Women have a lot of hoops to jump through in order to get where they want to go — that much is true. But these days, you don't have to look too hard to see women who are doing absolutely amazing things and inspiring us all in the process.
Driven women make our hearts pitter-patter a little faster. They show us that, even though breaking down boundaries is hard work, it's oh so worth it when goals are met and dreams come true.
Here are seven incredible women who should inspire us all (especially our daughters) to dream big.
1. Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka might be best known for her tennis skills. After all, she's been ranked No. 1 by the Women's Tennis Association. She's also the first Asian player to hold the top ranking in singles and a four-time Grand Slam singles champion. Her list of accomplishments when it comes to tennis goes on and on. But Naomi made headlines when she refused to sit through hours of interviews, citing mental health concerns.
She received a ton of backlash for the choice, but she stood her ground. She then withdrew from the French Open for the same reason. Naomi addressed the importance of caring for your mental health in an essay for Time called "It's O.K. Not to Be O.K.."
"Michael Phelps told me that by speaking up I may have saved a life. If that’s true, then it was all worth it," she wrote.
2. Sally Rooney
You may not know the name Sally Rooney right off the top of your head. But you likely know of the hit show Normal People. Sally is a 30-year-old Irish author who is responsible for the book the TV show is based on. She released the book in 2018, and it won the prestigious Costa Book Award. She was the youngest person to ever receive the honor.
The show became an instant hit. In 2020 it was the most-watched show on BBC Three ever.
While Sally is an incredibly talented writer who has written three novels, she also struggles deeply with being famous. Still, it's not going to stop her from doing what she was born to do.
3. Chloé Zhao
Chloé Zhao is a force. The Chinese director has built a career making independent films, and last year everyone learned her name. She has already received great honors like the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature, among others. Her second feature film, The Rider, received nominations for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Film and Best Director. But at the 2021 Academy Awards, she took home the best director Oscar for the incredible film Nomadland. With that win, she became only the second woman to ever win in the best director category and smashed barriers for Asian women, too.
Director Chloé Zhao paid tribute to her filmmaking team in her speech. “We thank all the hearts and hands that came together to make this movie,” she said, and she thanked the real-life subjects: “Thank you for teaching us the power of resilience and for teaching us what kindness is.”
4. Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish is only 20 years old, but everyone knows her name. She's a megastar, yet she manages to stay completely true to herself and her own vision. There is just no one else like her, and there never will be. Not only does she produce incredible hit songs, she's won Grammy after Grammy. And she's widely relatable to today's youth. And … she just became an Academy Award winner for her song in the film No Time to Die.
There's truly nothing Billie can't do.
5. Ketanji Brown Jackson
Ketanji Brown Jackson has been in the headlines this month for a massively important reason. She just sat through hours of a grueling Supreme Court justice confirmation hearing, which is an accomplishment on its own. She really showed her strength under pressure, and the hearings felt like a small victory. While Republicans largely don't want her confirmed, she's a largely popular nominee with a sparkling résumé.
As Elizabeth Warren put it in a post on Twitter, "Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has more trial court experience than any sitting Supreme Court justice. She’ll be only the 2nd sitting justice to have served in all 3 levels of the federal judiciary. And she’ll be the 1st former federal public defender & 1st Black woman on the Court."
It's looking like Judge Jackson is set to be confirmed, but no matter what happens, she's already shattered glass ceilings.
6. Krystl Fabella
Krystl Fabella is a voice we should all listen to. She's the founder of Filipina on the Rise, which is both a media company and a podcast. The podcast is truly amazing and deeply important, as it shines a light on impactful Filipino women around the world. It's also one of Apple's top 100 podcasts.
A big part of that is because Krystl pulls from her own story as a person who immigrated to the US at the age of 7, and she helps others share theirs. In 2019, she launched her podcast from her walk-in closet. She's also spearheaded new policies that are helping to advance women's rights, and she wants to help underrepresented women share their stories.
7. Drew Barrymore
We all know the name Drew Barrymore, but we're not about to leave her off this list. Drew has always been an amazing actress, free spirit, and do-gooder. She is also a producer, has a beauty company that helps women look and feel their best, and is now a talk show host.
Drew absolutely loves focusing on the good. The stories she brings to her show are empowering and uplifting in so many ways. There's a big focus on highlighting people who are doing wonderful things for the world. But Drew also never shies away from sharing her own tough truths. Her vulnerability and so many other things help to make the world a more peaceful palce.
