Feminism The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models  

Erica Scheidt
Originally by
66.9k votes 4.9k voters 66k views 280 items

List Rules Inspiring professional women who are at the top of their fields. Only remarkable, positive female role models who don't primarily work in Hollywood (TV journalists are okay).

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Who run the world? Girls! After compiling this list, we're positive that ladies all over the planet are kicking ass and taking names in almost every field nowadays, sorry not sorry. The amazing female role models on this list are inspiring examples of powerful females, killing it at the tops of their fields and in the trenches, helping to make the world a better place for everyone, but especially for women and girls all over the world. After all, there are presidential candidates, hard-hitting journalists, countless female CEOs and CFOs of major corporations, and a teenage girl who is on the fast track to becoming an MLB superstar. Who are the most inspiring female role models in the world today?

Though we tried our best to list as many inspirational women as possible, we're sure we missed some ladies you might look up to, so be sure to add them and rerank this list. Of all these awesome female role models from around the world, which ones inspires you the most? Which of these ladies motivated you to choose your career? Which one of these amazing female role models makes you want to pursue your dreams?  

After seeing all these awesome female role models together on one list, you'll be more inspired that ever to conquer anything! Vote up the women who inspire you the most and add any other inspirational women, successful women, and strong female role models you think girls and women the world over should know about.

list ordered by

1
1,045 386
Marie Curie is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
natalie-greenly added Physicist, Chemist, Scientist Marie Skłodowska-Curie was a Polish and naturalized-French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first ...more

2
1,065 511
Jane Goodall is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Becks Tora added Anthropologist, Researcher, Primatologist Dame Jane Morris Goodall, DBE is an English primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, and UN Messenger of Peace. Considered to be the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees, Goodall is best ...more

3
369 81
Amelia Earhart is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Coolza added Pilot, Writer Amelia Mary Earhart was an American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She received the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross for ...more

4
424 254
Clara Barton is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
but chickens double d added Nurse, Nursing, Teacher Clarissa Harlowe "Clara" Barton was a pioneer nurse who founded the American Red Cross. In addition to being a hospital nurse, she worked as a teacher, patent clerk, and humanitarian. ...more

5
660 471
Valentina Tereshkova is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
ElijahKaganer added Pilot, Politician, Astronaut Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova is the first woman to have flown in space, having been selected from more than four hundred applicants and five finalists to pilot Vostok 6 on 16 June 1963. In ...more

6
721 193
Your Own Mom is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
RobLein added Your Own Mom

Brag about her. She's great!

7
412 129
Florence Nightingale is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
RobLein added Nurse, Statistical graphics, Nursing Florence Nightingale, OM, RRC was a celebrated English social reformer and statistician, and the founder of modern nursing. She came to prominence while serving as a manager of nurses trained by ...more

8
1,113 986
Diana, Princess of Wales is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Becks Tora added Crown Princess Diana, Princess of Wales, was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, who is the eldest child and heir apparent of Queen Elizabeth II. Diana was born into an aristocratic British family with ...more

9
369 170
Helen Keller is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
RobLein added Pacifist, Lecturer, Author American author, political activist and lecturer. Helen Adams Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree. The story of how Keller's teacher, Anne ...more

10
404 126
Joan of Arc is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Coolza added Military Leader Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans", is considered a heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. She was born to Jacques d'Arc and Isabelle, a peasant family, at ...more

11
392 235
Elsa Brändström is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Becks Tora added Elsa Brändström was a Swedish nurse and philanthropist. She was known around the world as the "Angel of Siberia".

12
599 254
Janica Kostelić is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Magdalena Linde added Alpine skier Janica Kostelić is a former World Cup alpine ski racer and four-time Olympic gold medalist from Croatia. In addition to the Olympics, she won five gold medals at the World Championships. In ...more

13
844 744
Malala Yousafzai is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Female education activist, Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate. She is known mainly for human rights advocacy for education and for women in her native ...more

14
255 51
Harriet Tubman is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Activist, Writer Harriet Tubman was an African-American abolitionist, humanitarian, a Union spy. Tubman escaped and subsequently made about thirteen missions to rescue approximately seventy families and friends, ...more

15
351 159
Mother Teresa is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Coolza added Nun, Teacher Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, MC, commonly known as Mother Teresa, was a Roman Catholic religious sister and missionary who lived most of her life in India. She was born in today's Macedonia, with ...more

16
373 478
Rachel Corrie is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Becks Tora added Peace activist Rachel Aliene Corrie was an American peace activist and diarist. She was killed by an Israel Defense Forces armored bulldozer in a combat zone in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, ...more

17
668 886
J. K. Rowling is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Author of the "Harry Potter" series, UK's Best-Selling Living Author Joanne "Jo" Rowling, OBE FRSL, pen names J. K. Rowling and Robert Galbraith, is a British novelist best known as the author of the Harry Potter fantasy series. The books have gained ...more

18
514 815
Serena Williams is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Current No. 1 in Women's Singles Tennis, Oldest No. 1 in WTA History, Multiple Record Holder for Female Tennis Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player who is currently ranked No. 1 in women's singles tennis. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her World No. 1 in singles on ...more

19
193 117
Sally Ride is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
RobLein added Physicist, Astronaut First American female astronaut. Sally Kristen Ride was an American physicist and astronaut. Born in Los Angeles, Ride joined NASA in 1978 and, at the age of 32, became the first American woman in space and still remains the ...more

20
231 263
Martina Navratilova is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
BenNicholson added Tennis player Martina Navratilova is a retired Czech and American tennis player and coach. Billie Jean King, former World No. 1 player, said in 2006 that Navratilova is "the greatest singles, doubles and ...more

21
216 245
Charlene, Princess of Monaco is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Heros Deus added Crown Princess, Swimmer Charlene Lynette Wittstock, is a former South African Olympic swimmer who, after marrying Prince Albert II, became Princess of Monaco. Charlene is the daughter of Michael and Lynette Wittstock. ...more

22
219 212
Chris Evert is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Becks Tora added Tennis player, Actor Christine Marie "Chris" Evert, known as Chris Evert-Lloyd from 1979 to 1987, is a former World No. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles ...more

23
223 98
Cleopatra is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Coolza added Cleopatra VII Philopator, known to history simply as "Cleopatra", was the last active pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, only shortly survived by her son, Caesarion as pharaoh. Cleopatra was a ...more

24
194 241
Shannon Miller is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Dave_7672 added Gymnast Cancer survivor, 7 time Olympic medalist, runs Shannon Miller Lifestyle which is targeted to women with a focus on health and wellness, it includes the topics of fitness, nutrition, pregnancy, motherhood, and cancer awareness
 Shannon Lee Miller is a former artistic gymnast from Edmond, Oklahoma. She was the 1993 and 1994 World All-Around Champion, the 1996 Olympics balance beam gold medalist, the 1995 Pan Am Games ...more

25
193 43
Eleanor Roosevelt is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Tom Islava added Politician, Diplomat, Author Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was an American politician, diplomat, and activist. She was the longest-serving First Lady of the United States, holding the post from March 1933 to April 1945 during her ...more