Seven of the best, most inspirational role models for women

Today the world heard the sad news that Margaret Thatcher has passed away. Despite being too young to have actually experienced life under Baroness Thatcher's leadership, I have a lot of admiration and respect for her, so her passing has really got me thinking. No, not about the German historical linguistics essay which should be taking up my brain-space, but about other women I really admire. Inspirational women, past and present, who I look up to and consider to be good role models.

So I've thought up a little list of women I admire, and I'm going to share it with you all. As it's just the result of a few hours of pondering, the chances are I've missed off some greats, so please do let me know if I've missed off anyone who inspires you!


1. Margaret Thatcher

pic from richardgraham.me

Not only was she the UK's first female Prime Minister but she was also our longest-serving. Surely that says something about women, doesn't it? To quote Baroness Thatcher herself: "If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman." It just begs the question, why have we not had a female PM since The Iron Lady? Although her policies were somewhat divisive, it's undeniable that Margaret Thatcher made a huge impact on women's fight for equality. Today, my thoughts are with her family.


2. The Queen

pic from mamamia.com.au

She is so awesome. I cannot believe how much the Queen does, especially at her age (86!) and having done it all for so long (61 years!) You'd think most people would tire of any job after that long, but not Her Majesty. Always gracious, composed and on form, the Queen never lets us down and represents Great Britain to the rest of the world brilliantly. It seems the Queen is now more popular than ever, and I hope we benefit from her reassuring presence for years to come.


3. The Duchess of Cambridge

pic from marieclaire.co.uk

Catherine Middleton is a huge role model for me, and a fantastic one for girls everywhere. I think it's often a good idea to ask yourself "What would Kate do?" Plenty of naysayers may respond "Oh, all she's done is marry a Prince, what's she achieved?" But it's not about that, it's how she acts as far as I'm concerned. Kate is always elegant, composed, friendly, smiley, well-dressed and classy. I also think it's fantastic how she's championed British designers. In a world where young girls are bombarded with all sorts of scantily-clad, raunchily-dressed female celebrities, I think the Duchess of Cambridge is a super antidote.


4. Angela Merkel

pic from listal.com

Much like Thatcher was in the UK, Angela Merkel is Germany's first female Chancellor and has been since 2005. Oh, and shall we consider how Germany's been doing since then? Exactly. Bloody splendidly. Under Merkel's leadership, Germany has become the strongest nation in Europe, which just reinforces my point that girls are awesome and need to hold more top positions.


5. Millicent Fawcett

pic from wikipedia

As head of the Suffragists, Millicent Fawcett led a peaceful campaign for Votes for Women in Britain. But it wasn't just the vote that Fawcett was campaigning for, oh no. She was also a huge force in the fight for women to have an equal right to education as men, and helped found Newnham College at Cambridge University. I just can't even begin to comprehend the fact that there was a time when we girls didn't have the same access to education as boys, so we owe a lot to Fawcett and the Suffragists back in the early 20th Century.


6. Audrey Hepburn

pic from shockblast.net

You may be thinking Audrey Hepburn was merely a beautiful lady who appeared in the odd film here and there, but you'd be wrong. Yes, she was all that (I myself am a bit of a cliché in that I have the iconic Breakfast at Tiffany's poster on my bedroom wall), but also much more. As well as becoming a style and beauty icon, Hepburn did a lot of work with Oxfam in the 1950s and later devoted herself to working with starving children. That's a real superstar.


7. Pocahontas

pic from hotdog.hu

OK, so I may have only seen the Disney film and I may not know that much about the actual woman, but I still think she's an inspiration. Consider the Disney film initially: unlike many a Disney princess whose aim is to get the prince, Pocahontas stays with her tribe at the end of the film instead of going back to London with John Smith. Pocahontas played a major part in creating peace between the settlers and her native American people. You go, girl!

So, there you have it. Which women do you admire?