Hi! I'm looking for something where the female protagonist is someone who is looked up to and respected by people as a leader/idol or such, and not because she's pretty or whatnot.

Examples:
No Side - she's respected by a yakuza family for being tough and unyeilding.
Fruits Basket - she becomes treasured by the entire Sohma family.
Warau Kanoko-sama - respected by those who know her for her intelligence and tactics.
Zettai Heiwa Daisakusen - a princess loved by her subjects for her kindness.

Female-to-male gender benders (like 1/2 Prince) don't count unless they're aware she's a girl. Male-to-female ones (like No Side) are good.

Any genre is fine, just make sure it's good. Thanks!

Kaichou wa Maid-Sama
Akagami no Shirayukihime
Oresama Teacher
Love So Life

Female leads, not protagonists:

Beelzebub
Gwisin Byeolgok?
Nisekoi?
Yankee-kun to Megane-chan
Girls of the Wild's
Hidan no Aria
Skip Beat!?

Gokusen - She's the "ojou", looked up to as sort of the lead female of the yakuza family... and respected for her fighting prowess... and eventually by many as a teacher.

Medaka Box and Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!?

I have been interested in manga where the female lead is important in politics/military, lately, so that's all that comes to mind at the moment 🙂

Red River- you probably know of this one. The people think of her as a goddess, more or less. While I have problems with parts of the story, it can also be fantastic as Yuri begins to take charge....
Saiunkoku Monogatari- should also count, since she is the emperor's consort and thus has a lot of power within the government and such.

And there's manga where the girl is the leader of some type of gang

Ah! Itoshi no Banchou-sama- extremely light and not very serious, but I love how the girl is able to amass so many followers.

Gokusen is absolutely perfect for what I wanted, thank you! Red River was wonderful as well!

Kyoko in Skip Beat unfortunately doesn't have as many "followers" as she deserves, so that doesn't quite make the cut. Same goes with Love So Life.

As for the others, I've either read them or am looking through them.

Please recommend more! Anything along the lines of Gokusen especially.

(Not in any particular order)

Marginal-the idolism is more like worship and not the mc i think with a boy=>girl scenario
Gisèle Alain-becomes the idol of her appartment block and anyone she helps
Ageha o ou monotachi-mc has been both a star in one solar system and hunted in another so up to you.
Lost seven?-I didnt read much of this so I can't give much advice but it has a group of guys lead by/working for the princess.
Examurai-same scenario as above...but I like it more XD
Magic-this has a very famous idol in it but the plot differs a lot from the norm.
Ciel-I would say she's become an idol to the magic school...its got that kind of winning people over protagonist anyways.
Hell's angels-Can't really remember entirely but pretty sure she becomes a key player later on.
Nausicaa of the valley of wind-I'd say this is closest to what you want, princess of the village idolised by all and gains more followers as it goes on....
Alfheim no kishi-mc is loved by all (apart from the antagonists obv.) even elves
Bokura no kiseki-well its split between the present day and the past and its far more present than past but in the past the mc was a princess that was pretty well loved.
Dear school gang leader-becomes a sort of gang cult centered around the girl...
Akuma to love song-Gains popularity slowly through the series...and leads at one point, only idolised by some though...
Gate 7-she's not the mc but one would argue the manga is very focused around her and she is well liked by lots of people and wins over lots too.
Rure-She becomes idolised by a tribe at one point and then desired for her power but not many people know of her so she isn't an idol (at least at the point I read to.)
Sengoku strays-The type that wins everyone's hearts and gives it her all and stuff like that...I wouldn't say she's a fully fledged idol yet but she's definately loved by most...
:Reversal-counts as well if you count the undead as people XD

h

Legend of Basara, Tokyo Crazy Paradise and Saver . 🙂

If I’m upset, hold me and tell me how beautiful I am.
If I growl, retreat to a safe distance and throw chocolate.

Ashita no Ousama - Kinda, since she progressed and made wonderful plays.
Beauty Pop? - Not sure if this fits well...
Full Moon o Sagashite - It's not really about her appearance but her voice.
Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou - She was idolised due to being perfect in everything she did.(This is only the first part though)
Matsuri Special - She's the "wrestling princess".
Kiniro no Corda - She is respected for her love for music and the warm sound she produce.
Koi dano Ai dano - Sequel of Warau Kanoko-sama.

"A Lady Needs Time To Prepare. Even If It Takes A Year, A Gentlemen Must Wait." ~ Wilhelm Mölders(Emma)

Seirei no Moribito I recommend you watch the anime
also Jormungand and Black Lagoon

I second Basara and Saver! Read those! 🙂

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if ignorance is bliss, I guess that would explain why I'm so miserable!