Welcome to this week’s installment of Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week, wherein we shine a spotlight on strong women who inspire us. Now, this not only includes fictional female characters in geeky media, but creators as well. These ladies are a prime example of female empowerment and how crucial it is for kids to have said example to follow.
DISCLAIMER: The following has spoilers for the Resident Evil franchise and Resident Evil 3 Remake.
Jill Valentine
Fast Facts
Little is known about Jill Valentine’s early life other than her father was French and her mother was Japanese. Her story really begins with her service in the United States Army where she excelled and was recruited into the Delta Force team. Her experience here is what caught the eye of Alex Wesker. He extended Jill an offer to join the Special Tactics and Rescue Services, better known as S.T.A.R.S. the elite tactical force of the Raccoon City police department. You could say that this is when her life got turned upside down.
While on a mission with S.T.A.R.S., Jill learns the Umbrella USA company has set up a research lab in the mountains outside of Raccoon City and have been creating bio-weapons and the novel t-Virus. It turns out that the mission is all a facade as Wesker brought the team out in order to kill them, blow up the lab and escape with the bio-weapons research. Thankfully Jill makes it out though carries the emotional scars of the event. The team attempt to push for an investigation into the group but are denied and suspended from RPD.
Jill Valentine stays in Raccoon City to attempt to investigate on her own but it blocked on every path. Two months after the events in the manor, the t-Virus is leaked into the water supply of Raccoon City and the outbreak causes a zombie apocalypse. In an attempt to save as many people as she could, Jill joins up with three UBCS (Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service). In the commotion, Umbrella let their bio-organic weapon Nemesis lose in the city to hunt down and kill any living members of S.T.A.R.S., leading to a showdown against the tyrant and Jill.
Nemesis manages to infect Jill with a strain of the t-Virus related to the Nemesis parasite. Thanks to quick thinking from UBCS member Carlos Oliveira, she is saved and after putting an end to Nemisis they both make it out of Raccoon City alive. In the aftermath of Raccoon City’s explosion, Jill partner back up with former S.T.A.R.S. member Chris Redfield. They join the Private Anti-Biohazard Service and continue their fight against the Umbrella Company. Their investigation takes them to Russia where they come in contact with Wesker again.
Jill and her team are eventually able to bring an end to Umbrella, but this doesn’t stop the terror brought on by the bio-organic weapons now in the hands of rogue employees selling them on the black market. Jill joins the newly formed BSAA (Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance) in order to bring an end to it all. Things aren’t easy for Jill, as she is eventually kidnapped and tested on by Wesker and forced to work alongside them until she was saved by BSAA. She has since undergone massive amounts of tests and is ready to get back into the action.
The Real Deal
Jill Valentine is the real deal. Without a doubt she is one of the most bad a** women in the Resident Evil franchise. Her skills in weaponry and early life experience in the military and delta force aren’t her only strengths. She could have easily walked away from all of the madness and gone on to live a normal life. But she couldn’t do that though, even though she knew she could end up dead or infected. Her compassion for the people of Raccoon City, the world and her friends and her need to protect them all has kept her going in the face of danger.
Why She Matters
Why does Jill Valentine matter? Finding a strong female in video games has always been a bit of a task. Many are given the roles similar to damsels in distress, the main character’s love interest or apart of the antagonist’s main team and is portrayed as rather unpleasant. Jill Valentine is a reminder that you can have a strong female character that can be compassionate and still kick major bio-organic weapon butt.
So, be like Jill Valentine. Be strong for your friends and the world around you in the face of injustice and remember to show compassion.
RELATED: GGA’s Most Inspiring Female Video Game Characters
Who I Am: A nerd by the strictest definition. I enjoy diving straight into my favorite fandoms without a care in the world. I live on video/board games, fantasy movies and TV, and all things geeky.
- Saturday Morning Webtoons: NINA LIVES ALONE and INGRID THE PLAGUE DOCTOR - April 26, 2025
- May’s Most Anticipated Video Games - April 23, 2025
- Saturday Morning Webtoons: LOVE BITES and ANGEL OF DEATH - April 19, 2025
