The Hills star Heidi Montag was described as a "feminist hero" in a New York Times review of the third season premiere of The Hills. The critic, Ginia Bellafante, cites Montag's newly acquired position at her job with Bolthouse Productions and a willingness to stand up to her sometimes overbearing finance, Spencer Pratt. This "career-mindedness" and self-confidence begins to put her relationship with Pratt in danger.

"Defying our expectations, Heidi has emerged as a kind of feminist hero this season..."—Ginia BellafanteNew York Times: Career Climbing, With Claws Bared (March 24, 2008)

"Her groundswell of self-assertion begins when he insists on eloping, prompting Heidi to declare, 'This isn’t, like, Spencer’s relationship and you decide what we do.'"—Ginia BellafanteNew York Times: Career Climbing, With Claws Bared (March 24, 2008)