Dare to define the next generation of heroic women in media?
The Heroic Girls Foundation is proud to announce the Women in Media Scholarship for the 2027 academic year. We’re challenging high school seniors and undergraduate students in California to use their creative voice—whether through writing, visual art, or film—to promote powerful, positive female representation in popular culture.
This year, we’re expanding our program to recognize more diverse talents and provide greater financial support.
Size and Scope of Scholarship
The Heroic Girls Foundation will award three $500 scholarships to women attending college in California who are studying media creation (filmmaking, writing, art, journalism or television).
Purpose of the Scholarship
To promote better representation of women and girls in popular media by offsetting the cost of higher education for women entering the field of media creation (film, art, journalism and television).
Announcing Our 2026 Scholarship Winners
| Winner | Submission Title | Summary | Full Submission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monae Everett | “Death Is Not The End” | Monae explored how Shuri’s journey in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever mirrored her own struggles with grief and helped her realize the importance of letting go . | READ FULL ESSAY HERE |
| Maybella Prurty | “How Harley Quinn helped me love myself” | Maybella detailed how Harley Quinn’s loud, messy, and unapologetically queer persona gave her the permission she needed to embrace her own energetic identity and find belonging in the sport of roller derby | READ FULL ESSAY HERE |
This year, we’re expanding our program to recognize more diverse talents and provide greater financial support.
The Challenge: This Year’s Theme
Your submission must address the following prompt:
Redefining the Female Antagonist
- Focus: Complexity and moral ambiguity in female characters.
- Prompt: For decades, female characters were often forced to be either “pure hero” or “one-dimensional villain.” Create a character or analyze an existing character who is complex, morally gray, or an anti-hero. Explain how this character’s flaws and moral ambiguity make her a more honest or empowering figure than a traditional perfect heroine.
Choose Your Medium: The Heroic Trio
| Category | Requirement | Guidelines |
|---|---|---|
| Essay/Written Work | A non-fiction analysis, critique, or reflective narrative responding to the annual theme. | 1,000–1,500 words. Must be submitted as a double-spaced PDF. |
| Art Project/Design | A visual piece (illustration, photography, graphic novel page, etc.) depicting an original or re-envisioned heroic female figure. | 1–5 high-resolution images submitted with a 250-word Artist Statement explaining your concept and connection to the theme. |
| Short Film/Media | A concise narrative, documentary, animation, or high-quality video essay. | Maximum 5 minutes running time. Submit via a private/unlisted video link (YouTube/Vimeo) along with a 250-word Synopsis. |
Key Dates & Eligibility
Submission Timeline
| Phase | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | January 1st, 2026 |
| Submission Deadline | March 15th, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST |
| Winners Announced | May 30th, 2026 |
Eligibility
- Gender: Must be a female-identifying student.
- Residency: Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident.
- Status: Must be a current high school senior or an undergraduate student attending an accredited college or university in California in Fall 2026.
- Field of Study: Must be pursuing a degree in a media-related field (e.g., film, journalism, communications, art, digital media, writing, television) at an accredited college or university in California.
- Originality: AI submissions are subject to immediate disqualification.
Transparency & Intellectual Property
- Judging: All submissions will be evaluated using a clear, publicly posted rubric focused equally on Originality, Relevance to Theme, Execution, and Impact.
- Your Rights: We believe creators should own their work. You retain all rights to your original essay, art, or film. By submitting, you grant the Heroic Girls Foundation a non-exclusive license to display winning submissions for promotional purposes, with full credit to you.
Ready to apply?
Applications Open January 1, 2026
View the official judging rubric
Questions? Contact us at [email protected]