The “Fearless Girl” statue – which depicts a young girl with a ponytail, hands on hips and fearlessly staring down the Charging Bull statue in New York City’s Financial District gets to stay – at least for now. Mayor de Blasio said in a statement Sunday that the statue has been seen to fuel powerful conversations relating to women in leadership, saying the “Fearless Girl’ has inspired many.

While the statue’s permit was extended to April 2, de Blasio reckons she is “asserting herself” and will continue to affirm her strength even after that permit expires.

He went on to say this is a fitting path for the statue. Now she gets to stand defiantly right where she is up until International Women’s Day, which happens on March 8, 2018.

The statue has mostly been a hit

Originally the statue was commissioned by State Street, a financial services firm at Wall Street and her sculptor was Kristen Visbal. Originally the statue had a permit for one week, but the Street Activity Permit Office extended this through April 2. The new long-term permit will come through the Department of Transportation Art Program, as the “Fearless Girl” stands on their property.

According to a report by the New York Times, the “Fearless Girl” statue has been a hit right from the beginning.

Reportedly the art draws crowds of fans who take selfies with her or stand next to her to have their photo taken.

The statue does have some critics including the artist who created the bull

Reportedly the statue does have its critics, with some saying the feminist message would be a stronger one if the statue depicted a fully grown woman.

Arturo Di Modica, the sculptor for the famous bull statue is another critic, says the “Fearless Girl” sculpture is an “advertising trick” and not art. However, Public Advocate Letitia James has been pushing for the sculpture to become a permanent fixture of Wall Street. She says the Fearless Girl’s message is a necessary one, given the “huge gender gap” at the top of most American corporations.

James wasn’t the only one pushing for the statue to stay. According to the New York Daily News, New Yorkers also want her there. The Daily News quoted Kate Kearney, 42, of Long Island as saying she has two daughters. She said the fact that a young girl is standing up to the bull in Wall Street is awesome, as it tells girls they can be anything they want.

The ladies of the NYPD seem to be very happy the Fearless Girl is there – they certainly stand behind her.
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