Hello Readers! I am new to Odyssey, and am so excited to be joining this team to bring you awesome content!

To introduce myself, I’ve compiled this list of women I admire. I’ve come to believe that you can tell a lot about a person by who their role models are, and it’s for this reason that I’ve decided to introduce myself to you this way.

Without further ado, enjoy my list of women who inspire me.

1. Queen Elizabeth II

The current Queen of England tops my list of inspiring women. She served in the Royal Army during WWII (and is not only the first female leader in Europe to serve, and the last surviving European head of state to have served during WWII), added a lighthearted sense of familiarity to the ordinarily formal royal radio addresses, and has always dealt with royal family drama with grace and class. This lady is, without a doubt, a badass to have led her country through the tumult of the last 60 years, and that’s why she’s the top of my list.

2. “Iron Lady” Margaret Thatcher

Maggie Thatcher! Some people loved her, some hated her, but all can agree that the Iron Lady’s legacy is one that will endure. A female Prime Minister of England during the Reagan years, she once said that “Being powerful is like being a lady: if you have to tell someone you are, you’re probably not.” This awesome lady truly believed that actions speak louder than words, and that important change required getting your hands dirty. She faced harsh criticism from the heavy handed press in the UK, but never stopped working to change England for the better.

3. Ivanka Trump

Ivanka Trump, regardless of how you feel about her father, is a class act. She’s an impeccable dresser, a great mom, a hardworking CEO, and perhaps the most articulate woman to ever speak into a microphone. What’s really inspiring about the oldest Trump daughter is that she manages to successfully juggle all her responsibilities—Moming, managing her own business as well as maintaining a high-level position at Trump Industries, as well as supporting her dad’s presidential campaign, and all with a serene and content smile on her (perfectly made-up, but really naturally beautiful) face. She truly is a testament to the idea that women really can have it all, and is a great example of how motivation and drive can push you to live your dreams.

4. Malala Yousafzai

Malala! How amazing this girl is. Her story is so inspiring. Malala was shot in the head by Taliban operatives as she walked from her home to school, simply for advocating for women’s rights in her small Pakistani village. Malala won a Nobel peace price in 2014—the youngest person to do so—and continues to speak out for women’s rights and the importance of education. As an aspiring teacher, her love for education and passion for learning really sticks with me, and that’s why this amazing girl is on my list.

5. J. K. Rowling

J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series is surely the Milennial Generation’s Beowulf. Before publishing the insanely successful series, Rowling was homeless, sleeping on subways. The very first draft of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was written on napkins, and was rejected by no less than 12 different publishers before being picked up for publication. Rowling’s story is a study in persistence, and reminds us that when we chase our dreams, anything is possible.

Who inspires you every day? Tweet me at @LexiOnAnOdyssey – I’d love to hear your thoughts!