International Women’s Day 2021: Celebrating Women Who Chose To Challenge.

From being an efficient homemaker to achievement in career/workplace, and many more, women have proven their mettle in every sphere across the world.

International Women’s Day is observed to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women with the aim of supporting a platform that helps forge positive change in women. The day is is observed on March 8th every year.

To commemorate the occasion and celebrating womanhood, Let’s take a look back at those women who chose to challenge and crossed all the hurdles with flying colours while inspiring other women with these inspirational quotes.

1.  Sushmita Sen

Sushmita Sen is an Indian actress and model who was crowned Miss India in 1994 and won Miss Universe 1994 at the age of 18. Sen is the first Indian woman to win the competition and has since primarily worked in Hindi films. She is a single parent to two adorable daughters whom she adopted at the time when her career was at its peak.

Fighting the societal pressures when adopting two daughters was against the law, she held her ground with such grace. After her comeback to the silver screen with more than ten years, she enthralled audiences with her magical onscreen appearance and bagged many accolades such as the Filmfare award, Dadasaheb Phalke award, and more. Her famous quote, “I don’t need a man to buy me diamonds, I can own them by myself” is still one of the most inspirational quotes by any celebrity.

2. Oprah Winfrey

Dubbed the ‘Queen of All Media’, Oprah Winfrey is an exceptional woman who survived as a rape victim in her childhood. She is a fearless lady who is a benevolent billionaire, giving gazillions to charity.

She is also an author who has been inspiring millions of people around the globe with her leadership rules. Her famous quote, “Turn your wounds into wisdom,” inspires many and motivates younger ladies to live up to the ground and become a person who can ‘choose to challenge’ the world.

3.  Hilary Clinton

Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is an American politician, diplomat, lawyer, writer, and public speaker who served as the 67th United States secretary of state from 2009 to 2013, as a United States senator from New York from 2001 to 2009, and as First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001.

4. Eleanor Roosevelt

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was an American political figure, diplomat and activist. She served as the First Lady of the United States from March 4, 1933, to April 12, 1945, during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four terms in office, making her the longest-serving First Lady of the United States.

5. Taylor Swift

Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Her narrative songwriting, which often takes inspiration from her personal life, has received widespread critical praise and media coverage. Swift has won 10 granny awards and many other awards, sold over 50million album including 37.3million in the US and 150million singles worldwide. She’s the longest reigning act on Billboard 100 with 44weeks at number one on the chat. The woman with the most Billboard hot 100 entries in history.

6. Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.

7. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a Liberian politician who served as the 24th President of Liberia from 2006 to 2018. Sirleaf was the first elected female head of state in Africa. Sirleaf was born in Monrovia to a Gola father and Kru-German mother. She was educated at the College of West Africa and Harvard and the University of Colorado, USA.

8. Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama is an American attorney and author who was the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She is married to the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama, and was the first African-American first lady.

9. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda is a Nigerian writer whose works range from novels to short stories to nonfiction. She was described in The Times Literary Supplement as “the most prominent” of a “procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors which is succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature”.

10. Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn was a British actress and humanitarian. Recognised as both a film and fashion icon, she was ranked by the American Film Institute as the third-greatest female screen legend from the Golden Age of Hollywood, and was inducted into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame.