Unpacking Miranda Priestly: Deconstructing the Myth of a Powerful Female Lead

Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep still remains one of the most iconic movie characters from the blockbuster film and one of my favourite flicks of all time, The Devil Wears Prada, directed by David Frankel, which I admit I have lost count of just how many times I’ve rewatched this over the years. The iconic editor in Chief of Runway, a publication resembling Vogue, her character was based out on the fashion mogul Anna Wintour who undoubtedly has been ruling the fashion industry for years now. The character that stood out in the film, was the unapologetically demanding editor who was a brutal perfectionist and who was feared by everyone. Here's why I found Miranda to be the most intriguing character.

She's Confident

"Truth is no one can do what I can do"

Can we take a moment to appreciate Miranda's high self-esteem? She knows her worth and she knows she's irreplaceable, and no one dares to lift a finger against her. No details are too small for Miranda and no excuses are acceptable for failing to meet her high standards. Being the editor in chief, there are a lot of things that contribute to your attitude. One of the major factor being how you present yourself and this added to the respect people had for her and set a standard where even her employees wanted to emulate that.

People fall inline

The one unforgettable scene in the whole movie was her introduction. Before we even meet this character, the impact she has on the environment proves who has the reigns as the office goes from chaotic to perfection in minutes. Although it's clear that her staff fear her, they are motivated to be the best versions of themselves to meet the unwavering standards of perfection she has imposed in her surroundings. Being the most sought-after figure in the fashion industry, she herself never seems to fall out of her elegance, unlike everyone else who are always scrambling and struggling to get things done perfectly for her. She never wavers from those standards, in fact, she seems to continue raising that bar no matter how ludicrously high it gets.

She's the fashion encyclopedia

Miranda knows fashion from history to the tiniest of details which is why she is who she is. She knows everything starting from Oscar de la Renta's 2002s cerulean gown collection to the exact designs they did two years ago, and who knows what more. The point here is, she knows the history in and out and clearly, she has mastered the business of her industry. And undoubtedly, no one who has ever watched the film can forget the 'stuff' speech she gave Andy who was almost moved to tears for not recognizing the difference between the two colours. Honestly, I haven't seen anyone so skilful at delivering facts while ripping apart someone's choice of outfit at the same time.

She sets the bar aside for double standards

She knows people will be harshly judgemental towards her for being an exceptionally powerful woman. Is there anything surprising about a powerful man who is demanding and cutthroat as he chases success? Andy said it herself.

She knows exactly how she's perceived by the press and the people around her; dragon-lady, career-obsessed, notorious sadist. So why are women considered villains for not fitting into society who expect them to be self-sacrificing and domestic? The movie also highlights how men react to their partners being more successful than them, as it is made clear that Miranda's husband doesn't like coming second to his partner's career.

She's Ambitious

There's no doubt Miranda sets her priorities straight and has had to make radical sacrifices for her career and to be the best in her field. Starting from getting divorced to betraying her friend, here's why I don't blame Miranda. Ever since I watched the movie, she has remained my favourite character and eventually changed the way in which I looked at successful women. They didn't get there without the sacrifices, did they? There comes a point in the film where they were trying to replace Miranda with another editor. Here it goes, another societal sin women commit is to 'stay relevant even after getting old'. At this moment, she had to backstab her friend Nigel to keep her position and stay powerful in her industry. It's referable here that if she would do that to her friend whom she values, there's no one she wouldn't screw over as everyone comes second to Miranda. Not only did we watch her go through a painful divorce, we understood what it takes to be a strong woman and dominate.

Yes, Miranda's got a soft side...

It was a pretty moving scene in the film that spoke more about how much it takes to be an ambitious woman. Miranda was ready to give up her marriage although she was concerned about her kids. The thought that provoked me by the end of this film is the fact that not all women chase power and strive to dominate. By the end, Andy simply realised following her dreams were more important to her than all the glitz and glam of the world's fashion elite and she resigns to pursue what she came to New York to pursue; journalism. Another instance where it's subliminally shown that Miranda cares about people is when she gave Andy a stellar recommendation for her job. Although Miranda doesn't seem to believe in being publicly emotional, when Andy waves to her in the last scene, she simply seems to ignore her and carry on. But the one time she smiles after getting in the car shows a different side to a woman whose life has always been about making her way through a power-hungry industry.

Although many perceive Miranda to be egocentric and arrogant, it's not a walk in the park to make it to the Editor in Chief of a renowned magazine in Manhattan. Whether we owe the credits to Meryl or Anna, Personally, this film changed my life. I found Miranda an awe-inspiring character as she set the perfect limits for a successful woman: none.

Sai Nandhana