FEMAIL MAGAZINE
To mark 50 years of Femail, a celebration of how Britain’s 50 most remarkable women made it big – and how they can inspire YOU to greatness . . .
WHEN Femail first rolled off the presses 50 years ago, it was still very much a man’s world. Sure, there were a few trailblazers — one thinks of Eve Pollard, Betty Friedan, Agatha Christie, Golda Meir, Joan Bakewell, Betty Boothroyd, Barbara Castle, Margaret Thatcher, our very own Lynda Lee-Potter and, of course, Baroness Trumpington (she of the famous V-sign in the House of Lords), who sadly died this week. But, as remarkable as these women were (and, in some cases, still are), they were generally considered unusual. Icons in their own way, of course, but very much outside the norm.
At every turn, they had to battle the prevailing view that, ultimately, a woman’s place was principally in the home. The intervening half- century has, thankfully, seen a fundamental shift in that notion.
Ambitious, powerful and inspirational females have become the norm — not the exception. And beauty, breeding and wealth are no longer deciding factors in a woman’s ability to succeed: ordinary women from all backgrounds are now free to pursue their lives and careers as they wish.
The result: female voices have begun to reshape our culture from within, ultimately creating a society where gender is no longer any real barrier to success.
Equal rights can be enshrined in law, but it is not until the process becomes organic — as natural as breathing or eating — that
real change comes about. Young girls today have just as much chance of becoming the politicians or chief executives of tomorrow as any boy born 50 years ago.
And, unlike the pioneering women who paved the way for them, they won’t be expected to work twice as hard for the same rewards as men.
That’s not to say it’s easy — success never is. And the woman (or man) has not yet been born who can solve the eternal conundrum of working motherhood.
But, as our list of 50 inspirational women — chosen by a panel of our own fabulous Femail contributors with knowledge of each field — proves, where there’s a will there’s a way. From cardiac surgeons to cricket bosses, and technology supremos to television whizz kids, the scope and range of these women is truly remarkable.
They are proof of how far we have come — and how much further we can yet go.
POLITICS AND MEDIA
CHOSEN by Sarah Vine, Daily Mail columnist
SHARON WHITE, 51
Chief executive of Ofcom Inspiring because: Sharon is the first woman — and the first black person — to lead Ofcom, and the first black woman to hold such a senior role in any UK media organisation. She has spoken about her attempts to do ‘a lot of coaching and mentoring, particularly of women at the early stages of their career — trying to boost their confidence to put their hat in the ring for more senior jobs’.
How she got there: The daughter of Jamaican immigrants, Sharon spent 25 years as a civil servant. She was the first black woman to land a string of senior Whitehall roles, with stints at the World Bank, the Downing Street policy unit, the Ministry of Justice and as second permanent secretary to the Treasury.
Behind the scenes: Married to Robert Chote, chief of the Office of Budget Responsibility, with whom she has two young children.
CLAUDIA ROSENCRANTZ, 59
Award-winning producer and former controller of entertainment for ITV Inspiring because: Despite being almost completely deaf since her 20s, Claudia brought us shows including Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, The X Factor and I’m A Celebrity.
How she got there: She started off as a journalist, before moving into producing. After ten years working on Dame Edna’s shows, in 1995 she joined ITV as controller. She left in 2006, going on to roles including CEO of the Jamie Oliver Media Group, which she left in 2016. Earlier this year she received a cochlear implant that returned her hearing.
Behind the scenes: She and her husband Daniel have a daughter, Lola, 20, a singer-songwriter.
SARAH SANDS, 57
Editor of the Today programme
Inspiring because: Last year Sarah became only the second female editor of the Radio 4 show.
How she got there: Having joined The Telegraph as deputy editor in 1996, Sarah was appointed the first female editor of The Sunday Telegraph in 2005. After other roles at national titles, in 2012 she became editor of the Evening Standard, where she stayed until her groundbreaking Today job.
Behind the scenes: Married to Kim Fletcher, former editor of the Independent on Sunday, with whom she has two children. She also has a son with first husband, actor Julian Sands.
CHARLOTTE MOORE, 50
Director of BBC content and the BBC1 controller Inspiring because: In 2015, two years after landing the top job, she led BBC1 to a peak audience of 42 million. Hit shows include The Great British Bake Off and The Night Manager.
How she got there: With a background in documentaries, Charlotte joined the BBC in 2006, and was appointed Commissioning Editor of Documentaries in 2009, rising to controller of BBC1 four years later. She took on the additional role of director of content in 2016.
Behind the scenes: Married to cameraman Johann Perry. They have two children.
DAME KAREN PIERCE, 59
UK ambassador to the UN Inspiring because:
Karen is the UK’s first female UN ambassador. Barely a week after taking on the role in March, she had to confront Russia over the Salisbury chemical attack. Her powerful response made it clear the UK won’t be pushed around.
How she got there: A trailblazer for women at the Foreign Office, Karen joined in 1981 and has worked in Tokyo, Washington, New York and Geneva. Her past roles include UK representative at the World Trade Organisation, British ambassador to Afghanistan and chief operating officer at the Foreign Office.
Behind the scenes: Married to senior civil servant Charles Roxburgh. They have two sons.
PENNY MORDAUNT, 45
Secretary of State for International Development and Minister for Women and Equalities
Inspiring because: She was made International Secretary last year — and is seen by some as a future leader of the Conservative Party.
How she got there: Penny earned money as a magician’s assistant while still at sixth form. Before becoming MP for Portsmouth North in 2010, she was the Conservatives’ Head of Broadcasting. The Navy reservist is a former minister for the Armed Forces, and appeared on ITV reality show Splash!
Behind the scenes: Broke up with her long-term partner in 2016, with whom she shared eight cats.
ARTS AND CULTURE
CHOSEN by Jan Moir, Daily Mail columnist and culture writer
DEBBIE HORSFIELD, 63
Scriptwriter and producer Inspiring because: Debbie is responsible for bringing the muscled magic of Poldark to our screens, and has written for all four series.
How she got there: Debbie began writing aged four, and says it was the way she ‘dealt with the world’. She was the first woman to have a play performed at the National Theatre. Her TV highlights include hair salon-based drama Cutting It and Sex, Chips & Rock n’ Roll.
Poldark put her star back into the ascendant. Her latest project, BBC’s Age Before Beauty, starred Sue Johnston and Robson Green.
Behind the scenes: Has four children with actor husband Martin Wenner.
KEELEY HAWES, 42
Actress
Inspiring because: Not only did she keep us glued to our screens as steely Home Secretary Julia Montague in Bodyguard, but for my money she’s the best of the bright new bunch of English actresses. She earned a Bafta nomination for Line Of Duty.
How she got there: She started as a model but acting was her passion. Her big break came in 2002 when she starred as Kitty in Tipping The Velvet, based on the Sarah Waters novel about a Victorian lesbian love affair. She’s also known for Spooks, where she met her second husband, actor Matthew Macfadyen.
Behind the scenes: Has a son with her first husband, and two children with Macfadyen.
FABIANA AND PAULA CHAVEZ, 42
Pianists Inspiring because:
Identical twins Fabiana and Paula, from Argentina, are almost completely blind, but that hasn’t prevented their astounding piano recitals. Their worldwide project Piano sin
Barreras (Piano Without Barriers) helps musicians with visual impairments find alternative methods of reading scores.
How they got there: They lost their sight after being diagnosed at 13 with a rare genetic disorder. They continued playing using software that dictates musical scores, from which they learn pieces by heart.
‘We’re working to find different ways for people to perform,’ says Fabiana. ‘It’s important to be able to do things independently.’
Behind the scenes: They now study at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London.
GAIL HONEYMAN, 46
Bestselling novelist
Inspiring because: Her debut Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine became an instant hit last year. It won the Costa First Novel Award and was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction.
How she got there: Gail proves it’s never too late to land your dream job. After decades of civil service and administration work, at 40 she joined a writers’ group. Editors competed for her novel about an isolated woman. It is set to be made into a film after Reese Witherspoon bought the rights. Behind the scenes: She has lived in Glasgow for decades — and set Eleanor Oliphant there.
REBECCA NICOLSON, 55
Publisher
Inspiring because: The former deputy editor of the Sunday Telegraph, she co-founded publishing company Short Books in 2001. This year it was shortlisted for Independent Publisher of the Year. How she got there: The granddaughter of author Vita Sackville-West and diplomat Harold Nicolson, Rebecca also worked on
From X Factor’s deaf TV boss, to the overnight publishing star and Mrs Ready Meals – read the secrets of their success
the Times. Short Books’ successes include the Fast Diet by Dr Michael Mosley — it introduced the 5:2 diet and topped Amazon’s UK bestseller list for 32 consecutive weeks.
Behind the scenes: She’s married to writer and former Labour adviser Tom Baldwin. They live in London with their children.
FOOD
CHOSEN by Sarah Rainey, Daily Mail writer and cookbook author
CATHY CHAPMAN, 64
Director of product development for Marks & Spencer food
Inspiring because: She has changed the eating habits of the nation with the ready meal.
How she got there: She’s credited with creating the first ready-meal — the chicken kiev — in 1979, aged 25. She then introduced Indian and Chinese fresh prepared meals. She has also overseen the development of the M&S Best Ever Burger, Prawn Sandwich and Steak Pie.
Cathy says: ‘Being a woman has been an advantage, as I understood what would make life easier for working women who didn’t have much time to prepare food.’
Behind the scenes: Next month she is retiring to become an independent consultant.
THOMASINA MIERS, 42
Chef and food writer Inspiring because: Having built up a restaurant chain, the 2005 MasterChef winner now helps
other women ‘fight bias and fulfil their potential’.
How she got there: After her MasterChef win, she founded the Wahaca Mexican restaurant chain. ‘Until women start demanding (and expecting) equal pay, nothing will change,’ she says. She is an ambassador for Women For Women, a charity that helps women in wartorn countries rebuild their lives.
Behind the scenes: Lives in London with her husband and their three daughters.
MONICA GALETTI, 43
Chef Proprietor, Mere restaurant Inspiring because: She’s juggled her career — opening her own restaurant Mere in 2017 — with motherhood.
‘It’s important to show women chefs in my team that you can have a successful career and a family. It’s tough but with planning and support it is possible. Not only that, there are not a lot of women of colour at the top end of this industry — I want to champion these women and encourage them to join me in an amazing industry.’
How she got there: Born in Samoa, she moved to London to work at Michel Roux Jr’s Le Gavroche in 1999. In 2017, she opened Mere. ‘Being a women in my industry is tough yet also very rewarding,’ she says. She’s now also known for being hard to impress as a judge on MasterChef The Professionals.
Behind the scenes:
Lives in South London with her husband and daughter.
CLARE SMYTH, 40
Chef, Core restaurant in London
Inspiring because: She became the only female chef to run a UK restaurant with three Michelin stars at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. Her first solo restaurant Core was awarded two stars in October.
How she got there: Clare grew up on a farm in Northern Ireland and moved to England at 16 for her career. In May she catered the private wedding reception for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
She says: ‘It’s important to shine a light on female success because there is a lack of women in the hospitality industry.’ Behind the scenes: Married and lives in London.
BUSINESS LEADERS
CHOSEN by Ruth Sunderland, Daily Mail Business Editor
CAROL KANE, 52
Co-founder and joint chief executive of internet fashion firm Boohoo Inspiring because: Carol spotted an opportunity to shine while she was studying fashion. ‘I met my first boss in a bar where I had a part-time job,’ she says. ‘ I said I’d like to do a placement as part of my university course and he agreed. I had a really good time and designed a collection of skiwear that sold in Topshop.’
How she got there: A self-described ‘proper northern lass’ whose father was a builder, Carol launched Boohoo with the wealthy Kamani family after wowing them with her design skills. She took the firm through a stock market listing in 2014. It is now beating established retailers such as Topshop.
Behind the scenes: She lives in Stafford with her partner and their four dogs.
GEMMA GODFREY, 35
Founder and CEO of digital investment firm Moo.la Inspiring because:
Gemma, who has a degree in quantum physics, started Moo.la — a digital firm that makes investing easier for people with little experience — in 2016. She has been listed as one of London’s ‘ most powerful women’ by City AM.
How she got there: In the City, she was often the only woman and the youngest person in the room, but got ahead by being open about challenges. She says: ‘I once left an important external meeting by saying, “I have to leave as my boobs are going to explode” — my daughter was ten days old. It was risky, but it made me look more human.’
Gemma also appeared as one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s advisers on The Celebrity Apprentice.
Behind the scenes: She has two young children.
CAROLYN McCALL, 57
Chief executive of ITV Inspiring because:
She’s the first woman to reach the top at ITV. While the boss of easyJet she slapped down rival Michael O’Leary of Ryanair, who had called her ‘ some old media luvvie’. ‘Less of the old,’ she said.
She noted: ‘I don’t experience sexism. If I did I wouldn’t tolerate it for a minute. A lot of men don’t like seeing sexism in work; they wouldn’t want their wife or daughter or sister to be treated like that.’
How she got there: McCall was born in Bangalore, India, to British expats, and studied at the University of Kent. She has a good claim on the title of First Lady of the FTSE 100 — as chief at ITV and previously easyJet she is the first woman to lead two companies in the index. She has also been CEO of Guardian Media Group.
Behind the scenes: Married to entrepreneur Peter Frawley, they have three children.
JUDITH McKENNA, 51
Chief executive of Walmart International
Inspiring because: She has risen to the top of U.S. supermarket chain Walmart, which owns Asda. When Asda merges with Sainsbury’s, her power will only increase.
How she got there: She grew up in Middlesbrough where her teacher parents sent her to a comprehensive. She cut her teeth in accounts at the Tetley Pub company, and says: ‘You have to be able to stand up for yourself when you walk into a working men’s club and negotiate a loan.’ She also urges women not to ape men in order to get to the top. ‘There’s no pretending you’re a male, it just wouldn’t work.’
She trained as an accountant with KPMG and previously worked at former drinks company Allied Domecq and Asda. She has been one of Fortune’s 50 most powerful women for the past three years.
Behind the scenes: Has a husband, Phil, and two children.
ANNE BODEN, 58
Founder and chief executive of online lender Starling Bank Inspiring because:
Anne has turned being the odd one out in the maledominated finance industry into a virtue. She says: ‘ You never achieve by fitting in, so be very good at standing out.
‘I don’t mind being different, the only woman in the room, the one who expresses a different opinion. You get used to having the confidence to change things, to innovate.’
How she got there: The daughter of a Welsh steelworker, Anne always wanted to be a scientist, but went to work at Lloyds at her mother’s insistence. A career at the Royal Bank of Scotland and UBS followed, before she began work on Starling in 2014.
Behind the scenes: No children — but she doesn’t think her career would have been different if she had become a mother, once saying that, to be successful, women don’t have to be ‘ single-minded and have no personal life’.
BARONESS SHRITI VADERA, 56
Chair of Santander UK Inspiring because:
She’s the first female chairman of a major British bank. In her previous job as a Government minister she was also one of a small group of people who saved the UK financial system during the credit crunch.
‘It was never about saving the banks. It was about saving the economy from the banks,’ she says. She’s also admitted she still has nightmares about that time.
How she got there: Shriti came to Britain from Uganda in the Seventies, fleeing then president Idi Amin’s brutal regime.
She studied at Somerville College, Oxford, and worked her way to the top at investment bank Warburg in the notoriously sexist City of the Eighties and Nineties.
‘It toughened me up, but it is not fair and not right,’ she has said.
In the late Nineties, she served on the Council of Economic Advisers to the Treasury and, in 2007, became a minister in Gordon Brown’s government.
In 2014, she became chair of Santander UK. Now she is tipped to become the first female governor of the Bank of England. She has said hiring more women in the City ‘is not just a matter of equality . . . but of improved financial performance, as a lot of research shows’. Behind the scenes: She has never married and prefers to avoid the limelight. Her brother, Rupin, 58, is boss of City firm First International Investments.
BEAUTY
CHOSEN by Claire Coleman, Femail beauty writer
TRICIA CUSDEN, 70
Founder of make-up brand Look Fabulous Forever (lookfabulousforever.com) Inspiring because: Tricia champions beauty for the over-50s and is a flag-bearer for working after retirement age. Her down-to -earth make-up tutorials attract millions of hits.
How she got there: She launched the brand aged 65 in 2013, using some of her retirement savings to fund it.
‘Why shouldn’t we celebrate our age?’ she says. ‘Older women have been invisible for so long, and there needs to be a change in mindset as we all live longer and have so much experience and insight to bring to the workplace.’ Behind the scenes: She has two daughters and five grandchildren.
ATEH JEWEL, 40
Beauty journalist Inspiring because: She’s campaigned for inclusivity in the beauty industry for 17 years and is now launching her own range of foundations for darker skin tones.
How she got there: After staff jobs at Conde Nast, and for Marie Claire, she went freelance.
‘At the beginning of my career I made a statement simply by being the only black woman in the room at press launches, and asking why they didn’t have any shades for my skin tone,’ she says. ‘I hope that’s made it easier for other women to come along and challenge the status quo.’ Behind the scenes: Ateh lives in the Cotswolds with her husband, Daniel, a film producer and director, and their twin daughters, Adanna and Ola, seven.
MARCIA KILGORE, 50
Beauty entrepreneur Inspiring because:
She’s shaking up the beauty industry with Beauty Pie, a company that allows women to buy luxury skincare and make-up at affordable prices, with no middlemen.
How she got there: The Canadianborn serial entrepreneur (she’s also behind Bliss Spa, Soap & Glory, Soaper Duper and footwear brand FitFlop) started as a personal trainer, later opening Bliss Spa after being inspired by her teenage struggles with acne.
She launched Beauty Pie, a factory-to-consumer membership club, in 2016, selling products with no retailer mark-ups.
‘Success — and more importantly, happiness — is not about being male or female, it’s about recognising and working on your weaknesses, and focusing on your strengths,’ she says.
Behind the scenes: Married with two teenage sons, she splits her time between London and Geneva, Switzerland.
CHARLOTTE TILBURY, 45
Make-up artist
Inspiring because: She used her know-how to launch a beauty brand which now sells in almost 70 countries. This year, she was awarded an MBE for services to the beauty and cosmetics industry and has a huge celebrity client list.
How she got there: Aged 11 in Ibiza (she split her time between there and London), she met Mary Greenwell, who did Princess Diana’s make-up and is one of the world’s most sought-after make-up artists.
‘She told me about her inspiring career and encouraged me to train at the Glauca Rossi School of Make-Up [in London]. She was my introduction to the industry.’
After Charlotte graduated, she became Mary’s assistant, making up supermodels for early Nineties fashion shows. In 2013, she launched her own brand.
‘I always say women inspire women,’ she says. ‘It is incredibly important to surround yourself with a matrix of powerful, remarkable, magical women who challenge, support and inspire you. I feel so proud to be sharing my passion and empowering other women to believe they can become successful in whatever industry they want to.’ Behind the scenes: Charlotte lives in London with her husband and two sons.
ANABEL KINGSLEY, 34
Director of communications and trichologist at Philip Kingsley
Inspiring because: She realises that hair is as much about selfesteem as it is about the perfect style, and helps women who are experiencing hair loss. She herself lost hair after her father’s sudden death from a stroke in 2016.
How she got there: She is the daughter of the late Philip Kingsley, the man behind the iconic haircare brand and clinics.
Anabel studied history at Canterbury, before starting her career at Philip Kingsley in 2006. She trained at the Institute of Trichologists, graduating with a distinction and becoming an Associate Member, as well as receiving an award for excellence.
‘Transforming a woman’s hair can be truly life- changing. Watching a client’s confidence and self- esteem return and grow is
incredibly rewarding, and I feel lucky to be in a position to help.’
Behind the scenes: She lives in London with her fiancé. FASHION ICONS CHOSEN by Dinah van Tulleken, Daily Mail style editor
MONICA VINADER, 49
Jewellery designer Inspiring because: She made fine jewellery accessible with her British brand, worn by the likes of Kate Middleton, Gwyneth Paltrow and Elle Macpherson, which she started at her kitchen table in Norfolk with sister Gabriela.
How she got there: When banks refused to lend her money, Monica remortgaged her home — and the risk paid off. In the past three years her turnover has almost tripled to £35.8 million — and is projected to exceed £50 million by next year.
Behind the scenes: She is married to Nick Zoll, and has a daughter.
AMANDA WAKELEY, 56
Fashion designer Inspiring because: In her 25 years as a
designer, she has dressed some of the world’s most stylish women, from Kate Middleton to Angelina Jolie and Beyonce.
How she got there: Despite never having any formal fashion training, Amanda Wakeley launched her label in 1990. After catching the eye of Princess Diana, she went from strength to strength.
However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing. In 2000, her ex-husband sold his majority share in the brand, and in 2008, Amanda resigned from the company — before successfully fighting to buy it back in 2009. Today, she has a sprawling flagship store in Mayfair and an OBE. Behind the scenes: She’s in a relationship with financial public relations consultant Hugh Morrison.
CLARE HORNBY, 49
Founder of clothing brand Me+Em Inspiring because: Clare’s label Me+Em has changed the way we dress. The mother of two champions a relaxed-but- chic dress code for working women and is responsible for the leglengthening side- stripe trouser trend which has now filtered down to the High Street.
How she got there: Clare gave up a 15-year career in advertising to found Me+Em. Celebrity fans include Rosamund Pike, Thandie Newton and Emilia Fox.
Behind the scenes: She’s married to Johnny Hornby, who founded ad agency CHI, and has two daughters and three stepchildren. CAMPAIGNERS AND GROUNDBREAKERS CHOSEN by Esther Rantzen, campaigner and journalist
MARY DOYLE, 48
CEO at Rocket Girl Coaching, a consultancy firm for people with disabilities.
Inspiring because: Recognised in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 List this year, she has campaigned tirelessly for disabled people in the workplace and to enable wheelchair users to fly with dignity ( flyingdisabled.org.uk).
She says: ‘I can fly a light aircraft solo, and I believe bravery is a muscle to be exercised.’
How she got there: ‘There was a certain amount of stigma around being a wheelchair-user when I was a teenager,’ she says. ‘Then I spent an amazing 28 years working in tech, where I was very proud to be a female leader and a wheelchair -user.
‘ In my 40s, I launched my coaching company and now my difference has become my strength. I want women and disabled people to be in a position where they feel there are no barriers to what they want to achieve.’ Behind the scenes: She has a partner and lives in St Albans.
DAME SARAH MULLALLY, 56
Bishop of London Inspiring because: One of the first two women to be ordained bishops in 2015, her appointment as Bishop of London this year makes her the third most senior person in the Church of England.
A self- described feminist, she has charted a respectful course through the Church’s ongoing debate about women bishops. She says: ‘I am very respectful of those
who, for theological reasons, cannot accept my role as a priest or a bishop. My belief is that Church diversity throughout London should flourish and grow; everybody should be able to find a spiritual home.’
How she got there: A devout Christian from the age of 16, she started her career in nursing and rose to be appointed Chief Nursing Officer in 1999, later being made a dame in recognition of her achievements in this field.
She left the post in 2004 to move into the priesthood, and was created Bishop of Crediton in 2015.
Behind the scenes: She has a son and a daughter with her husband, Eamonn.
SOPHIE ANDREWS, 49
Chair of the Helplines Partnership and CEO of The Silver Line, a charity for older people
Inspiring because: Herself a survivor of extreme childhood abuse, she now works to help others facing horrific treatment.
Her TED talk on YouTube about the power of listening has been viewed more than a million times.
She says: ‘I really believe that we have it within all of us to make a difference. In all sorts of adversity, I’ve always found a special person who’s come into my life at just the right time. We can all be that person for someone.’
How she got there: After calling the Samaritans helpline herself as a child, she went on to work there for 26 years. She moved to the NSPCC and other charities, and has also written a powerful memoir about her experience.
Next, she says: ‘I’d like to visit schools and speak to young people who may feel already that they have lost their chance to succeed. It really is never too late.’
Behind the scenes: Sophie lives in Essex with her partner and two dogs, and loves the cinema.
DAME JACQUELINE WILSON, 72
Novelist and children’s author Inspiring because: Nearly three decades ago, she created the character Tracy Beaker, a ten-year-old girl living in a care home who became a role model for children in adversity. Turned into a TV series and feature film, the story reached a huge audience.
Now, Jacqueline is writing a book about Tracy’s struggles as a young mum, told through the eyes of her young daughter, Jess.
She is also a staunch supporter of a range of charities, and is passionate about children’s wellbeing and literacy.
How she got there: Starting out as a writer on Jackie magazine, her books were little known until Tracy Beaker became a national phenomenon in 1991 — helped along by illustrator Nick Sharratt, who still works on all her books.
She has sold 40 million books in the UK alone and was Children’s Laureate from 2005 to 2007.
Behind the scenes: She lives in Kingston, South London, with her dog, Jackson, and cat, Jacob, both rescues from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. She has one daughter, Emma, who is also an author.
DAME MARGARET HODGE, 74
Labour MP for Barking and Dagenham since 1994
Inspiring because: She developed a redoubtable reputation as chair of the Public Accounts Committee from 2010 to 2015. This summer, she showed the same courage when she confronted antiSemitism in Parliament, fearlessly attacking Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and saying his actions ‘ make the party a hostile environment for Jews’.
How she got there: Born in 1944 the child of Jewish refugees, Margaret attended the London School of Economics and worked as a consultant before being elected to Parliament in 1994.
She has held a string of ministerial posts, including the newly created role of Minister for Children from 2003 to 2005. She received a damehood in 2015.
Behind the scenes: She had two children from her first marriage, and two with her second husband Sir Henry Hodge, a High Court judge who died in 2009. Her daughter, Lizzi Watson, is deputy editor of the BBC News at Six. HEALTH AND WELL-BEING CHOSEN by Alice Smellie, Daily Mail lifestyle writer
MARYON STEWART, 59
Menopause expert Inspiring because: She’s helped tens of thousands of women manage menopause symptoms naturally, writing 27 self- help books. She was awarded a British Empire Medal this year for services to drug education.
How she got there: Maryon originally trained as a dental hygienist at St George’s Hospital, in London, and studied nutrition and health promotion. Afterwards, she worked as a counsellor with nutritional doctors.
In 1984, she set up the PMT Advisory Service. In 1987, she launched the Women’s Nutritional Advisory Service, and the Natural Health Advisory Service in 2003.
‘Most women buy in to the fact that the menopause is the beginning of the end, and they’re left hung out to dry,’ she says. ‘I feel passionate that women have a right to be fully informed about all the science-based options.
‘That’s my crusade — they don’t have to suffer.’ Behind the scenes: Maryon has four children. Her daughter Hester died in 2009 aged 21, after taking a
A millennial on a mission to save our oceans. The CEO in a wheelchair urging us to feel no limits. And the 70 year old make-up pioneer – we salute you all!