“The women who made me” by Jeremy Loops
The musician talks female power, activism and centre-stage love.
Brigitte Hewitt Mother
My mother taught me the lesson of self-belief and the confidence to go after my dreams, as long as I was prepared to put in so much effort that the time would be worthwhile, even if I failed.
Paula Hewitt Grandmother
My grandmother was the most dignified person I’ve known, as well as an incredible pragmatist with a talent for seeing things as they were, instead of how we wished they could be. Despite the gap in our ages, she was one of my closest friends.
Dr Mathilda Mennen Girlfriend
The medical profession is a demanding one, especially in a country like ours, and Mathilda’s compassion, selflessness and burning desire to help other people are a huge inspiration to me.
Tracy Chapman Musician
Tracy was just 24 when she wrote her Grammy Award-nominated debut single ‘Fast car’, and despite her success and achievements, she always stayed grounded. She’s also leveraged her profile for social activism, which resonates deeply with me.
Audre Lorde Poet and activist
Audre was a brilliant writer and way ahead of her time as a civil rights activist, so much so that we are still coming to understand the concept of the intersectional activism she championed decades ago.
JK Rowling Novelist
What could be a better comeback story than the one that belongs to this novelist? A single parent, living on welfare and down to her last dime, she persisted in writing a book which went on to be rejected by many publishers before it became the most successful fantasy series of the last century. Now that’s determination, resilience and motivation if I’ve ever seen it!
Jane Goodall (Primatologist) and Wangari Maathai
(environmental activist) I had the immense privilege of meeting both of these icons, and those meetings are highlights in my career as an environmentalist. They both occupy similar spaces in my mind because they championed important causes long before the rest of the planet realised the need for urgent action. And the fact that they were women operating in hostile, maledominated environments says a lot about their courage and willpower.