International Women’s Day is our chance to celebrate the strength and achievements of women past and present. 2018 marks a century since women were given the partial vote (and 90 years since every woman was given it), so it couldn’t be a better time to mark the accomplishments of some of the most inspiring women of our generation. It was incredibly difficult to choose, but here are just a few of the women who have inspired us over the past 12 months.
Lizzy Yarnold
Inspiring future Olympians everywhere, this February Lizzy Yarnold became the first Brit to successfully defend a Winter Olympics title, showing nerves of steel in the skeleton event. Flying head first down a twisting, turning icy track, Yarnold beat an illness that threatened to take her out of contention, pipping her closest opponent to the post by 0.45 seconds to take a second gold medal. Yarnold’s success is a testament to training hard and sheer determination to win.
Lubaina Himid
Himid’s career history reads like a tick list for what it means to be a successful artist. One of the first artists to become involved in the Black Art movement in the 80s, her pioneering work chimed with a generation, eventually earning her an MBE for services to black women’s art in 2010. Exhibited in galleries from London to New York and earning a professorship at the University of Central Lancashire, Himid’s work was recognised on a huge scale when she won the Turner Prize in 2017. As the oldest person to be nominated for the prize, she cut down yet more stereotypes in her field. A true inspiration.
Peggy Whitson
American astronaut Peggy Whitson has a habit of breaking records. In 2007, she became the first woman to command an International Space Station expedition, and in 2017 she became the first woman to do it twice. Also in 2017? She broke the record for the most days spent in space by any NASA astronaut and the longest single spaceflight by a woman. Not enough? At 57, she also became the oldest woman to travel to space!
Jacinda Ardern
Upon taking office as the Prime Minister of New Zealand in October 2017, Jacinda Ardern became the world’s youngest female leader at 37-years-old. Her hard-fought campaign sparked ‘Jacindamania’, and her enthusiasm hasn’t slowed since she stepped into her new role. In another step for progression, Ardern announced earlier this year that she’s pregnant and will continue to lead her country while her partner takes on duties at home. She’s the epitome of a modern woman.