Queen Bee

A queen bee is the leader of a female group, a clique’s leader, usually a popular young lady. Characteristics often associated to her are a pleasant appearance, charisma, skill in manipulation, and monetary power. She is sometimes portrayed as the Head Cheerleader, Prom Queen, Homecoming Queen, Principal’s Daughter, etc. The queen bee has substantial influence and power over the clique, and is usually envied and/or looked upon as a role model by clique members and at times by outsiders to the clique. Her actions are closely followed and imitated, even though they may not be of a positive nature. They may appear to also be sex symbols to males.

The social role of the outcast is defined as anyone that the queen bee usually dislikes. Clique members may victimize the outcast in order to continue their membership in the clique, or to receive praise from the queen bee.

In most cliques there is, at least to some degree, a power struggle for the position of the queen bee. Hence, the clique’s leader might change from time to time, for example due to a member (or non-member) exceeding the queen bee’s abilities, or members getting fed up with the queen bee’s antics and thus attracting followers of the old clique leader. Outside influences may also act upon the social structure of the clique, such as changing interests or increasing maturity among clique members.

In a business environment, a “queen bee” may also refer to a woman in upper management who advanced in the ranks without the help of any type of affirmative action programs. Many of those executive women tend to be politically conservative and they choose not to publicly identify with feminism.They often see other, usually younger, women as competitors and will refuse to help them advance within a company, preferring to mentor a male over a female employee. Some ‘queen bees’ may actively take steps to hinder another woman’s advancement as they are seen as direct competitors. Such tactics are sometimes referred to as homophily or the “Queen Bee Syndrome”.

Fictional queen bees

• Courtney Alice Shay from Jawbreaker
• Joan Holloway from Mad Men
• Heather Chandler and Heather Duke from Heathers
• Quinn Fabray and Santana Lopez from Glee
• Blair Waldorf and Jenny Humphrey from Gossip Girl
• Sharpay Evans from High School Musical
• Tess Tyler from Camp Rock
• Aphrodite LaFont from House of Night
• Regina George and Cady Heron from the film Mean Girls
• Mandi Weatherly and Jo Mitchell from the film Mean Girls 2
• Sandi Griffin, presiarson from Daria (TV series)
• Stacey Larson from Odd Girl Out
• Tami from The Amazing Spiez!
• Mandy from Totally Spies
• Cleo de Nile from Monster High.
• Carla Cabrera from Growing Up Creepie
• Sierra McCool from The Replacements (TV series)
• Rhonda Wellington Lloyd from Hey Arnold!
• Dawn Swatsworthy from The Buzz on Maggie
• Ring-Ring from Pucca (TV series)
• Lisa Silver from American Dad!
• The Crust Cousins (Brit and Tiff) from My Life as a Teenage Robot
• Tricia from 6teen
• Muffy Crosswire from Arthur (TV series)
• Priscilla and Penelope Pinkpaws from Angelina Ballerina
• Paige Michalchuk, Heather Sinclair and Holly J. Sinclair from Degrassi: The Next Generation
• Connie D’Amico from Family Guy
• Chris Hargensen from Carrie
• Heather from the Total Drama series
• Reika Tamaki (Josie Huffington in the English dub) from Ojamajo Doremi
• Paige Logan from Grossology (TV series)
• Portia Gibbons from The Mighty B!
• Missy Meanie from Ned’s Disclassified School Survivor Guid
• Alison from Pretty Little Liars
• Shelby Cummings from A Cinderella Story
• Cher from Clueless
• Aphrodite from House of Night
• Mindy from The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy
• Paulina Sanchez from Danny Phantom
• Melissa O’Malley from The Life and Times of Juniper Lee
• Kimmy from Sym-Bionic Titan
• Massie Block from The Clique series
• Skye Hamilton, Allie A. Abott, Charlie Deery, and Shira Brazille from Alphas (book series)
• Nina Harper from Braceface
• Courtney Gripling from As Told by Ginger
• Jennifer Check from Jennifer’s Body
• Rona Berger from iCarly (She only appeared once in the iCarly episode iChristmas.)
• London Tipton from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and The Suite Life on Deck
• Cokie Mason from The Babysitters Club (film)
• Mindy Crenshaw and Megan Parker from Drake and Josh
• Cynthia Payne from The Mysteries of Alfred Hedgehog
• Cordelia Chase from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• Britney Boviac from Lloyd in Space
• Ashley A. from Recess (TV series)
• Beebe Bluff from Doug (TV series) and Disney’s Doug
• Princess Morbucks from The Powerpuff Girls
• Cotilla from Zevo-3
• Kelly Kapowski from Saved by the Bell