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. These ladies are a prime example of female empowerment and how crucial it is for youth to have said example to follow.
DISCLAIMER: The following contains spoilers for Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Xu Xialing
Fast Facts:
Xu Xialing (Meng’er Zhang) grew up with her father, mythical warlord Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung), a.k.a. the Mandarin, her mother, Ying Li (Fala Chen) and her older brother Xu Shang-Chi (Simu Liu). Wenwu served as the head and founder of the Ten Rings, a criminal organization, smiting his enemies with a set of mythical rings. Xialing observed from the sidelines as Shang-Chi and the other men trained in martial arts since Wenwu forbade women from training.
Eventually, Xialing took her training upon herself, learning martial arts, mastering rope darts and becoming a skilled gymnast/aerialist.
After Shang-Chi defected from the Ten Rings and moved to America, Xialing felt the sting of abandonment, especially after the murder of their mother and Wenwu’s cold, distant parental approach. Later, Xialing relocated to Macau and founded the Golden Daggers Club, the city’s premier fight club and bar.
A Reunion to Remember
Xialing reunites with Shang-Chi when the pair square off for a high-stakes battle at the Golden Daggers Club, while Shang-Chi’s best friend Katy Chen (Awkwafina) watches. Wenwu arrives unexpectedly at the club and whisks the trio away to the Ten Rings’ headquarters.
Her father reveals his plans to infiltrate Ta Lo, the magical village wherein he met Ying Li. He believes the town holds his wife captive and that she’s alive. With the help of Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), Xialing, Shang-Chi and Katy escape the Ten Rings and arrive at Ta Lo, where they meet Ying Nan (Michelle Yeoh), Ying Li’s sister.
Together, Xialing and the villagers of Ta Lo defend the realm from Wenwu and the Ten Rings. Unfortunately, Wenwu inadvertently releases the Dweller-in-Darkness, thinking he freed his wife. Thus, Xialing and Ta Lo partner with the Ten Rings to defeat the all-powerful creature. Meanwhile, the Dweller-in-Darkness kills Wenwu while the latter protects Shang-Chi.
After prevailing successfully over the Dweller-in-Darkness, Xialing assumes the mantle of leader of the Ten Rings following her father’s death.
The Real Deal:
Xialing is the real deal. She possesses astounding physical abilities, easily overcoming her enemies without so much as breaking a sweat. Not only that, but she taught herself everything she now knows. She didn’t have the privilege of her father’s tutelage growing up like Shang-Chi.
In short, I wouldn’t want to face her in a dark alley.
As she says in Shang-Chi:
I wasn’t allowed to train with the boys. But I watched everything they did, and taught myself to do it better.
Additionally, Xialing created a wildly successful business from the ground up — the Golden Daggers Club. And, in the end, she took the reins of the Ten Rings organization. This quote perfectly epitomizes Xialing’s personality:
If my dad wan’t going to let me into his empire, I was going to build my own.
Talk about a badass! Along with Xialing’s impressive fighting capabilities and business acumen, she’s brilliant in more ways than one. Her tenacity and grit know no bounds, and her can-do attitude inspires us all. Xialing inherently possesses empathy and vulnerability despite her seemingly tough exterior and would gladly sacrifice herself for her loved ones.
In Shang-Chi, she was willing to fall to her death to ensure her brother’s safety and the protection of Ta Lo. If that’s not the definition of bravery, I don’t know what is.
Why She Matters:
Xialing gives the MCU much-needed and long-overdue representation. Now, young Asian girls can see themselves in Xialing on the big screen — a badass, tough-as-nails and beautifully complicated leader who never gives up.
She’s downright inspirational and proof positive that you can be equal parts strong and vulnerable. Tough and sensitive.
So, be like Xialing. When your father doesn’t let you into his empire, build your own. When he doesn’t let you train, teach yourself. Don’t allow the weight of the world to compress you. Treasure and protect yourself. Reach for the highest of stars. Oh, and if you get the chance to beat up your older brother, take it.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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