7 Inspiring Women Who Are Changing the World

From time to time, there have always been inspiring female figures who have had an extraordinary impact—not only on their environment—but on the whole world. From them, we may be inspired, motivated, and dare to dream again. Because what they do, can change the world. Do you also feel inspired by them?

1. Michelle Obama

American lawyer and author, Michelle Obama, became a source of inspiration to millions in the US when she became the first African-American First Lady of the United States in 2009, and during the eight years of Barack Obama's presidential administration. Michelle is also a brilliant woman considering she graduated from Ivy League colleges. But what makes her unique is how she is able to set aside her personal ambitions by fully supporting her husband's career without losing her own light. Michelle continues to advocate for various health, welfare, and education issues in America and even the world.

2. Chloé Zhao

Image: vanityfair.com

Chloé Zhao made history by becoming the first Asian woman to win the 2021 Oscar for best director. This Chinese director who now lives in the US won the 2021 Oscar for his work, Nomadland, a film that tells the journey of a middle-aged woman who was forced to leave her hometown to travel alone after her husband died and she lost her job due to the 2008 financial crisis.

3. Emma Watson

The role of Hermione Granger in the film adaptation of the phenomenal Harry Potter novel shows her toughness and talent to make herself an icon through her work as an actress, model, and activist. The star has achieved relentless success in film and fashion and was voted Woman of the Year by British GQ in 2013. She was appointed a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador in 2014 for her widely recognized talent in acting and wide-reaching influence beyond state borders. Emma has always focused on issues of education, women's empowerment, and gender equality. She is also very concerned about education and successfully completed her studies at Brown University amidst her busy life as an actress,

4. Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka has won the 2021 ESPY award for Female Athlete of the Year and since breaking into the professional circuit in 2013, Naomi has become a four-time Grand Slam champion and the first Asian player to hold the No. 1 ranking. 1. But she is more than just a tennis champion, she is also an inspirational woman for her brave moves. She is someone who is open to mental health issues, and has a strong commitment to equality and social justice, especially because she is an Asian and black woman who often has an unequal position in society.

5. Amanda Gorman

Amanda graduated from Harvard University in 2020. She is the author of The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country (Viking Books for Young Readers, March 2021), the poetry collection The Hill We Climb (Viking, September 2021), and The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough (Handwritten Book, 2015). In 2017, Gorman was named the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States. He previously served as a Los Angeles youth poet laureate, and he is the founder and executive director of One Pen One Page, an organization that provides free creative writing programs to underserved youth.

Gorman was selected by President Biden to read his original poem "The Hill We Climb" for his Inauguration on January 20, 2021, making him the youngest poet to ever serve in this role. He was also the first poet to be commissioned to write poetry to be recited at the Super Bowl.

6. Jacinda Ardern

Ardern is one of the world's youngest female state leaders. He was elected prime minister in 2017 at just 37 years old. Ardern's leadership was tested during three years of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Ardern's handling of the crisis has won international praise, because the country she leads is considered capable of handling pandemic situations better than many other countries in the world. Ardern's leadership was also marked by one of the most violent episodes in New Zealand history, in which a neo-Nazi killed 51 people in shootings at two mosques in the city of Christchurch. But Ardern has always shown an empathetic attitude that makes people appreciate her leadership style.

7. Malala Yousafzai

This young girl is the youngest Nobel laureate the world has ever seen. She dared to campaign for educational rights for women and children whom she considered "taken away" by the Taliban. For this action, Malala was almost shot dead by the Taliban. However, she managed to survive and continue to advocate for the rights of women and children, which she fought for and is considered a contemporary heroine.

Source: Motivational Speakers Agency, poets.org, BBC Indonesia