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

Erica Scheidt
Originally by
61.5k votes 4.5k voters 55.7k 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).

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
957 374
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
995 490
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
378 236
Clara Barton is listed (or ranked) 3 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

4
288 66
Amelia Earhart is listed (or ranked) 4 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

5
620 453
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
584 168
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
1,028 949
Diana, Princess of Wales is listed (or ranked) 7 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

8
353 123
Florence Nightingale is listed (or ranked) 8 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

9
369 220
Elsa Brändström is listed (or ranked) 9 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".

10
340 115
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
303 158
Helen Keller is listed (or ranked) 11 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

12
578 231
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
765 722
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
360 455
Rachel Corrie is listed (or ranked) 14 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

15
275 138
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
172 43
Harriet Tubman is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Activist, Writer Harriet Tubman was an African-American abolitionist, humanitarian, and during the American Civil War, a Union spy. Born into slavery, Tubman escaped and subsequently made about thirteen missions ...more

17
205 191
Chris Evert is listed (or ranked) 17 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

18
216 242
Martina Navratilova is listed (or ranked) 18 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

19
600 835
J. K. Rowling is listed (or ranked) 19 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

20
196 222
Charlene, Princess of Monaco is listed (or ranked) 20 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

21
463 773
Serena Williams is listed (or ranked) 21 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

22
182 74
Cleopatra is listed (or ranked) 22 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

23
185 221
Shannon Miller is listed (or ranked) 23 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

24
246 177
Hanna Reitsch is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Odysseus added Pilot Hanna Reitsch was a German aviatrix, Nazi test pilot, and the only woman awarded the Iron Cross First Class and the Luftwaffe Pilot/Observer Badge in Gold with Diamonds during World War II. She ...more

25
254 357
Queen Máxima of the Netherland... is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Becks Tora added Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is the wife of King Willem-Alexander. On 30 April 2013, she became the first Dutch queen consort since 1890.

26
186 97
Queen Victoria is listed (or ranked) 26 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Mollevangsvagen added Victoria was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India. Victoria was the ...more

27
343 547
Steffi Graf is listed (or ranked) 27 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
BenNicholson added Tennis player Stefanie Maria "Steffi" Graf is a German former world No. 1 tennis player. Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles. Her 22 singles titles is second all time behind Margaret Court, and ...more

28
152 110
Sally Ride is listed (or ranked) 28 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

29
222 181
Temple Grandin is listed (or ranked) 29 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Animal Expert and Advocate, Bestselling Author, Autistic Activist Mary Temple Grandin is an American professor of animal science at Colorado State University, a best-selling author, an autistic activist, and a consultant to the livestock industry on animal ...more

30
536 778
Michelle Obama is listed (or ranked) 30 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
First Lady of the United States, Lawyer Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is an American lawyer and writer. She is the wife of the 44th and current President of the United States, Barack Obama, and the first African-American First Lady ...more

31
139 30
Eleanor Roosevelt is listed (or ranked) 31 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

32
199 273
Valentina Lisitsa is listed (or ranked) 32 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Amicus73 added Pianist Valentina Lisitsa is a Ukrainian-American classical pianist who resides in North Carolina. Lisitsa is among the most frequently viewed pianists on YouTube and is often praised as a highly ...more

33
268 335
Ellen Ochoa is listed (or ranked) 33 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
World's First Hispanic Female Astronaut, First Hispanic and Second Female Director of NASA's Johnson Space Center Ellen Lauri Ochoa is a former astronaut and current Director of the Johnson Space Center. Ochoa became director of the center upon retirement of the previous director, Michael Coats, on December ...more

34
248 320
Aung San Suu Kyi is listed (or ranked) 34 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Chairperson and General Secretary of the National League for Democracy in Burma, 1991 Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, 2012 Recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal Aung San Suu Kyi AC is a Burmese opposition politician and chairperson of the National League for Democracy in Burma. In the 1990 general election, the NLD won 59% of the national votes and 81% ...more

35
129 67
Virginia Woolf is listed (or ranked) 35 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Coolza added Novelist, Author, Writer Adeline Virginia Woolf was an English writer and one of the foremost modernists of the twentieth century. During the interwar period, Woolf was a significant figure in London literary society ...more

36
379 546
Condoleezza Rice is listed (or ranked) 36 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
First Female African-American Secretary of State, Second Female Secretary of State, Former National Security Advisor Condoleezza "Condi" Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the ...more

37
300 381
Elizabeth Warren is listed (or ranked) 37 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
First Female Senator from Massachusetts, Former Special Advisor for the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Former Chairperson of the Congressional Oversight Panel Elizabeth Ann Warren is an American academic and politician who is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. She was previously a Harvard Law ...more

38
193 179
Leni Riefenstahl is listed (or ranked) 38 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Odysseus added Actor, Dancer, Film Director Helene Bertha Amalie "Leni" Riefenstahl was a German film director, producer, screenwriter, editor, photographer, actress and dancer widely known for directing the Nazi propaganda film ...more

39
199 368
Venus Williams is listed (or ranked) 39 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Current No. 11 in Women's Singles Tennis, First African American Woman to be Ranked No. 1, Multiple Record Holder in Female Tennis Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 11 in singles as of February 1, 2015. She has been ranked World No. 1 in ...more

40
145 87
Loretta Lynn is listed (or ranked) 40 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Mollevangsvagen added Songwriter, Singer-songwriter, Author Loretta Lynn, is a multiple gold album American country music singer-songwriter whose work spans more than 50 years. She has received numerous awards and other accolades for her groundbreaking ...more

41
135 143
Amy Mainzer is listed (or ranked) 41 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
DaveHoffman added Astronomer Research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Working on the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), the Near Earth Object Camera (NEOCam), and NEOWISE mission to study asteroids and comets using the reactivated WISE satellite. She previously worked for Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center on the Spitzer Space Telescope. Amy Mainzer is an American astronomer, specializing in astrophysical instrumentation and infrared astronomy. She is the Deputy Project Scientist for the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer and ...more

42
167 147
Eva Perón is listed (or ranked) 42 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Coolza added Politician, Actor María Eva Duarte de Perón was the second wife of Argentine President Juan Perón and served as the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952. She is usually ...more

43
134 167
Melissa Franklin is listed (or ranked) 43 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
DaveHoffman added Physicist, Scientist Experimental particle physicist and the Department Chair and Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics at Harvard University Melissa Eve Bronwen Franklin is an experimental particle physicist and the Department Chair and Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics at Harvard University. While working at the Fermi National ...more

44
131 84
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridg... is listed (or ranked) 44 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Maryellen Elizabeth added Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is the wife of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. Following his father Charles, Prince of Wales, William is second in line to succeed his grandmother, Queen ...more

45
109 129
Paula Radcliffe is listed (or ranked) 45 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
BenNicholson added Track and field athlete Paula Jane Radcliffe, MBE is an English long-distance runner. She is the current women's world record holder in the marathon with her time of 2 hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds. She is a ...more

46
197 238
Ronda Rousey is listed (or ranked) 46 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
DaveHoffman added Mixed Martial Artist, Actor Ronda Jean Rousey is an American mixed martial artist, judoka and actress. She is the first and current UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion, as well as the last Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight ...more

47
143 141
Laura Bush is listed (or ranked) 47 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
RobLein added Librarian, Author, Teacher Laura Bush is the wife of the forty third President of the United States George W. Bush and the incumbent First Lady of the United States. Born in 1946 in Midland, Texas, Mrs. Bush always had an ...more

48
208 199
Melinda Gates is listed (or ranked) 48 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Co-Founder, Co-Chair, and Operator of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Melinda French Gates, is an American businessperson and philanthropist. She is the wife of Bill Gates, and the co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She worked at Microsoft, ...more

49
160 208
Gabrielle Giffords is listed (or ranked) 49 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona's 8th District, Third Woman in Arizona's History to be Elected to the U.S. Congress Gabrielle Dee "Gabby" Giffords is a retired American politician from the U.S. state of Arizona. As a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, she represented ...more

50
203 106
Coco Chanel is listed (or ranked) 50 on the list The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Coolza added Fashion designer, Designer, Costume Designer Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel was a French fashion designer and founder of the Chanel brand. Along with Paul Poiret, Chanel was credited with liberating women from the constraints of the ...more