Pride in Zelda: Five Female The Legend of Zelda Characters That Are Ultimate Gay Icons

Although The Legend of Zelda is my favorite series by far, it is difficult to say that it presents plurality when it comes to characters who identify as LGBTQ+. Of course, we always have nods toward the possibility of more plural personalities, like flamboyant characters Tingle or Bolson, or even hints of a possible gay crush, as is the case in Tears of the Kingdom. In fact, we even went as far as Link getting into drag to sneak into Gerudo Town, as the village only allows women to enter (by the way, that was one of my favorite parts of Breath of the Wild). But with that being said, we’re yet to see more explicitly queer representation in the series, without forcing stereotypes.

However, as a proud gay man, it never bothered me too much, as I’ve always been more attracted to powerful and striking female characters. Whether it’s Sonya Blade in Mortal Kombat, the Pink Power Ranger Kimberly Hart in the Power Rangers TV show, or even the tranquil Gym Leader Erika in the Pokémon anime, we all love powerful women who break out of the stereotype of a damsel in distress, take control, and play an important role in the narrative of a story. Even Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of iconic female characters like Princess Peach and Princess Zelda, spoke about the subject (curiously controversial for some) ten years ago with gaming news portal Kotaku.

Following this gay and girl power energy, and in celebration of Pride Month, I selected five iconic women from the Legend of Zelda series who exude female empowerment while being absolute gay icons at the same time!

The Great Fairy

What exactly makes a female character “iconic” for the gays? Besides the qualities that come with being self-reliant, I believe we’re also feel fascinated by over-the-top personalities and looks. We look up to women that are sympathetic and receptive, but who can also hold their own and look fierce while doing it.

With that being said, let’s start with the most obvious choice on this list. The Great Fairy was introduced to the series in A Link to the Past, and as she gained more of an important role and personality, the more she began to resemble a beautiful drag queen. The scream when you meet her? The dramatic make up? The long and colorful acrylic nails? The wig? We live for her. Sure, in some entries like Wind Waker, she might have looked extremely creepy and bland, but her incarnation in Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask remains the most memorable one for gamers to date.

In recent years, she seems to have found her definitive persona in her most extravagant, voluptuous, and loud version, as in Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and even spin-offs like Hyrule Warriors and Age of Calamity. She is an icon, she is a legend, and she will always be the moment.

Agitha

Category is: bugs! We love a delusional princess. The self-proclaimed “princess of insects” Agitha is a ten-year-old Baby Spice look-a-like who lives in her own little castle in Twilight Princess‘ Castle Town. Very friendly and caring, Agitha mentions how she is throwing her sparkling insects a ball (!), and asks for Link’s help to collect as many of them as possible (twenty-four species, to be exact).

Agitha seems to have a soft spot for all kinds of animals; she isn’t afraid of Wolf Link like most of the townspeople, who run at the very sight of him walking around. On the contrary, she refers to him as a pet dog and talks about the possibilities of them playing together. Extra points for her not being so prissy. It’s like they say: never judge a book by its cover. I think we all can relate to that.

She truly lives her own fantasy, and we love her for that. Her kindhearted and bubbly personality, her gothic looks, and the fact that the interior of her glittering posh castle looks like a Mariah Carey music video earned her a spot on this list.

Urbosa

How can you not fall in love with a figure like Urbosa? Absolute leader of the Gerudo in Breath of the Wild, she stands out between the four Champions and in the plot overall as one of the most beautiful, wise, kind, and powerful characters in the series (Urbosa’s Fury is the best Champion ability by far, in my opinion). She is the embodiment of tenacity and confidence.

The “Gerudo Tempest” also shares an almost maternal relationship with Princess Zelda, which is really heartwarming to see. In fact, I believe that this is another aspect that makes us fall in love with some of these ladies. As RuPaul would say: call her Mother.

Her fearlessness to fight and protect her all-woman tribe, her nurturing personality, and her over-the-top make up and fashion made Urbosa one of the most popular characters among queer people. Charisma. Uniqueness. Nerve. Talent. The power of lightning. She checks all the boxes.

Midna

The library is open. I’ll be honest: although Twilight Princess is one of my favorite games in the franchise, Midna always rubbed me the wrong way, at least in the beginning. The fact that she kept reading Link and being so mean towards him was so off-putting to me. However, as the story unfolds and the relationship between them develops, she started to really grow on me, as we are able to understand where she is coming from, her history, and where her heart is.

The jaw-dropping reveal in the game is when her true form is unveiled. I was gagged. Her personality and sassiness remains the same though, so much so that the first thing she says to Link when she regains her true body (extra points for the outfit showing some leg) is: “Am I so beautiful that you’ve no words left?” Iconic if you ask me.

She is the princess with no throne, and when it comes down to it, she is a fabulous, shady, complex, and munificent creature. And we love her for that.

Princess Zelda

I remember exactly how I felt playing Ocarina of Time in 1998 and finding out that the super mysterious, ninja-like character Sheik was actually (spoiler alert again) Princess Zelda. My jaw was on the floor. These days, it might not seem so groundbreaking anymore, but the fact that that theoretically male figure was actually the heiress to the throne of Hyrule in disguise left me completely bewildered.

Is she a drag king? Genderfluid? Well, labels aside: Princess Zelda is a total badass! Although in some games she took on the role of damsel in distress (I’m not sure why, since she is very powerful and a born leader), her participation in the series gradually became more prominent and complex. My favorite moments are in Breath of the Wild, where she is solely responsible for sealing Ganon inside Hyrule Castle for one hundred years, and in Twilight Princess, where she battles alongside Link using her iconic Bow of Light in an epic finale against Ganondorf. Goosebumps.

Well, how did you like it? Putting together this list has made me reflect on how representation (of any kind), even in video games, can still be a touchy subject, for reasons that are beyond my understanding. However, we’ve come a long way from literally any action, adventure, or RPG game being based solely on “Save the Princess.” The possibilities are endless, so here’s to countless more adventures led by powerful women and more inclusive lead characters.

Be sure to check out more about the creator of this article’s exclusive artwork, myro. He is a Brazilian illustrator who also loves all things Nintendo. You can follow him on Instagram and check out more of his work on his Behance.

Pride in Zelda is an ongoing yearly series in which we highlight the Legend of Zelda’s approaches to inclusivity, spotlight relevant characters, and speak with fans from marginalized communities. It is our desire that the series’ installments be received with open minds and expose readers to new perspectives.

Vitor Mansano

Gaymer, vegan and obsessed with everything from the 90’s.