The 5 Definitive Qualities All Power Couples Have

Beyoncé and Jay Z. Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres. Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head.

You know 'em, you love 'em and they all have one thing in common.

Nope, it's not eternal fame and impeccable fashion (though let's be real, that's TRUE). It's that they are power couples, and boy, do they make it look good.

Somewhere along the way, it was put into our brains that only one person can wear the pants in a relationship (a phrase with its own sexist issues).

But the truth is it's possible to be BADASS EQUALS with your partner and take over the world in unison. Not just with one person riding the other person's coat tails.

Here are five qualities you'll find in every power couple:

They have mutual respect for each other.

Feeling supported and respected by your partner is key. And to be a power couple, both individuals must recognize how totally amazing the other person is and give them props where props are due.

Understanding and appreciating each other's strengths helps even the playing field, and it gives both people a sense of purpose in their relationship and as individuals.

They are each other's cheerleaders.

You won't find jealousy, passive aggression or the urge to sabotage ANYWHERE in a power couple's relationship.

What makes power couples different is that they truly want the other person to succeed, despite whatever it might mean for them personally. They are always there to pick one another up when things get tough.

They have individual independence.

Another key to a strong, amazing relationship is to be independent, separate human beings.

Things start to go south when one person relies too heavily on the other, bringing codependence issues to the surface.

When each person in a relationship is able to handle their own shit and carry their own baggage (metaphorically and literally), they take away any unnecessary strain or pressure they might otherwise misplace onto their partner.

They genuinely enjoy each other's company.

There are a lot of reasons why people choose each other, and you'd be surprised at how infrequently their reason is because they like spending time together.

Sometimes, people stick together because they both like arguing, because of financial reasons or because they are too lazy to call a bad relationship off.

In a power couple, though, both people are actively choosing to be together because they like the other person better than anyone else, not because it's convenient.

Plus, genuinely liking each other also lends itself to an overall happier, healthier relationship, providing lasting staying power and real happily ever afters.

In a power couple, both people are actively choosing to be together because they like the other person better than anyone else, not because it's convenient.

They are stronger together.

In the end, the people in a power relationship are stronger as a unit than two distinct pieces.

While both people have their own lives, successes, interests and personalities, they know how to leverage each other, lift one another up and ultimately take on more that life has to offer because they have the support of a bomb-ass partner.

Then, they buy a basketball team and take over the world or something. You know... just like Bey and Jay, or Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head.