Everyone wants to be Olivia Pope — even white women.

In the new August issue of Vanity Fair, Scandal star Kerry Washington dished on her character and why she’s so revolutionary.

“One of the most profound things for me about the show is the number of white women of all ages who come up to me and say, ‘I want to be Olivia Pope,” Kerry said.

“It’s especially profound in a place like South Africa,” she continued. “It’s called ‘The Fixer’ over there, and it just started its second season. The fact that white women can see this woman of color as an aspirational character is revolutionary, I think, in the medium of television. I don’t think white women would feel that way about Olivia if her identity as a woman, period, wasn’t first in their mind.”

Clearly the show is striking a chord. Last season it ranked as the number one drama at 10 p.m. for adults between 18 and 49 (the demographic most desired by advertisers).

Kerry also says Olivia doesn’t have to let go of her femininity to be powerful.

“What I think is cool about Olivia is that she fully owns being a woman,” Kerry said. ”There’s a very nurturing sense of ‘I’m going to take care of you — don’t worry about it. I’m gonna be your mom in this situation. You come stay in my office, have a cup of tea, and let my gladiators take care of you.’ There’s something very maternal about it. But there’s also something very executive about her, and I mean ‘executive’ in a presidential way.”

Kerry’s on to something — women love that Olivia is absolutely powerful (“it’s handled!”) but also tapped into her softer side. Plus, girl can rock neutrals like no other.

Olivia Pope’s depth is all thanks to Scandal creator Shonda Rhimes, who’s also the mastermind behind Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice. Perhaps Olivia appeals to all races because Shonda isn’t thinking first and foremost about race when she writes it.

“I’m a black woman every day, and I’m not confused about that,” she said. “I’m not worried about that. I don’t need to have a discussion with you about how I feel as a black woman, because I don’t feel disempowered as a black woman.”

Just don’t call Shonda’s show a “guilty pleasure,” or dismiss it because it’s aimed at women.

“It’s superinsulting that because Olivia is a woman, and the girl who wrote ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ wrote this, it must be for chicks,” Shonda told the Times. ”Like if it’s geared for women, it’s somehow not as serious as if it’s geared for men.”