Remember the days when Taylor Swift was America’s sweetheart? You could never ask for a better role model. She’s glamorous, talented, and always has a new fashionable boyfriend by her side. What else could we want young women to look up to? Answer: A lot more. I’m here to say that maybe we’ve put the wrong women on pedestals. Let’s call our girls to look up to women of substance. Here are 15 women who did more than just make the best dressed list.
1.Billie Jean King
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"I have a lot to say, and if I'm not number one, I can't say it."
The first real queen of the tennis court, King made women everywhere proud when she won the so-called Battle of the Sexes match against Bobby Riggs. Riggs claimed that men were superior athletes and challenged King to prove him wrong. She did.
2. Benazir Bhutto
"I dream of a Pakistan where women contribute to their fullest potential..."
If you are look for a strong leader, look no further than Benazir Bhutto. Benazir was the eleventh Prime Minister of Pakistan and total girl boss. She was the first woman ever to head a Muslim state. While in office, she brought peace, fought for women’s rights and spread democracy. She was assassinated in 2007, but her impact on the region changed the lives of millions of women.
3. Emma Watson
"Young girls are taught you have to be a delicate princess, Hermione taught them that you can be the warrior."
Emma first won our hearts as Hermione in the Harry Potter series, but she is more than just everyone’s favorite Hogwarts student. After the movies ended, Emma went to Brown University and continued to appear in blockbuster movies while finishing her education. Since then, Watson has become one of the most outspoken women’s rights activists in the United Nations. She was appointed as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and has traveled to Bangladesh and Zambia to promote education for girls.
4. Amal Clooney
"I look forward to getting to know the next generation of human rights advocates studying here."
Being married to the Sexiest Man Alive may be enough for most women, but Amal Clooney was a strong woman before George ever came along. The New York University of Law alum spent years working on international civil rights cases in New York City and investigating war crimes in the Gaza Strip before retiring to teaching in 2015.
5. Kathrine Switzer
"All you need is the courage to believe in yourself and put one foot in front of the other."
It’s hard to believe that in 1967, women were still banned from running the Boston Marathon, but that didn’t stop Kathrine Switzer. With the support of her friends, Switzer illegally ran the Marathon in 1967. Cameras caught an official running after Kathrine and trying to pull her off the course, furious that she was defaming the event. But she held her ground and finished the race. Kathrine is especially inspiring for me, considering my own mother is a marathon runner and ran Boston in 2013 and 2014. If you remember, 2013 was the year of the bombing. Luckily my mom escaped unscathed, and I know that she is grateful for powerful women like Kathrine who knew when to break the rules.
6. Zendaya
"I have standards I don't plan on lowering for anybody... including myself."
She might have gotten her start as a Disney starlet, but Zendaya is now best known for being confident, and #flawless on every red carpet and magazine cover. More than just a pretty face, Zendaya consistently fires back at the practice of photoshopping and encourages her fans to always promote body confidence. She’s also a killer business woman, musician, and activist at only 19 years old.
7. Maya Angelou
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
I could write a whole article on why Maya Angelou is one of the greatest poets of all time. But besides that forthcoming piece, she was an incredible woman who continues to inspire millions. If you ever want to feel empowered just read her poem, "Phenomenal Woman."
8. Amy Schumer
"I am a woman with thoughts and questions and sh*t to say. I say if I'm beautiful. I say if I'm strong. You will not determine my story- I will."
Many female comedians have had a hard time making a name for themselves in the male dominated stand up comedy scene. Instead of allowing herself to be censored by directors who wanted to water her down, Amy Schumer starred in her own hit Comedy Central show, waited until she had established an audience, made a movie of her own and won a Golden Globe for it. Respect.
9. Rowan Blanchard
"I'm definitely happy that people are speaking out and people are recognizing that they have the power to change things."
At only 14-years-old, Rowan Blanchard is the youngest girl on this list. But don’t let that fool you, she is a
feminist powerhouse. A spokesperson for the feminist campaign #TeamHeForShe, human rights
activist, and Disney actress, Rowan is killing the game and giving young girls everywhere an idea of what a strong woman looks like.
10. Tatyana Fazlalizadeh
"Specifically for black women, our images and our bodies in the media and in history have been so hypersexualized."
Tatyana is a Brooklyn street artist who gained attention in 2012 for her poster campaign "Stop
Telling Women To Smile." Her posters display slogans such as, “You are not entitled to my
space,” “Stop violence against women and girls,” “Women are not outside for your
entertainment,” “My name is not baby” and “My body is not an invitation.” It's not easy to make the streets cooler and friendlier, but Tatyana does it.
11. Lilly Singh
"No matter how many times others may hurt you, always live without hate."
With more than 9.5 million YouTube subscribers, most of whom are young girls, Lilly Singh has quite
an audience (including me.) This year, she launched her #GirlLove campaign to end “girl-on-girl
hate.” Not to mention all the proceeds from her #GirlLove videos go to the Malala Fund- the
project of another fierce woman on this list. While this queen of YouTube is doing her thing
writing books, going on tour, appearing on Jimmy Fallon, and walking red carpets, she's always
being herself and promoting #GirlLove. What a Boss.
12. Gabby Douglas
"Hard days are the best because that's when champions are made. If you push through the hard days, then you can get through anything."
"The best piece of advice that I remember probably on a daily basis is to accept everything about me that is different. That is what makes me special."
Two awesome quotes from the Olympic Gold Medalists. Stay tuned to the Rio Olympic Games to see if she can bring home another medal.
13. Misty Copeland
I am also a die-hard fan of Misty Copeland. A ballet dancer myself, I can't tell you how underrepresented women like Misty are. She is the first African American Principal Dancer with the American Ballet Theatre and was the first African American Woman to play the lead role of Odette in Swan Lake. Unlike many famous ballerinas, Copeland has a muscular build and puts more emphasis on being strong than being thin. She uses her platform to teach young girls the importance of knowing your body and focusing on health rather than a goal weight. She even has her own Barbie doll so that aspiring ballerinas everywhere can know that they can be successful no matter what they look like.
14. Saira Blair
"When I made the decision to run for public office, I did so because I firmly believe that my generation's voice, fresh perspective and innovative ideas can help solve some of our state's most challenging issues."
You are never too young to get involved in politics. At only 19-years-old, Saira is the youngest state lawmaker ever elected in the United States. She is a Republican Delegate in the 59th District of the West Virginia House of Delegates and, oh yeah, she's still in college.
15. Malala Yousafzai
"I say I am stronger than fear."
"All I want is an education, and I am afraid of no one."
Malala is my favorite woman on this list. I don’t mean to be partial, because these are all amazing women, but Malala is the youngest ever Nobel Prize winner at only 17. Now 19, her story is incredible and you should really look at some of her interviews because this girl is beyond amazing. She was shot in the head by the Taliban after fighting for women’s education rights in her home country of Pakistan. She did not die, but recovered and continued to fearlessly fight for education regardless of the consequences. This is the kind of spirit we should want to cultivate in our young girls. A spirit that defies oppression and gives everything for what is right.
There is no shortage of amazing women in the world. Why choose socialites and starlets over heroins? There are so many problems that this next generation could work to solve, so let’s show them what powerful women look like. Let’s show girls what it looks like to make a positive change and fight for equality.
