The entertainment industry appears to be making notable strides toward gender parity. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of significant female characters in television and film. There’s also a growing presence of female singers, writers and producers, filmmakers, and business executives.

However, there’s still a long journey to travel. Many pioneering women are bridging the gender disparity and opening the way for other women to join in their tracks. Here is a list of the most inspirational women in pop culture.

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle stands out among all the British Royal Family for various reasons. For one thing, she’s the only person of mixed descent. She’s also, without a doubt, the only Suits alumna to be a part of the British Royal Family. Even when circumstances appear more horror-like than a fairytale, the Duchess of Sussex has embraced them with extraordinary elegance.

Markle has spoken up about her struggles as a new bride, mom, and duchess at great length. She has been harshly questioned by the press and fans. Despite this, she maintains her elegance and composure, setting an example for young women worldwide.

Rihanna

We may have to wait a while for new songs from Rihanna, but she is continually making her supervisor moves outside of the music business. With the success of her Fenty Beauty cosmetic products and Savage X Fenty lingerie brands, she has become the first female billionaire in the music industry.

She was also declared Barbados’ National Hero when the island became a republic. Rihanna has demonstrated that her fame can be a part of useful and beneficial inspiration by giving back to her native island through her charitable Clara Lionel Foundation.

Ruth Bader Ginsberg

Ruth Bader Ginsberg is a federal judge as well as a pop-cultural figure. The legendary icon, who was nominated to the United States Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1993, is the powerful but gentle, calm but passionate, and balanced but fierce voice on crucial topics like gender inequality and equal opportunity.

Her opposing views to conservative peers in the court have gone viral, inspiring hundreds of prospective activists throughout the world.

Hillary Clinton

Senator, Secretary of State, and a hair icon.

Mother, wife, and grandmother three times over.

Lawyer, activist, and a lover of walking in the woods and sticking up for the democracy.

Hillary Clinton’s effect on pop culture over the last decade has been immense, notably her participation in the 2016 presidential election. She contested against Donald Trump and had the spotlight on her throughout the electoral campaigns. Although she lost to Trump, Clinton inspired women everywhere to fight for what they believe in and actively participate in politics.

Lady Gaga

Actor, pop rebel, jazz vocalist, and Super Bowl performer; Gaga’s versatility and the numerous ways she has reinvented herself is incredible.

Lady Gaga’s lively, equitable, and the essential art style was the talk of the town in the 2010s, whether she was speaking up for transgender rights in “Born This Way” (2011), giving a voice to victims of sexual abuse in “Til It Happens to You,” (2015), or trying to make the world experience love in the film A Star Is Born (2018). Rest assurred, the world is a lot nicer place with Lady Gaga in it.

Ellen DeGeneres

You may recognize her as the quick-witted television talk hostess who has been interviewing and interacting with celebrities since 2003. Over the years, she’s also started conversations on crucial topics. She spoke up regarding her sexual assault incident in 2016 to aid other victims.

The following year, President Barack Obama awarded DeGeneres the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her contributions to LGBTQ+ rights. Her bravery and truthfulness contributed to altering the minds and hearts of millions of Americans at a critical time, speeding our country’s ongoing quest for tolerance and fairness for all. The Ellen DeGeneres Show may be nearing its end, but the host’s contributions remain timeless.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas

An international gem for several reasons, Priyanka Chopra Jonas is a pop-cultural icon. She’s a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, model, Miss World pageant winner, actress, and producer.

Priyanka made a move from Bollywood to Hollywood while also breaking racial boundaries as the first woman in South Asia to have a leading role in the American series Quantico. She has since starred in multiple TV shows and films. Chopra understands the value of being a positive influence and a great role model and continues to inspire young women.

Ava DuVernay

DuVernay, the first African-American woman to direct a live-action picture with a budget of up to $100 million, isn’t only setting records; she’s also trying to repair Hollywood.

DuVernay is making a difference by using narrative to highlight inequalities, such as the Emmy-winning Netflix series When They See Us, and by recruiting more female filmmakers and members of the crew. Her effort assures that those who are marginalized are heard. And she’s only getting started.

Jennifer Lawrence

The previously underrated Jennifer Lawrence has become an award-winning favorite owing to her breakout role in Winter’s Bone in 2010. She starred in The Hunger Games and X-Men franchises and went on to earn her first Academy Award for Silver Linings Playbook. In 2018, she became the highest-paid actress.

Lawrence earned huge fame along the road, ushering in a new breed of celebrity: the cheerful, candid superstar. In 2014, a hacker leaked Lawrence’s explicit images on the internet. Despite the breach of privacy, she was unfazed and handled the matter in a true Lawrence fashion.

Hustle Mama Magazine is a women’s online magazine run by women who seek to motivate young women to achieve their goals in life. With over 30,000 published news, blogs, articles, and stories with recommendations for women’s lifestyles and entrepreneurs’ tips, it’s one of the leading business education publications for women of this era.

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About the author:

Katie H. is a writer and businesswoman who likes to talk about fashion and style. She believes that women who have a strong sense of community and encourage each other have the power to change the world