Sometimes it’s easy to forget how monumental the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen empire is because they’ve chosen not to be in the public eye and lay low with their millions.
It’s important not to forget what they’ve accomplished at such a young age, including culturally impacting an entire generation of girls the world over.
From books, to movies, to cartoons and sitcoms, Mary-Kate and Ashley had it all in the mid to late ‘90s and early 2000s. Plenty of women still own the Mary-Kate and Ashley bedspreads they had, or the pajama sets they wore as adolescents.
Their films are what really resonated, with thousands going online to rewatch them, reminisce and relive the warmth of nostalgia.
No one is claiming the films were snubbed for Oscar nominations, but they are still a cherished part of many childhoods, particularly for young women born in the ‘90s. However, it isn’t simply nostalgia that makes these movies great, although that is a large part of it. Mary-Kate and Ashley’s films captured something
In a way, the audience grew up with them. From when the twins were children in “To Grandmother’s House We Go,” adolescents in “Billboard Dad” and “Switching Goals” and then traveled the globe with them as teens in “Winning London,” “When in Rome” and “Holiday in the Sun.”
Looking back on them now, the movies were simply a good time. They often involved the twins going on adventures, many times in foreign countries, getting into some sort of trouble during the adventure, finding a way to solve the conflict in the end, and all while pursuing relationships with cute boys.
Despite their predictability, Mary-Kate and Ashley movies hold a special place in millennial hearts as many attempted to live vicariously through the twins while watching. They were relatable and adorable and their fashion was always on point.
In fact, the clothes the twins wore were trendy, chic and still wearable today.
Wanting to be like Mary-Kate and Ashley was common place. They were fun and outgoing onscreen, and that helped the female viewers feel comfortable in their skin as women.
The two had their own individual personalities in their films, helping to usher in a new generation of young girls who grew up watching strong female characters.
Mary-Kate and Ashley were just as strong offscreen, as two young women building an empire all their own. This empire was built before the girls even hit age 20. They were in charge and showed young women everywhere that building a legacy at 16 years old is totally plausible.
Most importantly, they were women dominating. Seeing them run around, have adventures, be quirky and chase boys taught an entire generation of millennial women that being themselves is fun.
So whether you considered yourself and Ashley or a Mary-Kate, these movies will always be there to comfort millennials when they want to soak in the fun of their childhoods.