Whether it’s on the small screen, the silver screen, or the stage, these women know how to deliver some powerful performances. It’s what they do behind the scenes and in their everyday life, though, that truly propels them to role model status.
Gina Rodriguez
Following the upsetting lack of diversity at last year’s Academy Awards, Gina started her very own Instagram campaign under the hashtag #MovementMondays. She uses her platform to feature actors and actresses of color, highlighting their performances and sharing their diverse stories. Although she began by shining the spotlight on artists from the Latino community, her Monday profiles have grown to cover underappreciated actors of all different cultures and backgrounds. Gina has also established the We Will foundation which aims to help young women discover their passions and potential through the arts. Her work earned her Variety’s Young Humanitarian award last year. (Image source)
“Let us use our numbers and powerful voices to prove we support one another, to prove we can make a box office hit, to prove they need to support all the various Latino cultures in the media.”
Mindy Kaling
If you’ve read Mindy’s first book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, you might be familiar with her story of growing up and dealing with a constantly changing body, different types of friendships, how she worked her butt off at Dartmouth College, and her status as the worst intern Late Night had ever seen. Her candid account of her struggles and triumphs as she found her way to her dream career in comedy is relatable, inspiring, and needless to say, hilarious. Through her first book and then second, Why Not Me?, Mindy offers practical, witty little nuggets of wisdom that will leave you feeling like you can actually do what you want with your life. To top it all off, Mindy’s sitcom, The Mindy Project, is the first of its kind starring and created by an Indian-American. From writing to acting to producing, she does it all and manages to stay humble along the way. (Image source)
“I will leave you with one last piece of advice, which is: If you’ve got it, flaunt it. And if you don’t got it? Flaunt it. ’Cause what are we even doing here if we’re not flaunting it?”
Emma Watson
As a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, Emma helped launched the UN HeforShe campaign with her memorable speech on gender equality and women’s rights at the United Nations’ headquarters in late 2014. She is dedicated to empowering young women across the globe and advocates for girls’ right to education, fair trade, and sustainability. To continue her mission to inspire and spark conversation surrounding feminism, Emma has created an online book club, Our Shared Self, in which she shares one feminist title to read every month, then prompts and encourages discussion. (Image source)
“My life is a sheer privilege because my parents didn’t love me less because I was born a daughter. My school did not limit me because I was a girl. My mentors didn’t assume I would go less far because I might give birth to a child one day. These influencers were the gender equality ambassadors that made me who I am today. They may not know it, but they are the inadvertent feminists who are changing the world today. And we need more of those.”
Genevieve Angelson
Breakout star of Amazon’s Good Girls Revolt, Genevieve has more in common with her character than you might think. Although Good Girls Revolt was prematurely canceled, the show taught a lot of important lessons and is especially poignant in today’s social climate. The show is based on the true story of the landmark sex-discrimination lawsuit that 46 female Newsweek employees filed in 1970. It follows these women not only as they stand up for their rights, but also as they learn to embrace their sexuality, deal with different relationships, and develop self-confidence. Genevieve is especially active on Twitter, where she speaks out about social topics and shares informative and inspiring resources for those who want to join her in finding actionable steps to make a difference. (Image source)
“It’s the single most emboldening love source in my life: the power of my female friendship.”
Amy Poehler
Amy teamed up with producer Meredith Walker to create Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls, which began in 2008 as a YouTube channel devoted to encouraging young people to truly express themselves. The organization values curiosity and imagination and helps cultivate that among the youth. When she’s not empowering others to be themselves and embrace their unique quirks or bringing laughter to our lives on TV, Amy serves as an ambassador for the Worldwide Orphans Foundation. Through fundraisers and outreach, she works to get more young people involved in taking care of other young people who really need it. And let’s not forget, Leslie Knope is a role model in her own right. (Image source)
“The only way we will survive is by being kind. The only way we can get by in this world is through the help we receive from others. No one can do it alone, no matter how great the machines are.”
Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys is the definition of a triple threat, but maybe not in the traditional sense of the term. As a fifteen-time Grammy winner and accomplished actress, she’s got singing and acting down. On top of that, she’s also a New York Times bestselling author. She started making headlines for reasons besides her natural-born talent when she decided to stop wearing makeup in the summer of 2016. Choosing to embrace her natural beauty and quit covering herself up made a big statement. She sends a message to women everywhere that if makeup is starting to feel more like a chore instead of like fun, a form of self-expression, or art, it’s okay to wipe it away and feel comfortable in your own skin. Alicia is a woman with so much influence and who spends so much time in the public eye. Her decision to go makeup-free and accept the criticism that comes with it is a true testament to her strength and self-confidence. (Image source)
“’Cause I don’t want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing.”
Demi Lovato
From Disney teen sensation to award winning artist and activist, Demi has experienced the dark side of fame as well as the empowering platform that fame can provide. Having struggled with her mental health and body image since a young age, she has overcome so much amid growing up in the spotlight. Demi has suffered from depression, eating disorders, self-harm, and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. After taking the time she needed to seek help and develop a road to recovery, she now advocates for mental health awareness and body positivity. Demi recently executive-produced a documentary that follows three different people and their experiences with mental illness, and she shares her own story as well through her book and speaking engagements. (Image source)
“I think scars are like battle wounds – beautiful, in a way. They show what you’ve been through and how strong you are for coming out of it.”