one of the most badass werewolves of all time.

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And now back to saving Shadowhunters. Here’s our piece about how we can help Netflix make the right decision and renew our show.