When Women Shine

A journey through the films and series that changed the way we see women; and the way women see themselves

What if the women we saw on screen weren’t just characters, but reflections of our fears, our rage, our desire to break free?

When Women Shine is a bold and intimate journey through the female characters who shaped us, and made us question the world around us. Journalist and film critic Pepa Blanes blends feminist insight, personal memory, and cinematic passion to explore what happens when women demand more from life and from storytelling.

From the unapologetic friendships of The Golden Girls to the mother-daughter tension of Lady Bird; from the emotional rebellion of Fleabag to the fierce vindication of Promising Young Woman, each chapter explores a story where women dare to want, to speak, to feel—and to shine. Whether it’s Sex and the
City reclaiming desire, The Hours confronting mental health, or Creatura giving voice to what was once unspeakable, these characters are not just fiction; they are cultural shifts in motion.

This outstanding essay doesn’t simply revisit iconic roles. It traces how fiction has helped generations of women rethink pleasure, rage, guilt, motherhood, friendship, mental health, and the transformative power of naming. It’s a celebration of imperfection, connection, and all the ways women light up the screen — and, by doing so, the world.

When women take the screen, they don’t just perform: they rewrite the rules.