Cherie Currie

The Runaways may have opened the door for female rockers, but they also left it open for the hypersexualized female pop star. Now with The Runaways movie out today, it's the perfect time to look at the band's legacy.

The girls used their sexuality to garner attention, create a bad-ass image, and sell records. Yet there was no national outcry when teenagers Joan Jett and Cherie Currie went on stage dressed in lingerie. Maybe it's because it was the '70s or there was no Internet to complain to, but The Runaways' success was considered a positive thing for women. And rightly so.

Twelve years ago when Britney broke through, she was dressed in a seductive school uniform and looking straight into the camera like it was Justin Timberlake. When Miley Cyrus pole-danced at the Teen Choice Awards last year, it was not just on stage but on an ice-cream truck. Sure, The Runaways sexed up their act because they wanted to be liked, they wanted the crowd to go wild, and they wanted to be successful, but it was about empowerment, not capitalizing on the barely legal (or illegal) fantasies of men everywhere.

Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning joined The Runaways director Floria Sigismondi for last night's premiere during the SXSW Film Festival, but Cherie Currie completed their trio at the afterparty. It's been a long few weeks for the girls after promotional stops across their country, but they'll get some rest — and Kristen can finally enjoy a vacation — once the film hits theaters today. Kristen made sure to change out of her red carpet outfit into her favorite jeans and t-shirt, while Dakota stuck with what's becoming her usual in a blazer and skinny pants.

At his London premiere, Robert Pattinson talks about Remember Me competing with Kristen Stewart's The Runaways before heading to the afterparty, and Peter Facinelli explains how chicken breasts are part of his Twilight preparations. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook for all the latest celebrity gossip!

Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning caused minor pandemonium last night when they arrived at NYC's Landmark Sunshine theater for their NYC premiere of The Runaways, presented by Tommy Hilfiger and Quintessentially. We had a first look at Kristen showing some leg in her Pucci minidress, and Dakota also looked great in her Valentino. We caught up with Dakota at Tuesday's press junket, where she opened up about the process of channeling Cherie Currie. Yesterday, she was happy to talk about all the fun she and her female costars had on set and said Kristen's become "one of my best friends." Kristen, meanwhile, revealed she occasionally gets tired of all the prep it takes to get ready for events. She also weighed in on the Breaking Dawn director drama and said she's excited to see who they pick, and once press for this film has wrapped, she actually has a vacation coming! Exclusive video from the exciting night coming up so stay tuned for PopSugar Rush.

To see more from Dakota and Kristen's big night, just read more

Real-life Joan Jett and Cherie Currie strike a pose with Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning at the screening of The Runaways. The differences between the icons and the actresses make the movie enticing, although Kristen and Joan have at least five things in common.

The Sundance Film Festival is underway in Utah, and Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning were there to debut The Runaways. The girls joined Joan Jett and Cherie Currie in the VIP section of the premiere's Bing Bar! afterparty — check it out!

Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning premiered and partied their Sunday night away celebrating The Runaways debut at Sundance. It was one of the most anticipated movies of the festival, and the initial buzz is already pretty great. All evening long, Kristen talked about how proud she was to work on the project and be able to tell the story about The Runaways, who did something that not many women were able to at the time. Kristen kept it casual all day in her uniform of skinny jeans, hoodie, and Adidas kicks — starting out at the Skintimate brunch before her afternoon red carpet. She ended the night at the Bing Bar! for the afterparty, where she mostly stuck to one corner greeting people with Dakota, Cherie Currie, and Joan Jett. Kristen was a Sundance star all weekend — stay tuned for PopSugar Rush for tons of exclusive video from the party and premiere!

To see more of Kristen, Dakota, Joan, and Cherie, just read more