If you grew up in the ’90s, you know that television wasn’t just about the plots or the catchphrases—it was about the women who had us glued to the screen, swooning every single week.
From the sultry smarts of Living Single’s quartet of beauties, to the feisty charm of Pamela James and Gina Waters from Martin, there was no shortage of female characters who made us fall in love with them, one episode at a time.
Whether they were rocking a bad attitude or effortlessly slaying in high fashion, these women had it all—style, personality, and beauty that still holds up today.
This Valentine’s Day, we’re revisiting the iconic TV characters who made our hearts race back in the day. They were smart, strong, funny, and—let’s be real—unapologetically beautiful.
Our crushes from the ’90s weren’t just based on looks, but on the undeniable impact these women had on pop culture and on our personal fantasies. Trust, we’ll still be holding onto these nostalgic feelings for years to come. Here’s to the unforgettable female TV characters that had our hearts—and still do.
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Lark Voorhies As Lisa Turtle, ‘Saved By The Bell’
Image Credit: Montgomery Brinton / ©NBC / courtesy Everett Collection SAVED BY THE BELL, Lark Voorhies, (Season 4, 1992), 1989-1992. photo: Montgomery Brinton / ©NBC / courtesy Everett Collection
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Erika Alexander As Maxine “Max” Felice Shaw, ‘Living Single’
Image Credit: (c)Warner Bros. Television/courtesy Everett Collection LIVING SINGLE, Erika Alexander, 1993-98, (c)Warner Bros. Television/courtesy Everett Collection
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Tisha Campbell As Gina Waters-Payne, ‘Martin’
Image Credit: ©Fox Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved/courtesy Everett Collection MARTIN, Tisha Campbell, 1992-97 (1996 photo by Aaron Rapoport). TM and copyright ©Fox Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved/courtesy Everett Collection
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Holly Robinson Peete As Vanessa Russell, ‘Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper’
Image Credit: Jeff Katz / TV Guide /© ABC / Courtey Everett Collection HANGIN’ WITH MR. COOPER, Holly Robinson Peete, 1992-1997. ph: Jeff Katz / TV Guide /© ABC / Courtey Everett Collection
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Reagan Gomez-Preston As Zaria Peterson, ‘The Parent ‘Hood’
Image Credit: Andrew Eccles / ©Warner Bros. Television / courtesy Everett Collection THE PARENT ‘HOOD, Reagan Gomez-Preston, (1995), 1995-1999. ph: Andrew Eccles / ©Warner Bros. Television / courtesy Everett Collection
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Danielle Fishel As Topanga Lawrence, ‘Boy Meets World’
Image Credit: TV Guide /© ABC / Courtesy Everett Collection BOY MEETS WORLD, Danielle Fishel, 1993-2000. / TV Guide /© ABC / Courtesy Everett Collection
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Karyn Parsons As Hillary Banks, ‘The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air’
Image Credit: © NBC / Courtesy: Everett Collection THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR, Karyn Parsons, 1990-96. © NBC / Courtesy: Everett Collection
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Tichina Arnold As Pamela James, ‘Martin’
Image Credit: ©Fox Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved/courtesy Everett Collection MARTIN, Tichina Arnold, 1992-97 (1996 photo by Aaron Rapoport). TM and copyright ©Fox Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved/courtesy Everett Collection
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Maia Campbell As Tiffany Warren, ‘In The House’
Image Credit: © NBC / courtesy Everett Collection IN THE HOUSE, Maia Campbell, 1995-99. © NBC / courtesy Everett Collection
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Garcelle Beauvais As Francesca Danielle “Fancy” Monroe, ‘The Jamie Foxx Show’
Image Credit: © Warner Bros./ Courtesy: Everett Collection. THE JAMIE FOXX SHOW, Garcelle Beauvais, 1996-2001. © Warner Bros./ Courtesy: Everett Collection.
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Salma Hayek As Gloria Contreras, ‘The Sinbad Show’
Image Credit: (c) Buena Vista Television/ Courtesy: Everett Collection. THE SINBAD SHOW, Salma Hayek, 1993 -1994. (c) Buena Vista Television/ Courtesy: Everett Collection.
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Leah Remini As Carrie Heffernan, ‘The King Of Queens’
Image Credit: ©CBS / courtesy Everett Collection THE KING OF QUEENS, Leah Remini, (Season 2), 1998-2007. ©CBS / courtesy Everett Collection
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Essence Atkins As Tasha Yvette Henderson, ‘Smart Guy’
Image Credit: Bill Reitzel / ©Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection SMART GUY, Essence Atkins, (1997), 1997-99. ph: Bill Reitzel / ©Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection
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Kellie Shanygne Williams As Laura Winslow, ‘Family Matters’
Image Credit: Bob D’Amico, ©ABC/courtesy Everett Collection FAMILY MATTERS, from left: Kellie Shanygne Williams, (1995), 1989-1998, Ph: Bob D’Amico, ©ABC/courtesy Everett Collection
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Meagan Good As Nina Jones, ‘Cousin Skeeter’
Image Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images -
Kim Fields As Regina “Regine” Hunter, ‘Living Single’
Image Credit: (c)Warner Bros. Television/courtesy Everett Collection LIVING SINGLE, Kim Fields, 1993-98, (c)Warner Bros. Television/courtesy Everett Collection
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Brandy Norwood As Moesha Denise Mitchell, ‘Moesha’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection. MOESHA, Brandy Norwood, 1996-2001, taking notes
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Tifanni Amber Thiessen As Kelly Kapowski, ‘Saved By The Bell’
Image Credit: Ron Wolfson / Everett Collection (Tiffani Amber Thiessen 1) Tifanni Amber Thiessen playing the character Kelly Kapowski on SAVED BY THE BELL, Ron Wolfson Photo Studio, Studio City, CA, August 18, 1990. *Exclusive* ph: Ron Wolfson / Everett Collection (Tiffani Amber Thiessen 1)
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Nia Long As Lisa Wilkes, ‘The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection. FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR, Nia Long, Will Smith, 1990-1996, wedding
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Tia Mowry, Tamera Mowry As Tia Landry And Tamera Campbell, ‘Sister, Sister’
Image Credit: Andrew Eccles/©Paramount Television/courtesy Everett Collection SISTER, SISTER, Tia Mowry, Tamera Mowry, 1994-99. ph: Andrew Eccles/©Paramount Television/courtesy Everett Collection
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Tatyana Ali As Ashley Banks, ‘The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection. FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR, , Tatyana Ali, 1990-1996.
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Bianca Lawson As Megan Jones, ‘Saved By The Bell: The New Class’
Image Credit: Paul Drinkwater / ©NBC / courtesy Everett Collection SAVED BY THE BELL: THE NEW CLASS, Bianca Lawson, 1993-2000. ph: Paul Drinkwater / ©NBC / courtesy Everett Collection
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Michelle Thomas As Myra Monkhouse, ‘Family Matters’
Image Credit: Bob D’Amico, ©ABC/courtesy Everett Collection FAMILY MATTERS, from left: Michelle Thomas, Jaleel White, (1996), 1989-1998, Ph: Bob D’Amico, ©ABC/courtesy Everett Collection
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Heather Locklear As Amanda Woodward, ‘Melrose Place’
Image Credit: Courtesy: Everett Collection MELROSE PLACE, Heather Locklear, 1992-99
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Karen Malina White As Nicolette, ‘Malcolm & Eddie’
Image Credit: ©Columbia Tristar/Courtesy Everett Collection. MALCOLM AND EDDIE, Karen Malina White, 1996-2000 Season 4, ©Columbia Tristar/Courtesy Everett Collection.
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Kim Coles As Synclaire James-Jones, ‘Living Single’
Image Credit: (c)Warner Bros. Television/courtesy Everett Collection LIVING SINGLE, Kim Coles, 1993-98, (c)Warner Bros. Television/courtesy Everett Collection
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Wendy Raquel Robinson As Principal Regina Grier-Maddox, ‘The Steve Harvey Show’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection. STEVE HARVEY SHOW, Wendy Raquel Robinson, 1996-2002
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Elise Neal As Yvonne Williams-Hughley, ‘The Hughleys’
Image Credit: Courtesy: Everett Collection THE HUGHLEYS, Elise Neal, (1998), 1998-2002. ph: Fergus Greer/TV Guide/TM and Copyright © 20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved, Courtesy: Everett Collection
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Alyssa Milano As Phoebe Halliwell, ‘Charmed’
Image Credit: © Viacom / courtesy Everett Collection CHARMED, Alyssa Milano, (season 5), 1998-2006, photo: © Viacom / courtesy Everett Collection
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Tracy Vilar as Sophia Ortiz, ‘Steve Harvey Show’
Image Credit: Courtesy: Everett Collection STEVE HARVEY SHOW, Tracy Vilar 1996-2002
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Jada Pinkett-Smith as Lena James, ‘A Different World’
Image Credit: Courtesy: Everett Collection A DIFFERENT WORLD, Jada Pinkett, (1987-93) 1992
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Lela Rochon As Lisa, ‘The Wayans Bros.’
Image Credit: Getty Images / Stringer 10/2/96 Beverly Hills, CA Lela Rochon at the premiere of his new movie “The Chamber”.
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Jessica Biel As Mary Camden, ‘7th Heaven’
Image Credit: © Spelling Prod./ Courtesy: Everett Collection 7TH HEAVEN, Jessica Biel, (2000), 1996-2007. © Spelling Prod./ Courtesy: Everett Collection
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Jasmine Guy as Whitley Gilbert, ‘A Different World’
Image Credit: Mario Casilli / ©NBC / Courtesy Everett Collection A DIFFERENT WORLD, Jasmine Guy, (1991), 1987-1993. ph: Mario Casilli / ©NBC / Courtesy Everett Collection
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Holly Marie Combs as Piper Halliwell, ‘Charmed’
Image Credit: © Viacom / courtesy Everett Collection CHARMED, Holly Marie Combs, (Season 4), 1998-2006, photo: © Viacom / courtesy Everett Collection
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Cree Summer as Winifred “Freddie” Brooks, ‘A Different World’
Image Credit: © Carsey-Werner/courtesy Everett Collection A DIFFERENT WORLD, Cree Summer, Ph: Joseph Del Valle, © Carsey-Werner/courtesy Everett Collection
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Ella Joyce as Eleanor Emerson, ‘Roc’
Image Credit: Mario Casilli/TV Guide/courtesy Everett Collection ROC, Ella Joyce, 1991-1994. photo: Mario Casilli/TV Guide/courtesy Everett Collection
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Shar Jackson as Denise “Niecy” Jackson, ‘Moesha’
Image Credit: Julie Dennis-Brothers / ©Paramount Television / Courtesy Everett Collection MOESHA, Shar Jackson, (1998), 1996-2001. photo: Julie Dennis-Brothers / ©Paramount Television / Courtesy Everett Collection
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Shannon Doherty As Brenda Walsh, ‘Beverly Hill 90210’
Image Credit: CBS via Getty Images Pictured is Shannen Doherty
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Robin Givens as Wilma Cuthbert, ‘Sparks’
Image Credit: © MTM Enterprises / Courtesy: Everett Collection SPARKS, (from left): Robin Givens, (1996), 1996-98. © MTM Enterprises / Courtesy: Everett Collection
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Vanessa Estelle Williams As Rhonda Blair, ‘Melrose Place’
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/ImageDirect Star of the Showtime Original Picture, ‘Our America’, Vanessa Williams at the Summer TCA held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Los Angeles, Ca., July 11, 2002.
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Fran Drescher As Fran Fine, ‘The Nanny’
Image Credit: Courtesy Of Everett Collection THE NANNY, Fran Drescher, 1993-1999. 04-07-1994.
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Queen Latifah As Khadija James, ‘Living Single’
Image Credit: Bob D’Amico / © Warner Bros. Television / Courtesy: Everett Collection LIVING SINGLE, Queen Latifah, (1994), 1993-98. photo: Bob D’Amico / © Warner Bros. Television / Courtesy: Everett Collection
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Tamala Jones As Barbara Jean “Bobbi” Seawright Ellis, ‘For Your Love’
Image Credit: © Warner Bros. Television / Courtesy: Everett Collection FOR YOUR LOVE, Tamala Jones, (2000), 1998-2002. © Warner Bros. Television / Courtesy: Everett Collection
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Countess Vaughn As Kim Parker, ‘Moesha’
Image Credit: Julie Dennis-Brothers / ©Paramount Television / Courtesy Everett Collection MOESHA, Countess Vaughn, (1998), 1996-2001. photo: Julie Dennis-Brothers / ©Paramount Television / Courtesy Everett Collection
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Kym Whitley As Darice Mayberry, ‘Sparks’
Image Credit: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage -
Terri J. Vaughn As Lovita Alizay Jenkins, ‘The Steve Harvey Show’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection. STEVE HARVEY SHOW, Terri J. Vaughn, 1996-2002
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Trina McGhee As Angela Moore, ‘Boy Meets World’
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Jenna von Oy As Six Lemeure, ‘Blossom’
Image Credit: Linda Vanoff /© NBC /Courtesy Everett Collection BLOSSOM, Jenna von Oy, (1993), (19901995). ph: Linda Vanoff /© NBC /Courtesy Everett Collection
- 90s
- Alyssa Milano
- bianca lawson
- Brandy
- Cree Summer
- Crushes
- Danielle Fishel
- Elise Neal
- Ella Joyce
- Erika Alexander
- Essence Atkins
- Female
- Garcelle Beauvais
- Heather Locklear
- Holly Marie Combs
- Holly Robinson
- Holly Robinson Peete
- Jada Pinkett
- Jada Pinkett Smith
- Jasmine Guy
- Jessica Biel
- Karen Malina White
- Karyn Parsons
- Kellie Shanygne Williams
- kim coles
- Kim Fields
- Lark Vorhees
- Leah Remini
- Maia Campbell
- Michelle Thomas
- Nia Long
- Reagan Gomez
- Robin Givens
- Salma Hayek
- Shar Jackson
- Sitcom
- Tamera Mowry
- Tatyana Ali
- Terri Vaughn
- Tia Mowry
- Tifanni Amber Thiessen
- Tracy Vilar
- Trina McGhee
- Wendy Raquel Robinson
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