Q: What do you get when you look into a blonde’s eyes?

A: The back of her head!

This joke is just one the many million “blonde jokes” that have been around since Jean Harlow, and it was in 1953 when blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe first dyed her hair the color of corn silk and proved that Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. For years, blondes have had an unfair reputation of being stupid. Some people trace this back to a silly genetic myth that intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair. Brown and red are copper colors, so this is the supposed scientific explanation why blondes are dumb? Of course, many scientists, even scientists with blonde hair underneath their safety goggles, have rejected this myth. Despite this rejection, blondes have continually been tormented mercilessly for their stupidity and only given praise for their good looks and ability to avoid serious matters; exemplifying the phrase “Blondes have more fun.”

Blondes may have more fun, but they kick butt in court too. In this summer’s blockbuster Legally Blonde, directed by Robert Luketic, Harvard law student Elle Woods, played by Reese Witherspoon, proves that despite her blonde roots she too can litigate with the best of them. Woods, president of her sorority, straight-A fashion design major, and Hawaiian Tropic model, follows her ex-boyfriend, Warner, to Harvard law to prove that she is serious enough to be this aspiring senator’s wife. However, upon arrival she realizes that her blonde roots are even more “totally, so totally, truly heinous” when trying to mingle with the Ph. D’s and microbiologists. Woods realizes that in order to prove to Warner that she is a serious student, she must first prove it to herself. In doing this she also comes to the realization that the world holds more than what her Beverly Hills neighborhood boasts and proves that even the manicurist at the local nail salon has the potential to sparkle.

Legally Blonde teamed up with Vidal Sassons nationwide to promote the movie, and launched the first annual National Blonde Day, on July 9, 2001. Vidal Sasson salons offered free transformations to anyone brave enough to go blonde, because as Elle Woods always says, “If you are not genetically blonde, never, ever, show your roots.”

Andrea Jean, Vidal Sassoon Marketing Manager, said “We really enjoy making people look and feel their best, and going blonde is a great way to make a change and feel fabulous.”

If you took advantage of Vidal Sasson’s offer or are planning to go platinum, but fear the potential snickers, then there’s always the Blonde Legal Defense Club. Founded by the real-life Elle Woods while studying at Harvard Law, the club’s ultimate goal is to dispel blonde stereotypes and ensure that hair color is not a factor in work or social environments.

Fern Magnin, official spokesperson for the Club, says, “People assume you’re a bimbo. It’s like you’re a sculpture—pretty to look at but unable to speak or think. Well, I can change a light bulb on my own, thank you very much. We’re not going to stand for it anymore.”

As the movie’s slogan says, “Believing in yourself never goes out of style.” And … don’t forget about your roots.