Women Activists
This American Activist refused to give up her seat to a White passenger, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott:
Rosa Parks
Widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time along with her older sister, this phenom was ranked No. 1 in women's singles by WTA for 319 weeks & and year-end No. 1 five times:
Serena Williams
She is the only woman to have served as Chancellor of Germany, holding that office from 2005 to 2021:
Angela Merkel
Shonda Rhimes became the first woman to create three hit TV shows with over 100 episodes each, including this female-led medical drama starring Ellen Pompeo as the eponymous lead character:
Grey's Anatomy
Originally called "Girl's Tyme" this group - featuring Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams would change their name in 1997 to become known by their more popular name:
Destiny's Child
After being shot by the Taliban in 2012, this Pakistani Nobel prize winner became a leading global activist speaking out about girls' education:
Malala Yousafzai
This former Iowa Hawkeye and current basketball superstar is spreading the WNBA Fever to fans across the globe:
Caitlin Clark
Currently serving as the 66th president of Mexico since October 2024, she is the first woman to hold that office:
Claudia Sheinbaum
Greta Gerwig made history as the firsr-ever solo female filmmaker with a billion-dollar film for this 2023 female-themed hit:
Barbie
Originally a member of Fifth Harmony, this Cuban-Mexican-American singer & songwriter was propelled into fame for her solo hits, including "Havana" and "Senorita:"
Camilla Cabello
Raised as a Quaker, this women's suffrage & civil rights activist was arrested in 1872 for attempting to vote in the US Presidential election:
Susan B. Anthony
No woman has scored more World Cup goals (17) than this Brazilian icon and former six-time FIFA Player of the Year:
Marta
She was the first female head of government in the Middle East, serving as prime minister of Israel from 1969 to 1974. She remains the only woman ever to hold that position:
Golda Meir
"Retirement is not a word used in my house," proclaimed this iconic English actress after she became the oldest-ever Oscar nominee for the Best Supporting Actress category at age 87, for her role in Belfast:
Judi Dench
This influential American singer, songwriter, and actress is the founder of the Born This Way Foundation. She has received acclaim for her versatility in the entertainment industry and her image reinventions:
Lady Gaga
This journalist first rose to fame by infiltrating Hugh Hefner's Playboy Club to report on the working conditions. This propelled her into a leading role in the women's liberation movement during the late 20th and early 21st centuries:
Gloria Steinem
This Russian former No. 1 ranked tennis star served a 15-month ban for doping, before returning to tennis and releasing her memoirs - which reached No. 7 on the NYT Bestseller List:
Maria Sharapova
In 1988 she was elected as prime minister of Pakistan becoming the first woman to head a democratic government in a Muslim-majority country. In 2007 she was assassinated at an election event:
Benazir Bhutto
Opening her acceptance speech in Blackfeet language, this actress became the first Native American to win the Golden Globes award for Best Actress for her role in Killers of the Flower Moon:
Lily Gladstone
This Swedish singer/songwriter won her second Eurovision title in 2023 for her song "Tattoo:"
Loreen
In the 1980s, this Nigerian was known as a supermodel, actress, and "bond girl", but by the mid-90s, she used her platform to launch the Desert Flower Foundation - trailblazing a path of human and women's rights:
Waris Dirie
Considered one of the greatest US Olympians of all time, this athlete and advocate became the youngest-ever recipient of the Presidential Medal of Honor in 2022:
Simone Biles
Upon the death of her husband in 1974, this Argentinian former vice-president became the first-ever female to serve as president of any country:
Isabel Peron
In 2024, this Abbott Elementary star and creator became the first Black woman to win the Emmy Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series in over 40 years:
Quinta Brunson
Often associated with third-wave feminism, this 1990s underground hardcore punk movement soar in popularity in the US's Pacific Northwest, addressing topics such as domestic abuse, rape, and women's empowerment:
Riot Grrrl