On March 3, Daria turns 20. The MTV cartoon, which ran from 1997 to 2002, became a cult classic thanks to its sharply drawn protagonist, a cynical teenager named Daria Morgendorffer who rarely changes her facial expression while commenting—as sardonically as she does intelligently—on the world around her. The Beavis & Butthead spinoff was refreshingly identifiable to members of the ’90s generation who weren’t buying into the heavy rotation of boy bands otherwise offered up on the network. In celebration of Daria’s birthday, TIME looks back at the funniest, bravest and realest women and girls drawn into existence on TV cartoons.

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