List Rules Vote up the women who had the biggest impact in 2018.
The greatest women in history change the game in terms of the power and the presence women have in society. From inspirational female celebrities to business women to political activists, women have made a truly amazing impact in 2018! While much of the news about women in the world has been bleak, it has been a great year for women in terms of illuminating and addressing systemic problems in the United States and the world.
The Me Too movement has made many aware of the epidemic of sexual violence in Hollywood and elsewhere and has been spearheaded by the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Ashley Judd, and Salma Hayek. In the wake of Hillary Clinton's 2016 loss, female politicians like Elizabeth Warren have become an increasingly vocal presence in the political sector. Powerful world leaders like Angela Merkel and Meghan Markle continue to make headlines and female writers like Roxane Gay put difficult topics into perspective for the public.
Who are the most inspiring women of 2018? Vote up the most influential women below and feel free to add anyone you think is missing! Then see what ladies are making waves in 2019.
list ordered by
1
724 541
Michelle Obama Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is an American lawyer, university administrator, and writer who served as the First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She is married to the 44th U.S. ...more
2
507 375
Taylor Swift Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. Raised in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, Swift moved to Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 14 to pursue a career in country music. She signed ...more
3
502 450
Emma Watson Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson is an English actress, model, and activist. Watson rose to prominence as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series, appearing in all eight Harry Potter films ...more
4
491 472
Ellen DeGeneres Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American comedian, television host, actress, writer, and producer. She was the star in the popular sitcom Ellen from 1994 to 1998, and has hosted her syndicated talk ...more
5
469 436
jsnungaray added Sandra Bullock Sandra Annette Bullock is an American actress and film producer. She is one of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses, and is the recipient of one Academy Award from two nominations, and one Golden ...more
6
484 497
Oprah Winfrey Oprah Gail Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her multi-award-winning talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show, ...more
7
447 458
Elizabeth II Elizabeth II is the Queen of 16 of the 53 member states in the Commonwealth of Nations. She is Head of the Commonwealth and Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Upon her accession on 6 ...more
8
419 445
J. K. Rowling 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
9
498 551
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (born Rachel Meghan Markle; August 4, 1981), is an American-born member of the British royal family, and a former film and television actress. Markle was born and ...more
10
218 195
Betty White Betty White Ludden, known professionally as Betty White, is an American actress, comedienne, author, producer, radio host, singer, and television personality. In 2013, the Guinness World Records ...more
11
373 413
The Superhero Nerd added Gal Gadot Gal Gadot is an Israeli actress and fashion model. She won the Miss Israel title in 2004 and went on to represent Israel at the 2004 Miss Universe beauty pageant. She is the leading fashion ...more
12
398 444
jsnungaray added Charlize Theron Charlize Theron (born 7 August 1975) is a South African-American actress and film producer. She is the recipient of several accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and the ...more
13
291 328
Beyoncé Knowles Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she performed in various singing and dancing competitions as a child, and ...more
14
144 121
Ariana Grande Ariana Grande-Butera, known professionally as Ariana Grande, is an American singer and actress. She began her career in the Broadway musical 13, before landing the role of Cat Valentine on the ...more
15
326 390
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Ruth Joan Bader Ginsburg is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Ginsburg was appointed by President Bill Clinton and took the oath of office on August 10, 1993. She ...more
16
299 359
Meryl Streep Meryl Streep is an American actress. A three-time Academy Award winner, she is widely regarded as one of the greatest film actors of all time. Streep made her professional stage debut in The ...more
17
289 383
Reese Witherspoon Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon is an American actress and producer. She made her film debut as the female lead in the film The Man in the Moon in 1991. In 1996, she appeared in Freeway and ...more
18
265 365
Angela Merkel Angela Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany and the head of the political party CDU in Germany. In addition to being the first female German Chanchellor, she is also considered by Forbes ...more
19
223 284
Katherine Gallardo added Selena Gomez Selena Marie Gomez is an American actress and singer. Born and raised in Grand Prairie, Texas, she was first featured on the children's series Barney & Friends in the early 2000s. In 2007, ...more
20
51 26
Robert L Uzarski added Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (born October 13, 1989) is an American activist, community organizer, and democratic-socialist politician. On June 26, 2018, Ocasio-Cortez won the Democratic primary in ...more
21
189 257
Jennifer Lawrence Jennifer Shrader Lawrence is an American actress. Her first major role was as a lead cast member on the TBS sitcom The Bill Engvall Show. She appeared in the independent dramas The Burning Plain ...more
22
219 310
Emma González Emma González is an American activist and advocate for gun control. As a high school senior she survived the February 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, and ...more
23
204 290
Melinda Gates 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
24
389 650
Melania Trump Melania Knauss-Trump is a Slovenian former model and the wife of American real estate magnate Donald Trump. They married on January 22, 2005.
25
184 288
Tina Fey Elizabeth Stamatina "Tina" Fey is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She is best known for her work on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, the ...more
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List Rules: Vote up the women who had the biggest impact in 2018.
