Though the U.S. is often propped up as a model of democracy and progressivism, countries from Brazil, Switzerland, the Philippines, Haiti—and even fictional worlds like the ones of the Hunger Games and Narnia—all elected women leaders long before Americans could cast a ballot for the first female nominee of a major political party.
We know representation matters; it affects our cultural psyche, self-esteem, and imagination. Before we (hopefully) join the rest of the world in electing a woman leader, Complex examined every representation of women presidents in American pop culture:
1953: Ernestine Barrier as Madam President in 'Project Moonbase'
1964: Polly Bergen as President Leslie McCloud in ‘Kisses for My President’
1985: Patty Duke as President Julia Mansfield in ‘Hail to the Chief’
1990: Joan Rivers as President Rivers in ‘Les Patterson Saves the World’
1996: Natalie Portman as First Daughter and later President Taffy Dale in ‘Mars Attacks!’
1998: Christina Applegate as President Diane Steen in ‘Mafia!’
2000: Yeardley Smith as President Lisa Simpson in ‘The Simpsons’
2001: Sally Champlin as President in 'Perfect Lover'
2001: Cherry Jones as President Allison Taylor in '24'
Allison Taylor was a U.S. Senator who went on to beat her incumbent in the race for POTUS. In the 24 universe, she was the first woman president, and comes off as courageous and resilient. Cherry Jones won an Emmy in 2009 for her portrayal.