30 Women Who Changed the World
It’s not easy being a woman. Like it or not, the patriarchal society we live in can be very critical with the way women look. It doesn’t matter if you’re a woman politician, or a freshman in high school: every facet of society seems to have this idea that beauty is what gives women value.
Thankfully, women know better! Go beyond “beautiful” and read on to see how these 30 women, whose courage, beliefs, strength, and brains have made huge impacts in our society—proving that women most definitely are more than just “things of beauty!”
Hey, Queen B said it herself: Who run the world?
1. Aung Sang Suu Kyi
Imagine spending 15 years under house arrest by the military because you were campaigning for democracy. That’s what happened to Suu Kyi in July 1989. But despite assassination attempts, health scares, and a stint at Insein jail, Suu Kyi’s courageous spirit prevailed: she continued to speak about her hopes for a democratic nation. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, and was released in 2010, thanks to an international campaign that called for her freedom.
2. Risa Hontiveros
Hontiveros has always fought for women’s rights—and she doesn’t care if you criticize her for it. In fact, she was arrested during a peaceful International Women’s Day march in 2006. As a member in congress, she helped craft and file the Cheaper Medicines Law, the Anti-Prostitution Bill and the Gender Balance Bill. But most importantly, she co-authored “The Reproductive Health Law, which provides universal access to sex education, contraception, and, most importantly, maternity care.
3. Oprah Winfrey
She may be worth $2.7 billion, but no one can accuse her of not earning it—or deserving it! Born to a poor single teenage mother, Oprah was raped at the age of nine, got pregnant at 14, and lost her first and only child in infancy. She took a job at a radio station at 19, where her ability to tap into listeners’ emotions got her a spot on daytime TV. The rest is history. And oh, did we mention she’s an advocate for women’s and children’s rights, and is a very, very generous philanthropist?
4. Anna Cabrera
Cabrera joined The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in 1997 as a volunteer. In 2006, Cabrera left her career in the banking industry to focus on PAWS. As the executive director of PAWS, Cabrera does more than just shelter, rehabilitate, and rehome dogs and cats. She fearlessly fights for numerous advocacies, calling attention to various acts of animal cruelty--from big cases such as the dog-meat trade, dog fighting and racing, and inhumane methods of euthanasia, to small, domestic incidents of animal cruelty.
5. Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour is arguably the most influential person in the world of fashion. Wintour got her start as an editorial assistant in the defunct Brit magazine “Harpers & Queen,” before moving up the editorial ladder—up to the post of editor-in-chief of British Vogue! She did such a good job of revamping the fashion magazine, that she was made editor-in-chief of Vogue in New York City. Fashion hasn’t been the same since!
6. J.K. Rowling
Never underestimate the strength and perseverance of a single mother: Rowling wanted to provide for her daughter, and pursue her dream to become a published author. So the “Unmarried Mother” (as the women at her local church called her) worked on “Harry Potter” during her spare time. She may have sold 400 million copies worldwide, but this multi-millionaire still believes her years as a struggling single mother living on welfare were the “proudest years” of her life. She continues to campaign for single mothers, via her organization, “Gingerbread.”
7. Madonna
For the past 35 years, Madonna has been revolutionizing pop music, femininity, sex, and fashion. She was the first female artist to exploit the power of music videos, wasn’t afraid to flaunt her “sex siren” status, and collaborated with some of the top fashion designers, photographers, and directors.
8. Hillary Clinton
Clinton was the first ever U.S. First Lady who became a U.S. senate—before becoming a presidential candidate, then Secretary of State. Prior to becoming a private citizen (though everyone’s betting she’ll run as the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate), Clinton received many awards and honors by American and international organizations, mostly for her work on health care, and women & children’s rights. Thanks to Hillary Clinton, many little girls in America are realizing that a woman can become the next President of the United States!
9. Sheryl Sanberg
As Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer, Sanberg helped turn the social media networking site into a revenue-generating machine. As a mom of two kids, Sanberg has proven that women can raise a family and have a thriving career. In 2013, she published the book “Lean-In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead,” which empowers women to achieve their career goals. The book inspired the “Lean In Movement,” helping women achieve their professional and personal goals via education, community, and online support efforts.
10. Monique Lhuillier
It was in 1996 when this Cebu-born fashion designer couldn’t find any wedding gown that fit her style and personality. Her solution? Create her own bridal collection. Since opening her first retail store in 2001, Lhuillier has dressed dozens of celebrities, such as Taylor Swift, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Katy Perry.
Also read: Love Your Skin Color
11. Vivienne Westwood
If there’s anyone who brought punk fashion to the mainstream, it’s Westwood. Back in 1960, she got together with Malcolm McLaren (who owned a clothing boutique called SEX,) and the two created a fashion line that drew inspiration from bikers, fetishists, and prostitutes. While their “style” meant a lot of BDSM and bondage fashion, it also made creative use of found objects, such as safety pins, razorblades, and even bicycle chains. As if that wasn’t shocking enough, Westwood integrated conventional elements to her pieces, such as the Scottish tartan design.
12. The Runaways (Joan Jett, Cherie Currie, Lita Ford, Jackie Fox, and Sandy West)
It was in late 1975 when five teenage girls proved that they could share the stage with the men (and rock out just as hard!) The Runaways were a rock and roll phenomenon, playing shows with punk groups like The Ramones, Blondie, and The Sex Pistols. The Runaways may have disbanded within four years—but their music has influenced many female artists, such as Courtney Love, The Donnas, and The Gogos.
13. Tina Fey
Whoever said women—especially pretty women—aren’t funny, has never met Tina Fey. Fey broke a major entertainment barrier (and stereotype) when she earned the spot as head writer at Saturday Night Live. She also co-wrote and starred in the movie “Mean Girls,” co-created the hit sitcom “30 Rock,” and penned an autobiography entitled, “Bossypants.”
14. Malala Yousafzai
Yousafzai was only 12 years old when she began blogging for the BBC about her experience under the Taliban, which included the need for women’s rights to education. On October 9, 2012, a gunman shot her three times as she boarded her school bus. The assassination attempt helped push the ratification of Pakistan’s first “Right to Education Bill,” and Yousafzai won the country’s first National Youth Peace Prize, and was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.
15. Melinda Gates
Marrying one of the richest men on the planet didn’t turn Gates into a “Real Houswife of Microsoft’s Earnings.” A former employee at Microsoft, the wife of billionaire Bill Gates has been putting those checkbooks to good use—she and her husband put up the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which aims to enhance healthcare, reduce poverty, expand education opportunities, and give better access to information technology. As of 2009, the couple has given more than US$24 billion to the foundation!
16. Natalie Portman
Portman is proof that not all child stars need to end up on TMZ. More than a pretty face, the award-winning actress worked on the Star Wars prequel trilogy while taking up psychology in Harvard University. While in Harvard, she co-authored two research papers, which were published in professional scientific journals.
17. Marisa Mayer
Once hired as Google’s lone female engineer, Mayer rose the ranks to the position of Vice President of Local, Maps, and Location Services (prior to that, she was Vice President of Search Products and User Experience.) In 2012, Mayer was appointed CEO and President of Yahoo. Mayer is responsible for the acquisition of numerous companies, among them Tumblr. Within her first 14 months in the company, Yahoo’s stock price doubled.
18. Danica McKellar
Kids of the 80’s and 90’s remember her as “girl-next-door” Winnie Cooper on the coming-of-age TV series, The Wonder Years. Millennials may recognize her as the July 2005 Stuff magazine cover girl in lingerie. But more than anything, McKellar has proven that girls can be smart and hot. As an undergraduate in UCLA, she co-authored a scientific paper wherein she co-founded a mathematical theorem called the “Chayes-McKellar-Winn theorem.” After graduating summa cum laude, McKellar went on to author several non-fiction books (“Math Doesn’t Suck,” “Kiss My Math,” “Hot X: Algebra Exposed,” and “Girls Get Curves: Geometry Takes Shape”) to encourage teen girls to succeed in mathematics.
19. Betty White
White’s humor manages to cut across generations, being able to roll with both contemporary and up-and-coming actors and comedians. Last year, The Guinness Book of World Records hailed the 92-year old actress with having the longest entertainment career. She’s won a slew of awards, and has been given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Screen Actors Guild, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and the American Comedy Awards.
20. Tina Turner
Talk about taking back your life: after years of abuse from her husband, Turner found the courage to leave him, file for divorce, and take responsibility for her career. She then put on a miniskirt and high heels, and strutted down the sidewalk asking, “What’s Love Go to Do With It?” The Queen of Rock n’ Roll went on to become the most successful female rock artist, winning eight Grammys, and selling the most number of concert tickets than any other performer in history.
Also read: Dare To Be Great!
21. Angelina Jolie
Before you whip out your TEAM ANISTON shirt, hear us out: Pre-Brad Pitt, Jolie has lent her support to more than 29 organizations, using her celebrity status to bring attention to the plight of refugees around the world. A former UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Jolie doesn’t only donate her hard-earned millions to charity: she actually goes out into the field to help people. To date, she’s been to more than 20 countries, including Tanzania, Chad, Iraq, and Haiti.
22. Judy Blume
Blume was one of the first authors to bring a sense of “realness” to young adult fiction. Her novels were the first to tackle themes such as racism (“Iggie’s House,”) divorce (“It’s Not the End of the World,”) and bulling (“Blubber.”) But the most famous ones were those that tackled teen sexuality—from menstruation to masturbation—that encouraged a dialogue amongst teens. Blume’s work has sold more than 80 million copies, and has been translated into 31 languages.
23. Eve Ensler
Ensler is the creator of The Vagina Monologues, a collection of monologues which deal with what it’s like to be a woman: touching on matters such as sex, love, rape, female mutilation, and birth. Since its 1996 debut production, the play has been translated in 48 languages, and was staged in over 140 countries. In 1998, Ensler created “V-Day,” a global movement that calls for the end of violence against women. To date, the V-Day movement has helped build community-based anti-violence programs and safe houses in numerous countries, such as Haiti, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
24. Gloria Steinem
A journalist and feminist, she co-founded the magazine “Ms.,” the first magazine written by women for women. In the 1970’s, “Ms.” pushed the barriers of how women were depicted in media, by publishing “controversial” pieces; such as a list of women who came forward about having abortions, and a cover story about domestic violence. In 2005, Steinem, along with Jane Fonda and Robin Morgan, co-founded The Women’s Media Center—an organization that works to ensure that women are represented fairly in the media.
25. Waris Dirie
Dirie’s “supermodel discovery” may sound like a fairytale: at age 13, she fled her home in Somalia to escape an arranged marriage to a 60-year old man; she moved to London to live with relatives; then she got a job at McDonald’s, where she was “discovered.” But for the past 20 years, Dirie has been fighting to end the practice of female circumcision. The reason? She was only five years old when she underwent the horrific “operation,” and was left in a makeshift shelter under a tree to “recover.” From 1997 to 2003, Dirie was appointed as a UN Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation.
26. Halle Berry
It’s not hard to imagine Halle Berry as a former beauty queen. The X-Men actor finished as a first-runner up in the Miss USA Pageant once, and placed 6th in the Miss World Pageant in 1986. And although she had her fair share of forgettable blockbuster roles (Catwoman, anyone?), Berry is the first (and only) African-American to bring home an Academy Award for Best Actress, for her role in the movie Monster’s Ball.
27. Jennifer Hudson
Hudson has come a long, long way from American Idol. Finishing seventh place on the talent show back in 2004 didn’t hold her back: she went on to win a Grammy for her debut album, and an Oscar for her role in the movie “Dreamgirls.” Take THAT, Simon Cowell!
28. Victoria Beckham
Rarely do members of cheesy pop bands from the late 90’s manage to stay relevant. But when The Spice Girls called it quits, it was clear that Posh Spice would not simply settle for the title of “Mrs. Beckham.” A true blue fashionista, she traded the microphone for a fashion empire, designing everything from jeans to lingerie. Her denim line, dVb Style, won the 2011 Designer Brand of the Year at the British Fashion Awards.
29. Kathrine Switzer
Before women were finishing Iron Man competitions, there was Kathrine Switzer. It was in college when Switzer encountered a training coach who told her that “no woman can run the Boston marathon,” and that “women are too fragile to run it.” Switzer then did what any woman in her right mind would do—she joined the marathon, using a gender-neutral name. During the race, an official tried to chase after her to throw her out. Switzer finished the race. Fun fact: she did it wearing lipstick.
30. Serena Williams
She may have started her professional tennis career at the age of 14, but Williams was able to enjoy her childhood, as her father made it a point that she and her sisters “took it slow” with the tennis drills, so they could prioritize their studies. And, despite being called derogatory names by white parents during tournaments, Williams worked her way to the top, ranking No.1 in singles (six times!) by the Women’s Tennis Association, and is the reigning singles champion in the French Open, US Open, WTA Tour Championships, and the Olympics. She’s also the only female player to have won over $50 million in prize money.
Also read: How To Feel Empowered, Again
