A Very Important Reminder To Celebrate The OG ‘Eldest Daughters’ That Raised Us
We all know an eldest daughter: she’s bedraggled, she’s got every emergency number on speed dial, and she’s scheduled the entire family vacation. While I am a youngest sister (and therefore a passenger princess in family politics), I have nothing but the utmost respect for my two big sisters and the burden they tirelessly carried. Eldest daughters pave the way for all who follow, and they do it without any complaint while shouldering the burden of their mom’s emotional wellbeing.
To all of those too busy sorting out their families to celebrate, just a reminder that August 26 is Eldest Daughter Day! To celebrate this important day, let’s shout out to the most famous eldest daughters, who deserve some love and a lot of therapy!!
Britney Spears
IT’S BRITNEY, BITCH. Aside from being the icon who gave us “Toxic,” the anthem to my adolescence and college years, Britney is a big sister. Her younger sister, Jamie Lynn, has def benefited from her older sister over the years, getting her own TV show in the process. Imagine having THE Britney Spears as your big sister. Given what we’ve learned about their parents, I’m guessing Brit was working overtime as a kid for Jamie Lynn, who is eight years younger than her.
Fiona Gallagher
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I’m sorry, I couldn’t get any further without mentioning the OG BIG SIS from television: Fiona of Shameless. Now people keep saying that the actress who played Fiona was ~allegedly~ not the nicest (ruh roh), but the character stands. Fiona is the perfect example of a parentified big sis, as she becomes responsible for her five siblings when her mother Monica leaves them for Norma Starkey. Is she perfect? No, but imagine caring for five kids that you didn’t even shove out your vagina. She is a saint. And then Debbie expects her to care for her kid? I don’t think so, mate.
Meg March
A little more classy than Fiona, a little less alcoholic and potty-mouthed, we’ll go back in time to Meg March. The March sisters somehow infected all of our childhoods, as Little Women might just be the only book we all willingly read that didn’t include fights to the death or an MMF love triangle. Most recently played by Emma Watson (an eldest daughter herself), Meg is a hopeless romantic and takes a motherly approach to her three sisters. While that’s not enough to make her come home to care for dying Beth (spoiler, soz), we still love her!!! Like she willingly chooses to be poor for love, what an inspiration to her siblings. One that neither of the remaining ones follow LOL.
Nani Pelekai
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Let’s turn our attention to a Disney eldest daughter with Nani Pelekai of Lilo & Stitch. She was another example of a parentified eldest daughter, and probs the reason I secretly hoped to get adopted by my big sis — soz mom and dad!!! She had a fucking tough time keeping Lilo in check and worked tirelessly to keep them afloat. Only for Lilo to feed sandwiches to fucking fish? Do you know how hard Nani worked to get that bread, bitch? Honestly, we didn’t give this woman the love and respect she deserves, and Lilo better be begging for forgiveness — Stitch, too.
Beyoncé
Okay, let’s bring it back to reality — my least favorite place — with Queen Bey. We all know Beyoncé has a younger sister, Solange, thanks to that infamous elevator brawl. Like only an eldest daughter would have to deal with her younger sister ~allegedly~ attacking her hubby. While we still don’t know the cause for the altercation — Becky with the good hair, perhaps? — we can assume Beyoncé has frequently carried out eldest daughter duties for Solange, who is also a musician. Queen Bey is a mama herself, and Blue Ivy takes on the mantle of eldest daughter to the twins.
Kourtney Kardashian
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I’m not gonna lie; I always forget Kourtney is the eldest of the Spanx-wearing, Detox-tea promoting crew! Idk why, but Khloe gives me eldest daughter energy; there’s just a wisdom to her. Then again, that infamous “I got married in Italy” war between Kim and Kourtney is such an oldest and second-oldest energy. As someone who has two older sisters, a year apart (mama was BUSY), this is the kind of shit they would fight about time and time again. I was Khloe, sighing and rolling my eyes, only in far less expensive clothing. With momager Kris around, I have no doubt Kourtney was often parentified in the manner of keeping her younger siblings as kids a lil longer before they became fully-fledged Kardashian employees.
Kamala Harris
It will come as NO SURPRISE that Kamala Harris is an eldest daughter. She has a younger sister, Maya Harris, who was born three years later. Maya is a lawyer like her sister, clearly inspired by her girlboss big sis — who wouldn’t be?
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“We leaned on each other,” Kamala Harris told The Washington Post of her lil sis. “We forged a bond that is unbreakable. When I think about it, all of the joyous moments in our lives, all of the challenging moments, all of the moments of transition, we have always been together.”
Elsa
Bow down to the Disney QUEEN, Elsa!!! She’s so done with Anna’s bullshit; she doesn’t want to make a snowman AGAIN, she is frozen inside, and keeping all of the family secrets to protect her sis. It doesn’t get much more eldest daughter than that. I feel like “Let It Go” struck a personal chord for a lot of eldest daughters around the globe, many of whom were probably watching the film with their own kiddos. Eldest daughters, it truly is time to Let. It. Go. Let us younger fuck-ups wreck our own lives if that’s what we want. You’ve done your time, go shoot ice and find a hottie.
Katniss Everdeen
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I’m sorry, but everyone who thinks they’re a great eldest sister hasn’t erm VOLUNTEERED AS TRIBUTE for their younger sis!!! Like, call me up when you literally offer to enter a bloodthirsty competition to save your lil sister. Katniss showed us all up as siblings when she entered the Hunger Games for Primrose, and naturally, as an eldest daughter, she bloody won it. I can’t think of a better prize for big sisters than sexy Peeta, can you?
Barbie
Somehow this wasn’t explored in 2023’s Barbie (explain yourself, Greta Gerwig), but she is actually a trauma-ridden eldest daughter. Her siblings include Teen Skipper, Stacie, and Chelsea. She is the coach for Stacie’s football team, baking a cake for Chelsea’s birthday, and everything in between. Where are Barbie’s fucking parents??? Who is supervising all these girlies?? It’s giving Kardashians without the BBL.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
What is it with eldest daughters going into politics? I guess it comes as no surprise, as they’re used to running the show and taking on all of the responsibilities. As the youngest daughter, I could never handle that kind of pressure, so all the respect. AOC has a younger brother named Gabriel. Following the loss of her father, she worked extra jobs to support her mother and brother, in true eldest-daughter energy.
Selena Gomez
Aside from being totally loved up and a fashion icon, Selena is such a dedicated big sister to her two younger half-sisters and younger stepbrother. Gracie made an appearance, joining her big sister on the red carpet at the 2023 Golden Globes, as well as the premiere for Frozen 2 — big sister recognizes big sister. Seeing them together is just TOO CUTE. Gracie is also besties with Kim Kardashian’s eldest daughter, North West. It’s a true celebrity multiverse!!
Taylor Swift
Is it any surprise that the woman who wrote “mirrorball” is an eldest daughter? She is SHINING JUST FOR YOU!!! Taylor has a younger brother, Austin, who is an up-and-coming actor. She hasn’t spoken too much about her brother, but her songs definitely reflect her experiences as an eldest daughter and people pleaser in general. Many eldest daughters also relate to “my tears ricochet” and “this is me trying.” Then again, WHO DOESN’T?
Kat Stratford
As if I am going to gloss over any chance to mention 10 Things I Hate About You — think again!!! Kat is the original BRAT, while her younger sister Bianca is very demure, very mindful. Bianca often resents Kat for not being cooler or going out more, and generally being a badass feminist, she is clearly carrying a lot of the parenting burden for her lil sister. It’s a classic case of daughters losing their mother too young, and their father relying on the eldest daughter to fill that maternal role. There is no doubt that Kat adores Bianca, despite their differences, and would literally kill for her — if she hasn’t already.
Jane Bennett
Okay, while we have a tendency to focus on Elizabeth because *cough* Mr. Darcy-please-ride-me, let’s take a moment for the eldest daughter of the Bennet family, Jane. Portrayed by Rosamund Pike in the 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, AKA the slay Gone Girl herself, she is a wholesome and loving creature. She oozes maternal warmth and is desperate to be loved, like most women of then… and now. I have no doubt her patience and gentleness come from having four younger sisters, and thankfully, she gets her happy ending. Don’t wait until your next depressed episode to rewatch this amazing film.
Casey Cartwright
Okay, a little more niche, but I can’t have a list of big sisters without mentioning Casey Cartwright from the Y2K classic Greek. Not only is Casey a big sister to Rusty, her trainwreck geeky younger brother who decides to join a fraternity, but she is also a big sis to her sorority girlies. As president of the sorority, she takes this duty very seriously, and she gives the ultimate eldest daughter energy. Casey feels responsible for everyone else, and that’s probably why she finds herself so attracted to Cappie, as he is wild and free, everything she feels she cannot be. I could talk about this show forever!!!
Fleurine Tideman