The Shonda Rhimes Effect

By Anna Kate Mereness

Edited by Taylor Morgan

SHONDA RHIMES / @shondarhimes and @shondaland on Instagram

An icon. A pioneer. The glass ceiling has long been shattered when it comes to Shonda Rhimes’ career. Born in Chicago, Illinois, as the youngest of six children, Rhimes took a keen interest in storytelling early on. As a Dartmouth graduate, Rhimes–like many other post-grads–was initially unsure about where she wanted her career to go. She originally had aspirations of being a novelist, but ended up attending USC for film school. 

One of Rhimes’ first projects was the writing of “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.” Though this was an entertaining and well-loved project, the true gem of Rhimes' career was the project that came next. The sensational “Grey’s Anatomy” premiered in 2005 and immediately became a cultural phenomenon. At the time, both “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives” were taking off, and television itself became increasingly “sexy.” 

Rhimes’ career did not begin and end with “Grey’s Anatomy.” She went on to become not only a writer, but a showrunner and a producer. Rhimes went on to create the breakout shows “Scandal,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Bridgerton” and “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.” In 2005, her multimedia empire, Shondaland, was also established. 

Shonda Rhimes is known for her extreme plot twists and unpredictable storylines. Rhimes has explained that she writes with the idea that audiences can adore and look up to a character, yet that same character might suddenly die or reveal a significant flaw. As Jake Shane has said, “anything can happen in Shondaland.”

The Shondaland CEO has famously said, “You cannot be what you cannot see.” Rhimes has been on a consistent mission to bring representation and complexities to her projects and television. In the past, female characters were often reduced to a singular adjective–the “hot” one, the “smart” one or the “mean” one. Rhimes has been known to bring strong, multifaceted female characters to the screen, such as Christina Yang from “Grey’s Anatomy,” Olivia Pope from “Scandal” and Annalise Keating from “How to Get Away With Murder.” Rhimes has worked to close this gap in television and provide the audience with complex female protagonists. 

Shondaland has yet to reach its peak. The company continues to produce content and innovate new concepts. At just 55, Shonda Rhimes has solidified her legacy as a titan and an icon, proving that any project she touches turns to gold.