Following the news that Kate McCann has been named as one of Woman & Home's Most Inspirational Women, 2016 I have decided to compile my own list of 10 women I find inspirational and who made a difference within the world. I'm not saying the list Woman & Home compiled is completely awful, but many people will have their own opinion as to whether she should have been included on the list. Having said that, I thought I would compile my own list of inspirational women from the past as well as the present...


Emmeline Pankhurst:
Known as the Leader of the British Suffrage Movement, Emmeline led the revolution for women to receive the vote within England. Without her and the Suffragette movement, women today may not have the vote nor the freedom we take for granted. 

Marie Curie:
She invented the x-ray, made portable x-ray machines for use within the First World War saving countless lives in the process and won two Nobel Prizes and was the first woman to ever to do so. Need I say more?

Rosalind Franklin:
Ever heard of Crick and Watson? Well they are the men widely attributed with discovering the double-helix structure of our DNA, however, what is less widely known is that without X-ray crystallographer, Rosalind Franklin the two men would still be scratching their heads. Franklin took the first known photo of DNA which was then passed to Crick and Watson, aiding them with their research. When they later won the Nobel Prize for their discovery, Franklin never received a mention as the award cannot be granted posthumously. 

Audrey Hepburn:
Not just a beauty, Hepburn was noted for her humanitarian work. Appointed the Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, she helped many impoverished children to lead a better life. This was spurred on by her escape from Nazi occupation as a child. 

Malala Yousafzai:
She campaigned for girls to have the right of education within Pakistan, but was shot in the head by the Taliban. However, this hasn't stopped Malala as she continues to campaign for the right to education to stretch to everyone, earning her the Nobel Peace Prize in the process. And she's only 18!

Gloria Steinem:
She led the feminist movement within the 1960s and 70s and has advocated for the equality of the sexes ever since. She founded Ms Magazine and still continues to fight against inequality today.

Anne Frank:
Everyone has heard of Anne Frank and knows of her resistance against the Nazi Party during WW2. Her courage and wisdom beyond her years are what has made her diary especially poignant with readers. Even though her story is saddening, it highlights the extreme prejudice Jewish people faced under the rule of Hitler that shouldn't be forgotten.

Florence Nightengale:
She pioneered nursing as we know it today within the Crimean War. Not only did she help nurse soldiers back to health but she revolutionized their care. She dealt with overcrowding, lack of ventillation and sewage running through the ward, making it healthier and cleaner overall. Also, did you know she invented the pie chart?

J.K. Rowling:
Before she became the best-selling author of Harry Potter, Rowling was living below the poverty line with her family. Not only this but she has spoken of her experiences with mental health which inspired characters within the Harry Potter series. She has been praised for her depiction of strong female characters within the series of books, characters which have inspired women and girls to rise above gender stereotypes.

Angelina Jolie:
As well as being an Oscar-winning actress, Jolie is celebrated for her humanitarian work. Earning her a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and an honorary dame-hood she has dedicated herself towards advocating for women's and children's rights. 




So, there you have it; 10 women I find inspirational. There are plenty more women I find an inspiration but I thought I would narrow it down to 10 for easy reading, otherwise you'd be here all day. Although, I might post another list if people find this interesting!

Lottie :)