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Every Thursday, as Scandal fans grab our glasses of wine and attempt to avoid cardiac arrest, we can’t help but be reminded that our favorite show’s lead star is truly one of a kind.

In fact, Kerry Washington owned 2013. Yeah, we said it! The 36-year-old is not only an amazing actress who refuses to let societal norms hinder her in any way, but she is an intellectual, fashion icon and role model who handles it all with style and grace (and perfect skin).

As she continues to make history in the ethos of Hollywood, we know there is so much more to expect from this superstar. So as the new year approaches, we’ve decided to take a look back at all the reasons why Ms. Washington kicked major ass in 2013.

1. Scandal Straight Stuntin’ On These Hoes: 

All we can say is Scandal, Scandal and more Scandal. Yes, Washington continues to give us our weekly dose of delight as Olivia Pope on ABC’s smash hit. Whether she is fixing massive problems on Capitol Hill with her killer team, baptizing new homes in Vermont alongside the President, or sipping on wine with Cyrus, she manages to do it all with precision and killer threads.

According to Forbes Magazine, the show is doing so well in the ratings race, averaging 12.5 million viewers a week, and ranking among the “top 3 broadcast-network dramas in the key 18-49 demographic, making it a 63% jump from last year.” Oh, and did we mention that Ms. Washington is breaking major barriers, being the first African-American lead actress in a primetime drama since the 1960s? TIME Magazine even ranked Olivia Pope as #2 on the their “Most influential fictional characters of 2013” list. So as Scandal continues to sizzle, we continue to bask in Olivia Pope’s magnificence.

2. Kerry the Kick-Ass Cover Girl

Kerry Washington was this season’s #1 cover girl. Not only did the Bronx-born beauty grace the covers of high-profile magazines such as Glamour, ELLE, People, Essence and the controversial Lucky, but she also made waves when she appeared on Vanity Fair‘s August issue, making her the first black women to grace its cover since Beyonce in 2005. One thing is for sure – Kerry definitely takes it all in stride, even appearing on The Ellen Show to poke fun at her “Kale Quarterly” and “Pantsuit Monthly” covers. Check out the video below and be ready to laugh your ass off.

3. Dr. Washington is pure brains & beauty: 

This past May, a Scandal hit George Washington University when Kerry Washington delivered the commencement speech at her alma mater. Not only did she poke fun at herself, saying:

“I know what some of you are thinking. You’re thinking, ‘We’re celebrating our academic and intellectual achievement with that lady who’s having an affair with the president on that TV show?’”

But she also dropped some serious words of wisdom, when she told grads:

“You and you alone are the only person who can live the life that writes the story you were meant to tell.”

Oh yeah, not to mention the fact that she received an Honorary Doctorate degree in Fine Arts. Yes, that is Dr. Washington to you.

4. Please Meet The World’s Best Dressed Woman:

The world voted and all hail Kerry! Yes, when news broke that our girl was voted “Best Dressed Woman of 2013” by People Magazine, not many were surprised. Kerry continuously slays on camera and off, making best dressed lists more often than Kanye has Twitter rants. Whether she is rocking a couture gown, a white Burberry jacket or a floral A-Line dress, she knows how to work it and make a statement. When People asked the beauty for her secret, she simply stated:

“I don’t wear a lot of pants. When I go somewhere I want to know I’m going to be comfortable and I’m dressed for the event.”

Apparently, Kerry had to work hard to become a fashion aficionado. In October, she told Glamour:

“I researched her like any other character. I actually called Tracee Ellis Ross, who’s a good friend, and literally asked, “How do you pronounce Hermès?” Red-Carpet Kerry needed to know.”

Talk about a breath of fresh air!

5. Live From New York….It’s Saturday Night: 

We surely love a woman who can make us laugh. While we love our Olivia Pope and all her seriousness (could she please smile just a little), it was pure magic when Washington appeared on Saturday Night Live and managed to poke fun at the sketch comedy’s lack of diversity (take that, Keenan). Not only did she show off her plethora of acting skills, but she did so while hiding that baby bump of hers. Check out one of her hilarious skits below.

6. Our Golden Gal: 

At this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards, Kerry Washington became the first African-American in nearly 40 years to earn a nomination in a lead series. Although Washington ended up losing to Claire Danes, her moment alongside Diahann Carroll was one for the books. You see, in 1969, Carroll received a Best Supporting Actress nod for her role in the hit television series Julia. The NBC sitcom was the first to cast an African-American woman as the lead in a non-stereotypical role. Having these two icons standing in unity side by side was a historical moment and shed light on the lack of diversity in Hollywood. Kerry shrugged off the snub and continued to come out on top.

7. First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage, Then Comes The Baby Bump:

Yeah, so Kerry managed to keep a very big secret from us for quite some time. Taking a page out of Olivia Pope’s handbook, Kerry keeps her personal life very private. So it came as a huge surprise when reports surfaced that she tied the knot with former NFL player Nnamdi Asomugha. Not only were we blindsided by the news, but we couldn’t help but jump for joy for our girl. Shortly after her nuptials, baby bump speculation started running rampant and no matter how hard she tried to hide it, it was only a matter of time before the truth was exposed. As this newlywed steadily awaits the arrival of her bundle of joy, we are all just sitting back thinking of prospective baby names.

Here’s to 2014 and another year of Kerry Washington in all her kick-ass glory.

SOURCE: Forbes, Glamour, People | PHOTO CREDIT: Vanity Fair, Glamour, Getty, NBC

15 Photos Of Kerry Washington and Her Baby Bump (PHOTOS)
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