Your top 10 AROUND THE WORLD
1 MICHELLE OBAMA
In 2009, Michelle Obama stepped into a mammoth role – the first African-American First Lady of the United States. It was her husband Barack Obama’s new job as President that put her there and she was suddenly a role model to millions. The lawyer, 55, made the position her own, highlighting issues from health reform to the importance of education. She also took on giant fast-food companies in her fight against childhood obesity and planted a White House vege patch to promote healthy eating. It was during the bitterly fought 2016 US election which saw Donald Trump sweep to power that the mother-of-two showed her true class, announcing, “When they go low, we go high.”
2 OPRAH WINFREY
Is there anything Oprah Winfrey can’t do? She’s a talk-show queen, runs her own TV network, has her own magazine, acts in movies, has authored five books, and built a school in Africa to educate young women and develop leadership skills. And that’s just for starters. The 65-year-old is, without a doubt, one of the world’s most powerful female role models. How did she get there? By using her own special superpower, which is her extraordinary ability to engage on a personal level and inspire people all over the globe to live their best lives.
3 THE QUEEN
When it comes to role modelling, nobody does it quite like Queen Elizabeth II. The 92-yearold is the longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch, and has kept a stiff upper lip through the endless trials and tribulations in the House of Windsor – from the dramatic breakdowns of three of her four children’s marriages to the death of Princess Diana in 1997. After reigning for 67 years, it seems Her Majesty has personified the motto, “Keep calm and carry on.”
4 ANGELA MERKEL
German chancellor Angela Merkel is regularly referred to as the most powerful woman on the planet thanks to her de facto role as leader of the European Union. The 64-yearold former research scientist entered politics in 1989, aged 35, and is Germany’s first female political leader. Angela is famously afraid of dogs after being bitten, but she refused to be cowed when Russian leader Vladimir Putin used his pet pooches to try to intimidate her during a meeting.
5 ELLEN DEGENERES
Comedienne and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres has won legions of fans with her cheeky sense of humour and deep vein of kindness. That in itself makes her a powerful celebrity, but there’s another reason why Woman’s
Day readers have put her on their list of most-admired role models. Back in 1997, tired of living her life in secret, she came out as gay – a move that caused her popular sitcom to be canned. It was six years before she worked again, but the 61-year-old trailblazer has never regretted striking a blow for gay rights and becoming a lasting icon for the LGBTQI community.
6 HILLARY CLINTON
After eight years as First Lady of the USA, Hillary Clinton could have put her feet up, but instead she was just getting started. The former law lecturer, 71, went on to have her own political career, becoming a senator and then Secretary of State, before making history by becoming the first woman to run for US President in 2016. Although she lost the race, she has paved the way for other women to follow in her footsteps.
7 DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE
As Prince William’s wife and the future Queen of England, Kate is one of the most watched and photographed women in the world – and she uses her role for maximum effect.
The 37-year-old mum-of-three is passionate about her charity work, particularly in the areas of mental health and children, and she’s had a huge impact on fashion, which has been dubbed “the Kate Middleton effect”.
8 PINK
Chart-topper Pink’s no-holds-barred attitude makes her a kick-ass role model for girls everywhere. The “Beautiful Trauma” singer, known for her big-voiced, toughchick music, has rewritten the book about what it means to be attractive. “Beautiful is not my goal,” she says. “Joy is my goal.” Instead, the 39-year-old mother-oftwo focuses on her
physical and mental strength, pushing the message you don’t need to change who you are for other people.
9 DUCHESS OF SUSSEX
When mixed-race, divorced, US-born actress Meghan married Prince Harry in May last year, she changed the face of the British royal family forever. But the soonto-be first-time mum has more to bring to the table than her personal history. Meghan, who as a child persuaded a soap company to pull a sexist TV ad, is dedicated to making a difference through her humanitarian causes and supporting women’s rights.
10 AMAL CLOONEY
Even before Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney fell hopelessly in love with her, Amal Clooney’s star was on the rise. The 41-year-old, mother of twins Ella and Alexander, 20 months, might have a flawless fashion sense, but it’s her track record as a human rights lawyer that has dazzled the world. Well, that and her impeccable sense in men! Beirut-born Amal has represented clients from a woman enslaved by the Islamic State to a journalist unjustly detained in Egypt and has an unwavering dedication to defending human rights.