If you’ve watched Gilmore Girls (and if you haven’t, who even are you?), you’d know there’s one badass Chilton alum you do not want to mess with. Paris Eustace Gellar.

Paris was the kind of divisive character that you were either obsessed with or hated with the fire of a thousand suns. I was squarely in the latter camp for a really long time, so every time a Gilmore Girls personality quiz came up saying that I most resemble her… Well, let’s just say I was less than impressed.

But after re-watching the series as an adult (three times, for good measure) I realised that Paris is actually an incredible character, and it’s totally okay to be more like her than Rory or Lorelai.

#1 She’s A Total Badass

Paris can be feisty and a little too obnoxious at times (okay, a lot), but she’s also a total badass. Let’s be honest here: if you had to choose one person from the show to have your back, Paris is your girl.

From learning self defence to growing up on her own thanks to her lack of parental support, Paris is a boss. And let’s face it, nobody can deliver a sharp, snarky comment quite as biting as Paris.

Though she’s harsh at times, she’s also wildly intelligent which makes it even easier for her to devastate with a one liner.

#2 She’s Unlucky In Love

One of Paris’ most endearing qualities is that she’s just as clueless as the rest of us when it comes to love. You root for her, you commiserate with her, and goodness knows you relate to her.

Whether it’s blaming sex for why she wasn’t accepted to Harvard or falling in love with a much older man (“No Rory, this great man was not brought down by my vagina”), Paris has faced just as much strife as the rest of us.

And who can forget her openness and willingness to not only talk about her love life, but put herself out there. After all, university speed dating? Bloody terrifying.

#3 She’s Unwaveringly Loyal

For someone with more enemies than you can shake a stick at, Paris Gellar is actually a damn good friend. Sure, her personality means she doesn’t have many close pals, but the ones she does have? They can always count on her fervent backing.

Despite competing all through their schooling, Paris genuinely values Rory as her best friend, and is unfailing in her loyalty – even when Rory doesn’t always deserve it.

She even pretended to be keen on Jess when Dean caught them having dinner at the Gilmore household (Instance #357 where Rory is actually a shitty person – sorry, not sorry). That’s lesson one in the rulebook: have your friend’s back.

#4 She Gets Her Shit Together

If there’s one person on the show who knows how to have a Class A breakdown, it’s Paris. But despite all of her faults, she pulls it together, enlists a life coach and winds up being wildly successful in her chosen field.

Paris Gellar is the epitome of the over-achiever, with her ‘Operation Finish Line’ project raking in results that frankly any academic would absolutely LUST over. Yet despite all of her obsessiveness, single-mindedness and drive, she also learns balance.

She’ll always be just a teeny tiny bit overzealous, and she’ll always say things that any normal person would find wildly inappropriate or awkward, but she’s human and her good qualities far outweigh the superficial bad ones.

So really, I’m pretty stoked to be a Paris.

(Lead image: Gilmore Girls/Warner Bros)