International Women’s Day

I’ve always been inspired by strong women. I was raised by one, I was taught by many, I surround myself with several. If you asked me growing up who some of my heroes were, they would all be women. In second grade we did a shoebox career project. Meaning we wrapped shoeboxes in craft paper (you know the kind that come on big rolls + they get wheeled into your classroom on a big cart + it was just as exciting as when they wheeled the TV cart into the classroom) + our assignment was to create the building where we wanted to work. I wrapped my box in pale pink (naturally) + prepared to turn it into the (pink) White House. Then, of course, some boy had to burst my bubble + tell me I couldn’t be president because I’m a girl. We’ll call him Nigel. “Nigel, are you kidding me?! Just because a girl hasn’t been president doesn’t mean she can’t be.” Then Nigel says to me, “Want to work together? I’ll make the building, you make the top?” I paused for a moment. The top? I wondered what is he talking about? Then I realized…This kid thinks the Capitol Building is the White House. I politely responded “Congress doesn’t meet at the President’s house. You’re thinking of the Capitol.” He didn’t want to work with me anymore. What a surprise. So I made my pink White House + wrote my report on how as First Lady, I would make the White House home for the whole country. That day I vowed to never let any boy tell me who I can + cannot be. Later that year at the Scholastic Book Fair (I know you 90s kids remember!), I got a book on all the Presidents + one on all the First Ladies. I think that’s what really inspired my fascination for strong women + my desire to be just like them. So today, in honor of International Women’s Day, I want to highlight five fab females that I look up to as I continue to cultivate my version of a strong woman.

But before I start, let’s set the mood with a playlist!

Inspired by that First Ladies book, I took a real liking to Eleanor Roosevelt. My parents bought me the first two of the three part biography when I was 10. Part three came out last year so naturally I bought it because I couldn’t wait to read it + to complete the set.  While really weirded out that FDR was her fifth cousin, she seemed to be a good fit for him politically, especially when he fell victim to polio. We all know she traveled the country as FDR’s eyes an ears as to what was really going on in America during the Great Depression. She also was an advocate for African Americans, women’s rights, worker’s rights, the poor + young people. She held hundreds of press conferences + only invited female reporters, who were banned from White House press events at that time. She wrote a newspaper column entitled “My Day” for more than 25 years. After her husband’s death, she served as an ambassador at the United Nations + sat on the boards of the NAACP + Peace Corps.

Harry Potter came into my life in the third grade when my school library finally got copies of the first three books. I signed my name to the wait list a mile long + waited patiently for my friend’s mom + our school librarian, Mrs. Mundo, to tell me it was my turn to take home Harry’s first year of adventures. Three years later, I changed schools + the Harry Potter books became my only friends. I have Jo Rowling to thank for that. With all the reading up I did on her growing up, I was so inspired by her perseverance in the face of adversity. Knowing that Harry’s journey started on a cocktail napkin should really motivate me to always have paper with me for when inspiration strikes. Jo had no money to her name + was a single mother, yet she continued to pitch + pitch my dear friend Harry to publisher after publisher until finally Bloomsburry picked it up. One of my favorite examples of her dedication is that she wrote FIVE PAGES of “Q” words until she came up with “Qudditch.” And now, since Harry Potter’s journey has ended, she’s written an adult novel in her name and has been writing a crime series under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Check these books out here:

I couldn’t have been older than four when I first saw a photo of Princess Diana. I had to know who the beautiful blonde woman in pink was. It’s like I knew she was a fantastic woman. I was flabbergasted when mom told me this woman in a suit was a princess. While she wasn’t a normal person like me, she definitely seemed normal. Mom told me that she used to be a teacher like I wanted to be + how she used her influence of being an influence to call attention + raise funds for HIV/Aids, leprosy, homelessness + cancer. Not to mention her controversial walk through the land mines in Bosnia. You knew she genuinely cared about humans. Even though her husband was unfaithful, she was always a woman of grace + didn’t let that dull the light she brought to the world, even though she retreated to a more private life after her divorce was finalized.

I’ve felt a connection to Shonda Rhimes ever since finding out we attended the same high school. Once a Spartan, always a Spartan! If you’ve been living under a rock, she created Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Scandal, How to Get Away With Murder + the upcoming Station 19. What you may not know is that she wrote both Crossroads (you know, that Britney Spears movie) + The Princess Diaries 2 – Royal Engagement  . It makes sense as she’s known for creating strong female characters like Meredith Grey, Cristina Yang, Olivia Pope + Annalise Keating. They struggle + grow + take charge of their own lives. She creates strong roles + helps cast strong women to portray them. Viola Davis became the first African-American woman to win an Emmy for lead actress + that’s because Shonda gave her the opportunity to be great! Real women empower women + that’s what Shonda does. She also wrote one of my favorite books, “Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun & Be Your Own Person.” I highly recommend it to every woman on the planet.

Finally we come to the last lady on this list and you knew there had to be some nod to the Bachelor franchise somehow. But this isn’t sarcastic. To use her phrase, I’m a big Kaitlyn Bristowe guy. From the second she got out of the limo + approached Chris Soules, I was a fan. Kaitlyn is unapologetically herself which is such a fantastic quality, one that I try to emulate daily. There’s never any question to who she is + she’s so relatable. Recently she posted on Snapchat about a fitness class that she was in where she didn’t get when instructors ask at the end “How bad do you want it?” + several women shouted, like I normally do even though I feel like I’m dying inside. Kaitlyn replied “Eh not that much actually.” Girl I feel you. She is herself on instagram + even though she went to cosmetology school + a performer growing up, she’s a big natural beauty guy. Kaitlyn is the queen of the realstagram, or posting photos without any editing whatsoever. She encourages us Vinos, fans of her podcast “Off The Vine,”to be who we are just like she is. There’s no question this woman is authentic + I truly love that. She hasn’t written her book yet so I strongly encourage you to listen to her podcast!

These are obviously in no way, shape or form the only role models we should be looking at today. These are just a few of my favorites + honestly we should be paying homage to the women in our lives who inspire us today + everyday. Let me know in the comments who your role models are! Happy #InternationalWomensDay to every person who identifies as female. We are strong. We are invincible. We are woman.

xo.

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