In a year filled with unforeseen circumstances, heartbreaking loss, isolation, and immense change, there was one force who fought through adversity more than any other, the girl. I know we’re not surprised that when given a plate of sucky circumstances filled with defeat and a big old piece of the unknown, women rose above and showed everyone just what they’re made of. These 10 women have put the fire back into us many times this year with their accomplishments, words of wisdom, and natural ability to lead. Let’s take a look back at some of the most inspiring women of the year.
- Kamala Harris: Breaking a barrier never broken before, Kamala was the first African American female Vice President elected in the United States. She is a lifelong lawmaker who overcame narratives labelling her too harsh while simultaneously being told the country is not ready for a Black female VP. We will always be grateful for her, not just for breaking a mold never broken before, but for being a true to herself, strong, empowering women in a powerful position. We know Kamala will work hard to help women find success at any level and will fight for us to always have a seat at the table.
- Kim Ng: The first flipping female general manager in ALL professional sports reporting for duty. When the Miami Marlins chose her as their new GM, they shocked the world with the surprising yet smart decision. Kim’s qualifications speak for themselves, so this appointing would come as no surprise if we lived in a world that doesn’t know sexism. Being turned down for this exact role by multiple teams over the last 15 years, she knew her worth and continued to reach her goals even when she was told no. In an interview with the Associated Press the days following accepting her new role she said, “I’ve been defeated and deflated numerous times, but you keep hoping.” Hope is a message we could all use as we venture in to 2021, and she is a bright light who resembles that feeling we all desperately need right now.
- Sarah Fuller: When the star soccer player at Vanderbilt University lead her team to the SEC conference tournament, their football team was in need of a kicker, and she was their go-to-girl. Sarah was ready to take the field and the attitudes that followed, inspiring women everywhere to be trailblazers in their own right. A natural competitor and amazing teammate, she was the first woman to play in a Power Five conference and the third women to play in the FBS. Many took to social media to protest her place on a mens field, while her new teammates and professionals across the sport rallied behind her. We hope one day there will be many Sarah’s whose appearance’s in traditional sports will not be considered “breaking news.”
- Dr. Jill Biden: The incoming first lady, lifelong educator, recipient of a Doctorate’s Degree after many years of hard work and schooling that she should never have to to explain or defend, Dr. Jill’s legacy is one that reflects class, kindness, and the American dream. She is everything we did not get from Melania; strength, intelligence, qualified for the things she’s responsible for, and she loves Christmas! While she represents how far women have come, she also reminds us how far we have to go when her name was dragged through the mud for using “Dr.” in her title, an accomplishment she very much earned. Having Jill as first lady reminds us that there is an ally to hardworking Americans, women who feel like they always have to stroke the egos of men, and that our accomplishments and our ventures do not need to be justified by any ole kiddo.
- Naomi Osaka: Recently named The Associated Press’s female athlete of the year, this world champion, badass boss babe, and fearless leader on and off the tennis court has inspired girls everywhere by using her powerful voice to support the Black Lives Matter movement and social justice issues alike. She’s been on the cover of many editorial magazines where she shakes up the narrative of what women should be. She’s the perfect babe who balls; girly, but with overwhelming athletic abilities, fashion forward, informed, inspired, and uses her voice for anything that can help others. Naomi is force who will always be a mood.
- Chrissy Teigan: I know what you’re thinking, what has she accomplished this year besides being rich and famous and rich? Well, she’s accomplished the art of vulnerability and honesty. After losing her baby moments after giving birth well before term, Chrissy was faced with backlash from many who felt she doesn’t deserve to mourn the loss of a child due to her pro-choice political views. After being publicly shamed during the worst time in her life, Chrissy then took to her social media accounts to discuss what she and her family had gone through, starting a well needed conversation around pregnancy and infant loss, something women often feel shameful about. She knew the pain from telling her story would resurface, but she also knew how necessary it was to normalize loss in that way. It doesn’t make much sense relying on famous people to normalize such intense things we go through as women, but Chrissy authentically used her platform and her pain to make others feel better about their similar experiences.
- The Women of the WNBA: They never backed down, never shut up, and never lost the power of the girl. From their powerful voices for Black Lives Matter, to increasing funding for Raphael Warnock’s political funding which has lead to a Georgia senate run-off race early next month, to sticking it to the man; that man being Kelly Loeffler, these ladies played like real girls this year and brought it on and off the field. They inspired us to push the more than an athlete narrative even further and continue the fight to be seen as activists and actual human beings.
- Stacey Abrams: 800,000 is her lucky number, fully because that’s the number of people she alone registered for the 2020 election in which Georgia flipped blue. Stacey, who lost the 2018 Georgia Governors race to a white man, has been a force in the political world ever since she accepted her defeat. A voting rights activist that never backs down, she has exposed extreme voter suppression in her home state of Georgia and empowered her community to not be discouraged by our election system and most of all, our country. We owe it to Stacey and Stacey alone for winning Georgia, a state that is traditionally red, and adding a little purple to our once two color toned country.
- Jacinda Ardern: Being the Prime Minister of New Zealand since 2017, we should all be slow clapping in her presence when it comes to her COVID-19 handling. New Zealand will end the year with only 25 deaths, a minuscule number compared to an almost 350K deaths the US has allowed. Recently selected for a second term, her handling of the novel virus has been commendable, not just from the eyes of the people of her country, but from the rest of the world. After declaring a country wide lockdown and closing its borders just weeks after the virus’s threat was exposed, she and her cabinet members took a 20% pay cut for 6 months. Taking maternity leave during her terms, she proved that motherhood and leading a country are in fact compatible. Recently, she has spoken openly about her experience with imposter syndrome, again normalizing something many working women feel at some point in their careers. She has recently been awarded the International Activist Award, its first recipient being Nelson Mandela.
- Taylor Swift: I know we preach that productivity during a pandemic is unnecessary, but without Taylor banging out not one but TWO albums during the last 9 months, many of us wouldn’t have made it through. Taylor’s ballads are the lyrics to our lifetime, her words have cured us, moved us, and helped us find our place. There is no better soundtrack to compliment 2020 and bring us comfort during such uncomfortable times. Taylor has not stayed silent on social issues, upcoming elections, or her feelings about particular politicians, effectively using her voice and platform to get the word out on important topics this year.
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