Finding Myself in Fiction: Five TV Characters Who Capture My Personality and Vibe

I grew up with television being something of a friend. Before my siblings came along, it was me, my mom, and the TV. Television is a means of escape for many people, but I’ve always loved shows with characters I’ve connected with. Some of my favorite shows fill me with the comfort of being able to relate to at least one character and look forward to their growth (or next misadventure). As a unique way for my readers to get to know me better, I wanted to share the top five TV characters I’ve related to. Here are the characters I identify with:

Mindy Lahiri – The Mindy Project

As a fan of The Office, Kelly was one of my favorite characters since she was the opposite of me and hilarious. So when I found out Mindy Kaling had her own show, I jumped into it since it was in its second or third season. I loved the show and character; Mindy Lahiri became my guru. She had her flaws, but as a hopeless romantic, intelligent feminist, and woman of color, similar to Mindy, I found myself laughing out loud and relating to her. There was so much that I wanted to learn from her, like her confidence and sense of style. Seriously, I try to emulate her attire because, seriously, her fashion was inspiring.

Gina Waters-Payne – Martin

Gina is one of the first characters from a sitcom that I’ve identified closely with. She was silly, optimistic, and playful, and I related closely to those characteristics. And her singing, there is no way I can talk about how much Gina and I have without bringing up our shared love of singing. As I’ve gotten older, I have found that her forgiving and eternally romantic nature are some other traits that I have. I recently learned she was in public relations like me, which was an excellent turn of events.

Amy Santiago – Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Not only is Amy an Aries like me, but she is very ambitious throughout her career, which I identify with. She is a stickler for rules and strives for perfection. It’s interesting to watch someone go through those perfectionist thoughts and the misadventures that can come from them on a sitcom. My favorite trait is Amy’s competitiveness during their Halloween Heists and the bets she made with Jake. I am a competitive person, so we have something in common. And speaking of alcohol, the Amy Santiago drunk scale is also pretty spot on for me.

Winston Bishop – New Girl

This one was picked for me by my best friend, and now, it is one I am proud of. I was late to the New Girl train, but it is one of the best sitcoms from the 2010s. Winston wasn’t a day one character but has been a beloved addition to the roommates. His sweet yet often dopey personality is very similar to mine. He is creative, spontaneous, enthusiastic, and always up for fun. Winston is also very random and lives in his head, which makes him relatable to me on many levels. As a cat lady, I very much appreciate his love for Ferguson.

Bubbles – The Powerpuff Girls

Most people want to be leaders like Blossom and as fierce as Buttercup, but I relate more to Bubbles. She is friendly, cheerful, and optimistic. Her spontaneous nature is something that I’ve possessed since I was young. She is curious and quick to see possibilities. Some of the flaws she’s exhibited, but I can also understand, are being sensitive, which can bring out the worst traits in her.

These are the five characters I have the most in common with, but there are definitely more. I have similarities to other characters, such as Lexie Grey from Grey’s Anatomy and Pam Beasley from The Office. This list will undoubtedly grow as long as I watch TV.

Do you have any characters from movies or TV shows that you relate to? Share some of your TV twins in the comments below!