Undoubtedly one of the most popular shonen anime series of the past decade, My Hero Academia is filled with powerful heroes and villains.
The story follows Deku as the teenage protagonist, but his journey subverts typical shonen anime expectations by giving significant attention to the roles of girls and women. There are numerous female students at U.A. High School and beyond, along with professors and professional heroes. In the end, the strongest female characters in My Hero Academia never back down from a challenge.
They face their fears with unmatched strength, combining raw power with emotional intelligence that often surpasses that of their male counterparts. While they may receive less spotlight than the boys and men, the female characters in My Hero Academia also have some of the most compelling personalities. They don't always make the right choices, but they embody meaningful themes that make them fascinating to anyone watching the anime or reading the manga.
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Updated on February 22, 2025 by Ajay Aravind: The conclusion of the My Hero Academia manga in 2024 left fans satisfied—if somewhat adrift—despite the ongoing popularity of the Vigilantes spin-off. The anime is expected to wrap up with Season 8 later in 2025, marking the end of the 2010s shonen revival. As the girls and women of MHA remain essential to the story, this article has been updated with five additional entries.
15. Manami Aiba Is a Great Example of Redemption
Power: Love
Two minor villains in My Hero Academia, Gentle Criminal and La Brava, were on their way to infiltrate the U.A. Cultural Festival. Gentle wanted to prove something insignificant, and La Brava was there purely out of love for him. Watching her beg Deku and the other Pro Heroes to let Gentle go was an especially heartbreaking moment. However, that’s not the only reason Manami Aiba ranks among the best female characters in the anime.
Although Gentle Criminal was imprisoned, he was released during the Tartarus escape incident. He and his former partner joined the heroes, and it was finally Manami’s time to shine. Without her, the Meta Liberation Army’s Skeptic might have seized control of the floating U.A. defense systems. Tomura Shigaraki might have escaped had Manami not quickly regained access. It’s always great to see a villain-to-hero arc, especially with outsiders like Manami Aiba.
14. Inko Midoriya Desperately Tries to Protect Her Son
Power: Attraction of Small Objects
Inko Midoriya doesn’t appear as frequently as other female characters, but her presence is deeply impactful. My Hero Academia often places teens in life-threatening situations, making it easy to forget they’re still kids. Inko and other parents remind viewers of Class 1-A’s humanity. She also represents a rarely explored dynamic: the families of U.A. students.
While the Pro Heroes fight, their families are left at home, watching the news or worrying about their children's whereabouts. Inko’s emotional plea to All Might for her son’s safety is really a plea for all adults to protect the students. Just because Class 1-A is incredibly capable doesn’t mean they should be on the frontlines. Inko’s crying may seem comedic, but it reflects the real emotional toll of willingly putting a child in danger.
13. Lady Nagant Is a Nuanced Character With Huge Potential
Powers: Rifle, Air Walk
Lady Nagant is one of the more complex characters in the My Hero Academia universe. Once a hopeful young hero, she was eventually used by the government as an assassin. Her disillusionment with the system led her to imprisonment in Tartarus. After being freed, she briefly worked for All For One—but being a ruthless villain wasn't truly in her nature.
At a crucial moment, Lady Nagant chose to believe in heroism again. She wanted to believe that Pro Heroes could actually improve people's lives and be more than mere tools of the system. Her final words to Deku affirm that he is a true hero, revealing her still-burning ideals. Lady Nagant is a fantastic female character because she shows great depth despite having limited screen time.
12. Toru Hagakure Shines Even Without Her Power
Power: Invisibility
Powers in My Hero Academia are loosely inspired by Western comic book superpowers, and invisibility is one of the most common ones. Toru Hagakure, from Class 1-A, is the "Stealth Girl" of U.A. High School and one of the friendliest characters in the series. Neither her classmates nor the audience can see her face, but her reactions always clearly convey her emotions. She can also produce blinding flashes of light by adjusting her power, making it surprisingly effective in combat.
Thankfully, My Hero Academia uses Hagakure's invisibility more for comic relief than anything sinister, and she's more than happy to play that role. She was once suspected of being the infamous U.A. traitor, a belief seemingly confirmed by her suspicious behavior. However, it turned out that Hagakure was actually wary of Yuga Aoyama—the real traitor—who would never have been caught without her help. If she hadn’t followed Aoyama that day, the heroes’ efforts could have been seriously compromised.
11. Mina Ashido Is Both Heroic and the Life of the Party
Power: Acid
Formerly known as the Alien Queen, Mina Ashido is the heart and soul of Class 1-A. Her cheerful attitude uplifts her classmates, especially when morale is low. Ashido works hard to perfect her power and believes no one should be left behind. She's also a key reason behind Eijiro Kirishima’s development as a person, friend, and protector. Now known as the Ridley Hero: Pinky, Ashido’s pro hero name references both the Alien franchise and her vibrant skin tone.
Ashido has shown remarkable courage, even in the face of terrifying threats like Gigantomachia. Though she may not be the strongest or fastest, she’s one of the most consistent and dependable. She throws herself into any situation with full confidence and gives it her all, no matter what. She's also one of the few who can handle Minoru Mineta’s inappropriate behavior without losing her cool.
10. Mirko Keeps Fighting As Long As She Can Breathe
Power: Rabbit
Mirko is one of the top pro heroines in My Hero Academia, as tough as she is relentless. The Rabbit Hero knows she's strong and uses that confidence to her advantage. Her rabbit-themed power might sound cute, but it’s far from harmless—her raw physical strength surpasses nearly every other character.
Even when gravely injured, Mirko keeps going. She refuses to give up as long as she has any strength left, continuing to fight even after losing two limbs to Tomura Shigaraki. In her own words, she made peace with death long ago and doesn’t fear dying in the line of duty. Like Katsuki Bakugo, she may come off as hot-headed, but her fiery spirit stems from her overwhelming strength. Fans were thrilled to learn that she survived the manga’s ending, though her limited screen time keeps her ranked below some of her peers.
9. Nemuri Kayama Gave Her Life in the Line of Duty
Power: Sleep Inducement
Despite her seemingly flirtatious persona, Nemuri Kayama took her teaching role very seriously. As the modern hero art history teacher at U.A., her classes weren’t often shown, but she still proved her worth as Pro Hero Midnight. Fans loved seeing her judge the U.A. Sports Festival and express pride in students like Eijiro Kirishima and Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu.
Midnight wasn’t driven by ego, which is why she respected Mineta when he tactically “defeated” her during the first semester finals. More importantly, she risked her life during the Paranormal Liberation War, giving crucial instructions to Momo Yaoyorozu even as danger closed in. Midnight was ultimately killed off-screen, but the grief of her students was a powerful tribute to her impact.
8. Momo Yaoyorozu Fiercely Protects Her Friends
Power: Creation
Extremely intelligent and organized, Momo Yaoyorozu is one of the most responsible members of Class 1-A. She has to be—her power requires her to know the precise chemical structure of anything she wants to create from her body. Beneath her composed exterior lies a caring girl still gaining confidence. It takes encouragement from Shoto Todoroki for Momo to step into her role as a true pro hero.
Lovingly nicknamed Yao-Momo by her friends, she deeply values her relationships and is open about her life. Though reliable, she doesn’t hesitate to break rules to help someone in need. She even helps resupply Bakugo’s rescue team despite being instructed to stay in the dorms. Given her intellect, persistence, and incredibly versatile power, Momo is undoubtedly a rising star.
7. Nana Shimura Was a Mentor Worthy of All Might
Powers: One For All, Float
Nana Shimura was All Might’s mentor and the last natural-born person to wield One For All, though she only appears in flashbacks. She died heroically at the hands of All For One, long before All Might was strong enough to confront the villain. Still, Shimura’s legacy lives on through All Might and Deku. She’s the one who taught All Might to smile in the face of danger, a gesture that became his signature.
Her one mistake—separating from her son—led to her grandson, Tenko, becoming Tomura Shigaraki, something All For One happily exploited. Still, her greatest achievement was choosing All Might as her successor. Even after death, her vestige within One For All continued to support both him and Deku.
6. Kyoka Jiro’s Passion Helped Weaken All For One
Power: Earphone Jack
Kyoka Jiro always gives her all, whether training as a hero or writing a song for the school festival. Like many others, she struggles with insecurities, but she never lets them hold her back. She’s learned to ask for and accept help when needed.
Jiro is also great at motivating others. Her passion for music is infectious, and she shares it openly. The original song she wrote for the school festival is still beloved by fans today, and was the only thing that brought a smile to the traumatized Eri. Her performance against All For One was especially impressive—she managed to weaken his power library not just with her abilities, but with the strength of her heart.
5. Tsuyu Asui Has Been a Fan Favorite Since the Beginning
Power: Frog
Tsuyu Asui is the voice of reason in Class 1-A, often acting as the group’s moral compass. She speaks her mind and isn’t afraid to call out her friends when they cross the line—like when she reprimanded the Bakugo rescue team for breaking their promise and endangering themselves. She also tends to be hard on herself when she feels she’s failed, but her strong relationships help keep her grounded.
Although her screen time has decreased, Tsuyu has been a fan favorite since her introduction. Her adorable frog-like persona adds to her charm. She’s a determined and conscientious hero who’s bound to achieve great things—if the series ever gives her the spotlight she deserves. Sadly, fans hoped she’d play a bigger role in the Final War arc, but most battles were handled by Ochaco.
4. Cathleen Bate Lived and Died Fiercely and Freely
Power: New Order
Cathleen Bate, also known as Star and Stripe, was the strongest woman in the world and arguably one of the most powerful characters in My Hero Academia. When the United Nations hesitated to assist Japan, she took action herself. Her story arc lasted less than five episodes, but her presence was unforgettable.
Even All For One feared facing Star and Stripe, though Tomura/AFO had no choice when he found her hovering over the ocean. Despite wielding what many consider the strongest power in the series, Tomura’s identity crisis allowed him just enough time to escape. Though Star and Stripe was ultimately killed, she managed to inflict massive damage on All For One’s power arsenal.
3. Eri Represents Hope for the Next Generation
Power: Rewind
Eri is a little girl with a power so incredible that it can revert someone to any point in their life—even to an embryonic state and beyond. Tragically, this power led to her imprisonment by the Shie Hassaikai. Their leader, Overhaul, tortured Eri and exploited her Rewind power to create a drug that nullifies other powers, prompting Deku and the heroes to launch a desperate rescue.
Having been a prisoner for so long, Eri was amazed to discover kindness from strangers. Her greatest strength is her radiant joy. Whether cheering for Deku at the school festival or helping with Christmas gifts, her smile is one of My Hero Academia’s greatest treasures. A symbol of hope, Eri embodies the importance of the pro heroes’ work.
2. Ochaco Uraraka Shows the Most Growth in MHA
Power: Zero Gravity
Ochaco Uraraka is the most prominent female hero in My Hero Academia, even if she’s occasionally outshined by others. Her feelings for Izuku Midoriya significantly impact her development and the story as a whole. She helped Deku rejoin the U.A. Academy and convinced the public to let him recover within school grounds.
Uraraka shows the most growth among the female characters, likely due to her frequent screen time. She constantly proves her worth, both in battle and emotionally. When she feels inadequate, she takes action to improve. When her friends are in danger, she jumps in to protect them. She’s brave, loyal, and stronger than many give her credit for.
1. Himiko Toga Never Wanted Anything More Than to Belong
Power: Transform
Himiko Toga is a villain adored by fans, making her the best female character on this list. She delights in causing fear and pain, mistaking these feelings for love due to her lonely upbringing. Like many villains in My Hero Academia, she always felt like an outsider, someone who didn’t belong in society. That’s a big part of what makes her so compelling.
Toga’s “evil” stems from people refusing to understand her. Blood-based powers are taboo in hero society, and hers terrified others to the point that she started seeing herself as a monster. Her obsession with Deku and Uraraka stems from the fact that they made her feel like she belonged—especially now that her closest friend, Twice, is dead. Anime-only fans will fully appreciate her impact when the epilogue is adapted.
