Inspirational women who changed history

Ketanji Brown Jackson (1970–)

On April 7, 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51, became the first Black woman to be confirmed to the Supreme Court. She was nominated by President Joe Biden in February and underwent a grueling Senate approval process, but eventually won her spot with a vote of 53-47. Jackson is an honors graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Law School who has served as a judge since 2012. Her confirmation hearing speech on March 21 went viral for her heartfelt address to her daughters: "I know it has not been easy as I have tried to navigate the challenges of juggling my career and motherhood," she said, "And I fully admit that I did not always get the balance right. But I hope that you have seen that with hard work, determination, and love, it can be done. I am so looking forward to seeing what each of you chooses to do with your amazing lives in this incredible country." Jackson has made history as the first Black female Supreme Court Justice, joining other trailblazers like Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. 

Madeleine Albright (1937-2022)

Madeleine Albright was the first woman to be elected US Secretary of State in 1997. Originally from the Czech Republic, Albright's family fled the Nazi regime in 1939 and ended up in the US. Her personal experiences made her a passionate opponent of totalitarianism for the rest of her life. Albright's dedication to humanitarian causes and improving diplomatic relations in order to avoid loss of life were cornerstones of her impressive career. She was instrumental in developing the West's foreign policy after the end of the Cold War, championed the expansion of NATO, and convinced President Bill Clinton to intervene in the Balkan War to prevent genocide and ethnic cleansing.

Anne Frank (1929–1945)

'The Diary of Anne Frank' is one of the most widely read books in the world. The girl recorded her thoughts and observations while in hiding from Nazi forces during World War II. She is considered an icon of strength and resilience.

Anita Garibaldi (1821–1849)

Anita Garibaldi was the partner and wife of the revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi (a general who contributed to Italian unification) and was known as the Heroine of Two Worlds. She is regarded as an icon of evolutionary liberalism and a strong and courageous woman.

Benazir Bhutto (1953–2007)

The leader of Pakistan Peoples Party (1953-2007), Benazir Bhutto was the first woman prime minister of a Muslim country. She was assassinated during a political campaign.

Gertrude Ederle (1905–2003)

In 1926, Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to ever swim across the English Channel.

Hedy Lamarr (1914–2000)

The Austrian Hollywood actress was also responsible for creating a communication system for the United States Armed Forces during WWII. The invention was the basis for today's cell phones and wireless networks.

Joan of Arc (1412–1431)

Joan of Arc was a poor, illiterate 17-year-old girl who decided to save France from the English. Without any military knowledge, she persuaded a small group of soldiers to join her and gained royal permission to march to Orleans and free the city from the English.

Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013)

Margaret Thatcher was the first woman to hold the post of prime minister in Great Britain. Between 1970 and 1974, she was appointed Secretary of State for Education and Science during Edward Heath's Government.

Marie Curie (1867–1934)

Marie Curie was a Polish physicist and chemist who was denied access to higher education because of her gender. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the first person to win two Nobel Prizes in different areas.

Mata Hari (1876–1917)

Known by her stage name Mata Hari, the exotic dancer from the Netherlands was accused of espionage and sentenced to execution by firing squad during World War I.

Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil (1846–1921)

Isabel was the last imperial princess of Brazil and regent of the Empire on three occasions. She was nicknamed the Redemptress for having, through the Golden Law, abolished slavery in Brazil.

Boadicea (?–c. 60 or 61 CE)

A beloved British folk hero, Boadicea was an inspirational leader of the Britons who led an uprising against Roman occupying forces. Early success, however, eventually gave way to defeat.

Florence Nightingale (1820–1910)

With a liberal-humanitarian outlook from an early age, Nightingale is famously known as the "Lady with the Lamp" for a her role as a nurse trainer during the Crimean War. She is regarded as the founder of modern nursing.

Josephine Baker (1906–1975)

The celebrated American-born French entertainer worked as a French Resistance agent during WWII and later became a civil rights activist. She was the first person of color to enjoy worldwide stardom.

Clara Barton (1821–1912)

Another pioneer of nursing care, Barton was a hospital nurse during the American Civil War. She later founded the American Red Cross.

Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962)

Over half a century after her untimely death, the American actress, model, and singer remains one of the most popular and recognized cultural icons of the modern age.

Rosa Parks (1913–2005)

On December 1, 1955, Parks famously refused to give up her seat in the "colored section" of the bus to a white passenger, after the whites-only section was filled. Her simple act of defiance galvanized America's civil rights movement.

Mary Shelley (1797–1851)

Best known for her Gothic masterpiece 'Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus' (1818), the English novelist was also a champion of women's rights, and practiced her mother's feminist principles by extending aid to women whom society disapproved of.

Emmeline Pankhurst (1858–1928)

Founder of the Women's Social and Political Union, the British political activist fought tirelessly to help women win the right to vote. In July 1928, the government extended the vote to all women over 21 years of age.

Bessie Coleman (1892–1926)

Coleman was the first women of African-American descent to hold a pilot's license. She died in a plane crash while on a test flight.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962)

The First Lady was highly respected for her human rights achievements, including the civil rights of African Americans, and the rights of WWII refugees.

Ella Fitzgerald (1917–1996)

A recipient of 14 Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the "Queen of Jazz" remains one of the most influential singers of the 20th century.

Indira Ghandi (1917–1984)

To date, the first and only female prime minister of India, she was in power from 1966–77 and 1980–84.

Audrey Hepburn (1929–1993)

After a glittering career in theater and cinema, the British actress devoted much of her later life to working with the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Coretta Scott King (1927–2006)

A proponent of civil and human rights, the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. took on the leadership for the struggle of racial equality after her husband's assassination. She later founded the King Center and lived to see his birthday become a national holiday.

Helen Keller (1880–1968)

An illness contracted when she was just 19 months old left Keller blind and deaf. However, she went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree and became a prolific author, formidable political activist, and a highly respected lecturer.

Virginia Woolf (1882–1941)

A member of the influential Bloomsbury Group, Woolf is regarded as one of the most important modernist 20th-century authors.

Anna Freud (1895–1982)

The youngest child of Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, she followed the path of her father and is considered one of the pioneering founders of psychoanalytic child psychology.

Hattie McDaniel (1895–1952)

McDaniel was the first African-American entertainer to win an Oscar—the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as "Mammy" in 'Gone with the Wind' (1939).

Catherine the Great (1729–1796)

Empress of Russia from 1762 until 1796—the country's longest ruling female leader—Catherine had a reputation as a patron of the arts, literature, and education, and helped consolidate Russia as one of the dominating nations of Europe.

Jane Addams (1860–1935)

Recognized as the founder of the social work profession in the United States, Addams became the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Shirley Temple (1928–2014)

The child actress enjoyed continued success in television before embarking on a successful diplomatic career: she was named United States ambassador to Ghana and to Czechoslovakia, and also served as Chief of Protocol.

Dorothea Lange (1895–1965)

A pioneering American documentary photographer and photojournalist, Lange is particularly remembered for her work documenting the Great Depression.

Jane Austen (1775–1817)

The English author of 'Sense and Sensibility,' 'Pride and Prejudice,' and other acclaimed novels, Austen was an observer of 18th-century British landed gentry, and a perceptive social commentator.

Queen Victoria (1819–1901)

Reigning for 63 years, Victoria oversaw monumental industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom, a period of history that is known as the Victorian era.

Billie Holiday (1915–1959)

While lacking in formal music education, Holiday had a huge influence on jazz music and pop singing. Her destructive personal life and ongoing drug and alcohol abuse tarnished her reputation while alive, but her legacy today continues to shape American music.

Emily Dickinson (1830–1886)

One of America's greatest poets was also one of its least acknowledged. Only after death was her bold and unconventional style properly recognized by the literary world.

Coco Chanel (1883–1971)

A name synonymous with style and fashion, Chanel was a French fashion designer and businesswoman. Her signature scent, Chanel No. 5, remains one of the industry's most iconic brands.

Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1911–1956)

One of the sporting world's most remarkable all rounders, "Babe" excelled in basketball, baseball, and track and field before turning to golf and going on to win 10 major championships.

Betty Friedan (1921–2006)

An American writer, activist, and feminist, Friedan helped galvanize American feminism throughout the 1960s and '70s with the publication of her book, 'The Feminine Mystique.'

Wangari Maathai (1940–2011)

She was a political activist for the environment in Kenya. In 2004, Maathai became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Elizabeth I (1533–1603)

During her reign as Queen of England, Elizabeth witnessed her country undergo significant social and economic change. She relished the defeat of the Spanish Armada, which heralded England's ascent into one of the world's great superpowers.

Wilma Rudolph (1940–1994)

An Olympic champion and sports icon of track and field, Rudolph became a role model for black and female athletes. Away from sport, she was an enthusiastic advocate of civil and women's rights.

Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003)

Independent and free-spirited, the four-time Oscar winner adopted an unconventional lifestyle and through her acting and offscreen life, helped define the image of the modern, 20th-century woman.

Estée Lauder (1908–2004)

Lauder (pictured on the left), was the co-founder of the Estée Lauder cosmetics company. She was named by Time magazine as one of the most influential business geniuses of the 20th century. 

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1896)

A lifelong anti-slavery campaigner and author, it was her novel 'UncleTom's Cabin' and its graphic depiction of the severe conditions endured by enslaved African Americans that helped popularize the anti-slavery movement.

Madam C. J. Walker (1867–1919)

With a business ability as sharp as any of today's entrepreneurs, Walker made her fortune developing and marketing a line of hair and beauty products for black women. She subsequently became the first female self-made millionaire in the United States.

Aretha Franklin (1942–2018)

Franklin is regarded as the "Queen of Soul" for hits like 'Respect' and 'Chain of Fools.' She was the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.