10+ Amazing Women We're Following on International Women's Day
March 8th marks International Women’s Day, a day of celebration around women’s social, economic, political, and cultural achievements. A day to applaud how far we’ve come, but also a stark reminder of how much further we have to go!
Some of our in-house editorial and writing team (made up of amazing females) wanted to talk about what International Women’s Day meant to them and which women they’re following right now that inspire them daily.
Whether through social media, books, tech, workplaces, or other important platforms, women are doing amazing, groundbreaking things right now, and there’s always more work to do when it comes to creating a more gender-equal world.
Read on to discover some amazing women we are following right now and what Women’s Day means to us!
10+ Amazing Women We’re Following on International Women’s Day
Krista, Daily Life Writer
Who do you follow that inspires you that you want to shout out on Women’s Day?
First, I want to mention Ariana Huffington and Michelle Obama. I’ve read both of their books, and they are both such strong-ass and bad-ass women! They’ve been through a lot, but both tend to look at things from a realistic-positive standpoint.
Olivia Noceda (@oliveeeats) normalizes eating, food, anxiety, and skin issues!
I love her and how real she is, and she doesn’t hide things. She’s someone I’ve followed for years and haven’t felt the need to unfollow yet (which tends to happen with me and a lot of influencers since they just become so unrelatable and almost unreal sometimes, like they don’t show the bad stuff and only the good - but that’s not real life).
What does Women’s Day mean to you?
For me, it signifies a celebration of how far not just women but many societies (not all) in the world have come in the last few hundred years. In the span of human history, a couple of hundred years isn’t that long, so, incredibly, women have gained so many rights in a short amount of time.
At the same time, I think it also points out all the work we still have to do.
I believe awareness like this day is crucial for this reason. It means women aren’t going to be silent or in the background anymore, and we aren’t going back to that any time soon. It’s also important to note that there is still a ton of progress made in societies worldwide. Many women elsewhere don’t have equal rights to men, so some focus should be placed on continuing this “change” in the future.
Lastly, it means a celebration of the female body to me.
From a biological standpoint, we really aren’t “equal” to men when it comes down to it. Our bodies do so much more, like keeping the human race going. I find it so fascinating, especially when compared to male biology (sorry, guys). There’s just so much more going on, and I think this day should partially be a celebration of how incredibly amazing the female human body is! A woman can make a human, care for one, and run a business or forward her career!
Marina, Daily Life Editorial Lead
Who do you follow that inspires you that you want to shout out on Women’s Day?
There are a ton of women that inspire me daily, such as Sarah Wilson (for all things spiritual and fighting climate change), Glennon Doyle (just read Untamed, seriously), Aliza Licht, and Sophia Amoruso (for all things career), and, more recently, Whitney Wolfe Herd, the woman who co-founded Tinder, sued them, founded Bumble, and at 30, is now a CEO of a billion-dollar dating app!
Another woman I want to highlight today is Tiffany Ima (@tiffanyima), a BIPOC influencer I follow on Instagram who talks openly about body confidence and eating disorders. Her tagline in her Instagram bio is “teaching you to ditch the body shame and feel at home in the body you have now!”
Her posts constantly inspire me because they are so genuine and real. Her content focuses on topics such as normalizing skin texture/marks/imperfections, embracing the “anti-diet,” and generally being able to respect the body you have, even if you don’t love every aspect of it.
What does Women’s Day mean to you?
To me, it means encompassing a broader idea of feminism.
Although certain women may have many rights and privileges in 2021, that does not mean all of them to do (i.e., BIPOC women, transgender women, etc.). One of my favorite quotes by Audre Lorde states: “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.”
There is still so much work to do for women’s rights, and I hope that this day allows people to reflect and think about what they can do to move those forward for all who identify as women. Less than 100 years ago, I would not have the job I have today. I would not even be able to open a bank account in my own name. This day is a reminder that I have choices that were not available to people like my grandmother (who, at age 16, was pulled away from her education and into marriage).
And a reminder to keep educating myself, educating the people around me, and fighting for more.
Anu, Daily Life Writer
Who do you follow that inspires you that you want to shout out on Women’s Day?
There are many women leaders, entrepreneurs, authors who inspire me daily both on and off social media. Of them, Michelle Obama and Glennon Doyle are women in recent times who I’ve really looked up to.
Glennon Doyle’s recent book Untamed particularly stood out for me. Her story is one of self-discovery, strength, and vulnerability. In Untamed, Glennon Doyle describes her journey within and how it allowed her to break free from rigid societal conditioning.
What does Women’s Day mean to you?
To me, personally, it is a time to honor the feminine energy within us.
Being a woman to me means having the ability to tap into a powerful inner knowing and intuition. I truly believe that this intuition allows us to introspect and question our beliefs. With this energy backing us, we can rise above the shackles of pre-written scripts (about our career paths, relationships, and life choices) passed down to us.
While both men and women hold feminine and masculine energies equally within them; Women are biologically, mentally, and emotionally wired to access this inner knowing with greater ease.
In recent years, I’ve been able to tune into this energetic space and create a new reality for myself. I hope other women can do the same and become the best versions of themselves.
As women, we can use this inner knowing to heal ourselves, empower each other, and together raise the collective consciousness. Happy International Women’s Day!
Make sure to check out: Celebrating Women on International Women’s Day
Michele, Daily Life Sr. Marketing Specialist
Who do you follow that inspires you that you want to shout out on Women’s Day?
I follow a plethora of women who really inspire me, including Rupi Kaur, Emma Watson, and Michele Romeno from CBC’s The Dragon’s Den. Even women from my local community like Edmonton’s Poet Laurate, Nisha Patel (@anothernisha), and an incredible friend of mine and community leader, Patrycia Rzechowka (@rzechowka), who is not only fighting multiple sclerosis (MS) but advocating to raise awareness and funds for MS research.
The woman in particular that I would love to shout out today is the phenomenal Miki Agrawal (@mikiagrawal).
Miki is a social entrepreneur who has founded industry-disrupting companies, including TUSHY and THIX. I’m really passionate about social enterprises, so I look up to her a lot for inspiration. She is also quite spiritual and wise. She always talks about leaning into fear on her Instagram, and that true success really comes when we root ourselves in our fearlessness.
She has a course coming out on Mindvalley soon that I cannot wait to take!
What does Women’s Day mean to you?
To me, Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the strides, so many brave and fearless women made to bring justice to the way women are viewed and treated in society.
Although a lot of phenomenal work has been done, today also sheds light on the gender imbalances that still exist and the work that needs to be done to close the gap. Misogyny is still deeply rooted in our culture. It will take years of speaking up and Leaning In —shout out to Sheryl Samber, another inspiring woman — to provide women with a seat at the table in all governments, corporations, and workplaces worldwide.
Sarah, Daily Life Writer
Who do you follow that inspires you that you want to shout out on Women’s Day?
Two women I want to shout out for on Women’s Day are Priti Patel and Abby Pollock.
Priti Patel is the Home Secretary of the UK, and she is the first Asian female Home Secretary in the history of British politics. She is an inspiration for her tenacious drive and for standing by the strength of her convictions.
Abby Pollock is a Canadian Youtube fitness instructor. Not only are her videos fun and informative, but she also inspires females of all shapes and sizes to love their bodies and to do what makes them feel good. Her videos are motivational to women of all shapes and ages, and she has helped to change the way women feel about themselves across the globe.
What does Women’s Day mean to you?
To me, Women’s Day is a celebration of the strength, fortitude, and courage that women possess.
Femininity has been viewed as a weakness for too long in society, and yet it encompasses a range of strengths - one of them is intuition, a quality that is not given enough emphasis in modern society. All genders possess feminine and masculine energies, and finding this balance in societal form can be tricky.
Embracing feminine qualities and merging them with traditionally masculine ones, such as outward strength and physical strength, helps us better understand and empathize with one another. So while Women’s Day is a celebration of the feminine form, it is also a celebration of our transition towards a balance between the feminine and masculine energies, which will lead us to the betterment of society and the world at large.
Rhiannon, Daily Life Writer
Who do you follow that inspires you that you want to shout out on Women’s Day?
One woman that I follow who always brings a smile to my face and reminds me that I can be fierce at any age is Erika Jayne (@theprettymess).
I love that she doesn’t care about social norms or what society says a woman should look or act like. She does her own thing and looks amazing doing it. As someone who struggles with embracing the hobbies or style that society tells me I’m supposed to have outgrown, I need women like Erika to remind me to be true to myself, no matter what anyone else has to say about it.
I admire her courageous spirit and feisty attitude.
What does Women’s Day mean to you?
Women’s Day means coming together in the name of the goddess, in the name of one another, to support each other. So often, women are pitted against one another or taught to believe that there’s only room for a few of us to shine.
The truth is that we all have something unique to bring into and share with the world, and that’s what makes being a woman so exciting - that and the fact that we can celebrate each other’s achievements to bring even more femininity and positivity into the world!
Related article: Daily Life’s Top 10 Wellness Influencers
