Carrie Fisher was the true force to be reckoned with

She was a best-selling author, amazing actress and a powerful feminist icon. The force was always and will always be with Carrie Fisher.
Fisher, who died on Tuesday at the age of 60, wasn't much different to her character Princess Leia, she had a no-nonsense attitude and a strong voice especially on topics regarding sexism and ageism. She was beautiful and could have played any stereotypical princess role, but became way more than that, becoming a witty and strong tool for change both on-screen and off-screen.

#CarrieFisher was an unapologetic feminist in an era even more hostile and inflexible than today. Our lives will be less without her. https://t.co/1MBSnfPC2P

— Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) 27 December 2016

At the young age of 20, Fisher became a celebrity when the first Star Wars film came out, during this time she experienced Hollywood's gender double standards but continued to fight against them throughout the majority of her life, initially Princess Leia was supposed to be the classic "damsel in distress" character but Fisher made her tougher, inspiring a whole generation of young girls and boys teaching them that anybody can be a powerful, vital member of any team, she also tackled an ugly substance abuse addiction and was open about her troubles which in turn made her more commendable.

Photo: @carriefisherofficial / Instagram 

She called the bikini that she wore in the "Return of the Jedi" a 'slave outfit', seeing it as an excuse for many watchers to make crude comments about her, she even warned her co-star to keep fighting against the slave outfit. Why did she have to wear something she wasn't comfortable with for the pleasure of the viewers, while the males on set were safe from this?

Carrie Fisher dedicated her platform to mental health awareness & female empowerment. She is a reason + reminder to keep up your fight. RIP

— h (@halsey) 27 December 2016

She returned to the big screen at the age of 59, with no age defying special effects, and she even took the time to openly comment on the amount of scrutiny she got about her physical appearance, compared to her male counterparts, she was also told to lose 35 pounds before returning to the role, she told the Hollywood reporter: "I'm in a business where the only thing that matters is weight and appearance. That is so messed up, they might as well say 'get younger.'"

Carrie Fisher proved that even in a male-dominated universe, whether it's Earth or a galaxy far, far way, there can be female authoritative figures and gave the millions who grew up watching her, hope that they too can be their own hero.

Here's to Carrie Fisher, who drowned in moonlight, strangled by her own bra. #RIP pic.twitter.com/hEMe3aubz6

— Meredith Frost (@MeredithFrost) 28 December 2016