By the mid-90s, this began to change, with significantly more television shows featuring women as female leads.

Over the years, Olivia Benson has become the show’s rock, injecting the show with necessary humanity.

And turns out, she was right.

Mariska Hargitay addresses the audience at Glamour’s Women of the Year Awards

While their relationshiphas always been platonic, fans think that there’s something more between them.

I’ve been on this train for 22 years and I have never given up hope LMAO."

Mariska Hargitay poses with “SVU” creator Dick Wolf