"I thought I would be Sheena of the Jungle as a little girl"

Pam Grier’s recollection about imagining herself as Sheena of the Jungle during her childhood opens a window into the power of imagination, aspiration, and representation. As a young girl, Grier saw Sheena, a character known for her courage, independence, and prowess in the wild, as an emblem of strength and adventure. For a Black girl growing up in mid-20th century America, envisioning herself as such a figure was a bold act of self-identification and dreaming. Media portrayals of heroines, especially women of color in strong, adventurous lead roles, were almost nonexistent during Grier’s youth, and the act of latching onto a character like Sheena suggests yearning for both visibility and empowerment.

By aspiring to be Sheena, Grier was claiming authority over her own story, seeing herself as capable of extraordinary feats, unbounded by societal constraints or expectations. The jungle, primal and untamed, can serve as a metaphor for both challenge and possibility, a landscape where only the strongest survive and where one’s mettle is constantly tested. Placing herself in this environment as a heroine signifies both ambition and resilience; Grier wasn’t content with passive roles or background status.

Moreover, this childhood fantasy foreshadows her pioneering work as an actress, where she went on to embody strong, complex women in films that defied stereotypes. The idea of “being Sheena” isn’t simply about donning the costume or fighting on screen, but embracing the confidence, agency, and autonomy such a character embodies. It reflects a deep longing to see oneself reflected in positions of power and freedom, and the drive to make that vision real, both in personal life and professional endeavors. Grier’s words point to the essential influence of role models, imagined or real, in shaping identity and ambition, especially when systemic barriers limit whose stories are told and celebrated.