Chances are you’ve slayed zero vampires today. You probably haven’t solved a single murder either.

Yet, if you’re a Millennial female, you probably claim Buffy Summers or Veronica Mars as a role model.

Both "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Veronica Mars," coming to our sister network, Pivot, tonight, feature two rare examples of female characters on TV that both kick ass and have complex, rewarding personal lives. Millennial girls grew up with these heroines, and the lessons we took from them endured, helping us (in the words of Hannah Horvath) “become the person that I am.”

What makes these characters remarkable isn’t simply their prowess in “work” mode but their ability to couple their toughness with complex, healthy personal lives filled with rich, fulfilling relationships with friends and family. They own their sexuality, can get emotionally vulnerable, and remain who they are even when enjoying “special time” with their leading men.

But while Buffy and Veronica are rare, they’re part of an important lineage of strong women characters on TV. The development of the female character has happened via small and imperfect victories, inch by inch. So here’s a look at the characters that allowed Buffy, Veronica, and other awesome ladies to get written into existence.