Ten Inspirational Women on International Women’s Day
International Women's Day
Lavender Hill Clothing is an independent, female-founded brand, and International Women's Day is a good prompt to celebrate women who have made a real difference, whether we know them personally or from books, social media and television.
To us, women who empower others, lead thinking and help those around them are paving the way for a future where equality is simply a given. Until then, International Women's Day gives us a chance to celebrate the women making, or who have made, a difference. Here are ten women we admire.
1. Emma Watson
Best known for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, Emma Watson has also become known for campaigning for women's rights. As a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador she launched the HeForShe campaign at the United Nations in 2014, inviting men to take part in the conversation about gender equality.
2. Emmeline Pankhurst
A British political activist and organiser of the Suffragette movement, Emmeline Pankhurst campaigned for women's right to vote. She died in 1928, shortly before women in the UK were given the vote on equal terms with men, and her legacy is still remembered today.
3. Malala Yousafzai
"One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world."
Malala is a campaigner for girls' education. Originally from Pakistan, she was shot by the Taliban in 2012 at the age of 15, and has continued to speak about the importance of education for girls around the world. In 2014 she became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
4. Marie Curie
"I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done."
A pioneering scientist, Marie Curie was unable to attend university in Poland because she was a woman, so she moved to Paris to continue her studies. She researched radioactivity and won two Nobel Prizes, in Physics and in Chemistry, the first person to win in two different sciences.
5. Kris Hallenga
Kris Hallenga was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 23, after being told by a doctor that she was too young for it. She founded the charity CoppaFeel!, which encourages young people to check their breasts and know the signs of breast cancer.
6. Michelle Obama
"No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens."
A trained lawyer and author, Michelle Obama was First Lady of the United States during Barack Obama's eight years as President, and has worked on issues including education and health. She is a role model for many women.
7. Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart's story is one of adventure and challenge. She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, and the first woman to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross. She encouraged other women to take chances and to make their own place in the world.
8. Munroe Bergdorf
British model and activist Munroe Bergdorf uses her platform to speak about feminism, race and LGBTQ+ issues, and to highlight the voices of marginalised people.
9. Rosa Parks
"You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it's right."
Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist in the United States. In 1955 she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, an act that helped launch the Montgomery bus boycott and the wider campaign against racial segregation.
10. Simone de Beauvoir
Novelist, philosopher and feminist thinker Simone de Beauvoir wrote about equality between women and men and about the limits placed on women in a male-dominated society. Her book The Second Sex remains one of the most influential works of feminist thought.
We hope you enjoyed our roundup
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