First off, let me just say, Happy International Women’s Day to all my fellow women out there and to all the men supporting women’s empowerment around the world.
If Adele at the Grammy’s has taught me anything about women, it’s that a woman can support and appreciate the work of another without losing anything in the process.
To see Adele accept her award for Album of the Year, yet also make time to tell Beyonce that Lemonade was one of her favourite girl power albums of all time, was such an iconic moment for women in the industry. With the award acceptance, Adele not only shone a spotlight on her own work, but gave Beyonce a shoutout as the only other female nominated in the Album of the Year category. In essence, she shared her moment of winning, to celebrate what another female has done. It was also wonderful to see Beyonce appreciating the shoutout and telling Adele that she loves her too (or at least that’s what I think she whispered).
Radical concept, eh?
To support and empower other women, doesn’t actually cost you a thing! As simple as it is for women to tear down other women, it is also just as simple to turn your words around, and give a message of encouragement, support and love for a woman who also deserves to be celebrated for what they do. The older I get, the more I realize that women empowering other women, and women using their voice to speak up for equality, and the type of women who are all around amazing people for what they do, are they type of women I want to surround myself with. Today, I want to use my platform to show my support, love, and encouragement for women who continually inspire me to become a fiercer, bolder woman.
Mindy Kaling (and for that matter, Mindy Lahiri)
Okay, I’m still waiting for Mindy Kaling to acknowledge my existence…but I do want to say that this woman inspires me to no end. She has said it herself–the entertainment industry is stacked against her. She’s a curvier woman, she’s a funny woman, and she’s a brown woman. She’s kind of a trailblazer in the entertainment industry. If anyone has read her two books, you’ll know that she worked her way up in the industry, from having little writing jobs, to writing episodes for The Office, to starring, writing and producing her own show, The Mindy Project. AND when the show was taken off NBC, she was a damn fierce woman, and got it back to audiences with her collaboration with Hulu. That’s some serious dedication to bringing Mindy Lahiri fans their favourite show.
And while we’re on the Topic of Mindy Lahiri, I think we should all give her a round of applause. Not only was she one of the only female doctors in the practice for years, but she also opened up her own fertility clinic, became a mother and still manages to wear some cute as hell outfits.
You go all forms of Mindy!!! You inspire me to keep following my dreams, and to keep curating my own fashion.
Emma Watson
Emma Watson has been one of the women who have inspired me from a young age to be a strong, intelligent, and fierce woman. Emma uses her platform for causes that support and empower other women, and also fights for women’s rights. I also feel continually inspired by her drive to achieve her goals. While she has acted since childhood, I like how she has never given up on her dream of studying at a University.
Hermoine Granger (hey, I didn’t say all the women who inspire me are real)
As much as Emma Watson is an inspiration, I also view Hermione from the Harry Potter series is another female whom inspires me. Hermione was never one to fit in at Hogwarts, but she always followed what she thought was best for her, despite how many people made fun of her for being a “teacher’s pet”. To be yourself in the face of adversity, is definitely a challenge, but also proves that you know your self-worth and aren’t afraid to stand up for yourself.
J.K Rowling (…Okay, I swear I’ll be done with the Harry Potter things after this one!)
J.K Rowling is a truly inspiring woman. She started writing Harry Potter on a train ride, and the rest is obviously history, but she had also gone through her fair share of hardships along the way. Despite dealing with the death of her mother and relentless depression, J.K Rowling was able to take her musings and create one of the most magical book series of all time (pun fully intended). I think the irony here, is also that she went with the pen-name, J.K, so that publishers would accept her work without prejudice against women writers, but has since become one of the most famous female author’s of all time since revealing her identity. If that’s not kicking-ass in the industry, I don’t know what is!
Estee Lalonde and the YouTuber and Blogger Community
Estee Lalonde has to be one of my biggest inspirations when it comes to following your heart and being yourself. In her book Bloom, and on her Youtube channel, Estee Lalonde, Estee shows that it is okay to be constantly growing as a person, but staying true to who you are despite the wavering trends. I also feel inspired when I realize that she moved all the way across the pond to follow her heart. While some may argue that moving somewhere for a boy isn’t exactly empowering, I would like to say, it is quite empowering to see someone navigate through a big move, and change a hobby into a career, all while breaking out of their shell. Estee inspires me to constantly grow and challenge myself with my career, my hobbies, and my love life.
Other YouTubers and Bloggers who inspire me:
Superwoman, Gabriella Lindley, Lucy Wood, Carrie Rad, Danielle Peazar, Melanie Murphy, Jessie B, Coco Chic, Lottie Pearce, In the Frow, Fab Hannah, Fleur de Force, Lizy Koshy, Colleen Ballinger, Louise Pentland, I Covet Thee, Hello October, Amelia Liana, Alexa Losey, Lauren the Daydreamer, Eleanor Calder, The Fernweh Wolf, and I’m probably missing a lot more people! I’m so sorry. But if I’m a reader of your blog, you should know that you inspire me to keep writing and reading!
Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton
If class and respectfulness was summed up in one woman, it would be Michelle Obama. I have adored the Obama family since Barack’s inaguration in 2008, and I have always been inspired by Michelle’s poise, class and respectful attitude in political situations and in her public outreach. She has a really inspiring stance on female education, and I like how she is committed to changing the future for women. I really do hope that she runs for President in 2020.
Hillary Clinton (as controversial as this one may be) is also inspiring. Knowing that she was running against Trump (*shudders*) and had the odds against her as a female candidate, she did an amazing job inspiring the younger generations to try and make a change. I especially love when she tweeted, “To all the little girls watching…never doubt that you are valuable and powerful & deserving of every chance & opportunity in the world.” I think to let young women know that they are valued and powerful in society and in choosing their future, was a great way for her to use her platform as the only female candidate.
She-Hulk and Squirrel Girl (yes, I do read comics!)
My love of comics has grown from a tiny seed into a big tree since last year. I have gravitated towards two main female heroines, both who have their own comic series. Both She-Hulk and Squirrel Girl are strong-willed females who stand up for things they believe in, don’t rely on male counterparts to help them, and are untraditional comic characters in the sense that they are women who are in a world dominated by men. I especially love Squirrel Girl because she is in a male-dominated industry (she’s in computer science) and is a voice for women in the STEM industries. Also, shoutout to Erica Henderson, who does the inking for Squirrel Girl comics! Go follow her on Twitter, she’s amazing!
My Mother and My Sister (prepare for a little cheesiness)
My Mother and my Sister have been the two most inspiring and influential women in my life. They have both taught me a lot about self-resepect, career ambition, and how to be an overall good person.
Both work in the elementary school environment, and it amazes me that they can go into school everyday, and help children or inspire children to learn. I think it is amazing to give children this gift everyday, and I think it is so incredible that they have used their love for helping others and love for education to better our world. Both have also taught me and inspire me to always speak respectfully towards and about others, to dress in a way that I feel comfortable with, and to always stand up for myself against people who are trying to tear me down.
I also want to give an extra bit of info on my Mum. She is a real badass (Sorry for the language if you’re reading this Mum)!!! She came to Canada back in the 70s, and didn’t know much about the country. She didn’t know how to use a payphone and she didn’t know how to use public transportation, both of which she needed to use to get to work and in emergencies. This didn’t stop her. Once given a bit of guidance, my Mum took on these new challenges and began her life in Canada as a young working woman. Although she did stop working once she got married, and had my sister and I, she set herself up a challenge to go back to school in the early 2000’s. My Mum went back to college, studied throughout evenings while still doing household things, and graduated as a certified Educational Assistant. Since then, she has worked with children with behavioural needs, and has taken upon herself to do extra courses to better her work. Not too bad for an immigrant huh? I seriously have mad respect for my Mum, and she inspires me to be a fierce woman who fights for what she wants in life.
Let me know which women inspire you! I’d really love to hear about other inspiring women and what makes them inspiring.
