Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel was one of the original female entrepreneurs that shaped the fashion industry. She not only built one of the most successful fashion houses in the world from the ground up, she was responsible for introducing a new silhouette that inspired women to leave behind the corseted constraints of the 19th century. Thanks to Chanel, the term ‘little black dress’ was coined, forever changing the fashion industry.
Marie Curie
While women today are actually encouraged to embrace STEM careers, back in 1903, Marie Curie was one of few females working in the field. She made history when she was awarded the Nobel Prize for her scientific discoveries, which included radium and polonium. Despite her success, she was reportedly never financially compensated in the same regard as her male colleagues.
Amelia Earhart
Her disappearance remains a mystery, but one thing is for sure: aviator Amelia Earhart lit the trail ablaze for female adventurers. In 1928, she set out to become the first woman ever to fly solo across the Atlantic, earning herself worldwide acclaim and inspiring generations of female flyers to come. “Women must try to do things as men have tried,” she said. “When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.”
Valentina Tereshkova
You’ve heard of Neil Armstrong’s infamous tagline - “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” – but how much do you know about the first female astronaut to make it into space? Valentina Tereshkova orbited the earth in 1963 at the tender age of 26, setting the stage for a new generation of female pioneers. "If women can be railroad workers, why can't they fly in space?" she asked at the time. “A bird cannot fly with one wing only. Human space flight cannot develop any further without the active participation of women.”
