The Pretty Little Liars Effect 50

the Pretty Little LiArs Effect Written by Kelly Cimaglia Layout by Liz Lemieux

As someone who started watching Pretty Little Liars at age eight, I have a good grasp on how much the show has affected our generation. Watching any show on a weekly basis during your prime years of development is a guaranteed formula for it to become something you fixate on for the rest of your life—and Pretty Little Liars is a prime example for me. This 2010 mystery was a trailblazer for its time, as it explored issues such as LGBTQ youth, bullying, stalking, friendship, death, pedophilia, family problems, and more. All of these subjects were somewhat controversial, especially with an audience of middle school children. At the time, I was too young to understand the depth behind these themes, but as I got older I recognized how groundbreaking it was—in part because I’ve rewatched it seven times all the way through. Pretty Little Liars obviously had an insane plotline, yet the show taught its impressionable audience the importance of friendship, female empowerment, and love. While the liars were constantly getting blackmailed by A, they knew they weren’t alone in their struggles. They all had each other to lean on, which informed young girls how beneficial it is to have a group of friends that you can tell everything to. The core four were also able to take on the antagonist all by themselves. A group of strong female characters empowered the show’s viewers and revealed that they can conquer anything—whether it’s an anonymous person who knows your secrets or not! Lastly, having a strong lesbian identifying main character communicated that love can

come in any form, and it should be celebrated regardless of who you’re with. The seven seasons of Pretty Little Liars will live on forever, as the show has inspired an entire generation.

Photographer: Maya Dominguez Models: Kelly Cimaglia, Stephanie Lane, Camille Rivas, & Juliana Huxtable Stylist: Natalia Alvarez