Taylor Swift: A Country Icon 

"I think loving someone, despite what people think, is fearless." I realize that people have varying opinions on Taylor Swift. Some may see her as a whinny country singer, some may see her as a man hater, and some, like myself, can see her as an inspiration. Taylor Swift is much more than your young country singer. She is glamorous, classy, and independent. She is not afraid to take chances, and express herself. Taylor's songs are written about true feelings and experiences, because of this most people can relate to them. She even writes about break ups, she has her ballads, and then her "revenge" songs. She doesn't care what people think about her, or if they like her music. It comes from the heart and that's all that is important. Taylor has shown that she can take anything that is thrown at her and remain classy in the situation. An example of that was at one award show she won female artist of the year, in the midst of her speech the male rapper, Jay-Z jumped on stage and claimed that the award should have gone to someone else. Instead of hiding and not performing live at the awards show, she came back stronger than ever and give the performance of her life. I believe that she should be seen as an inspiration because she holds her head up high when life is getting her down. She responds to situations in a classy way, instead of panicking like the rest of us would. Finally, she is not afraid to speak her mind, and will defend her feelings till the end. 

Kimora Lee Simmons: Fashion Mogul 

"Life is a series of adjustments; you can make changes along the way, but if you don't start moving forward you'll never get anywhere". Kimora Lee Simmons wears many hats she is a fashion mogul, model, a mother, and a wife. Kimora  started her career in fashion as a model, but that was not enough for her. She wanted to sink her teeth into the industry. During her career she married her now ex husband Russel Simmons. He was the owner of the fashion label Phat Farm. It is a hip hop urban based brand. Kimora brought a more glamorous side to the business with the creation of Baby Phat, which is tailored more towards the fashion forward female. The brand includes shoes, jewelry, perfume, dresses, and other clothing. Kimora has even started her own Hello Kitty jewelry line that is made strictly of diamonds.She devotes her life to her brand and is looking for ways to reinvent it between new add campaigns, or new looks. Kimora is also the face of her brand, she wants to keep the company family based, and for real life women. She hires younger men and women to work for her, because she believes that someone gave her a chance so she should take chances on new talent. Kimora has also helped her two young daughters Ming and Aoki Lee become miniature fashion moguls, by giving them their own children line. Kimora lives a life of fabulously, and is all about the finer things in life. However, she also devotes a lot of time to charity work as well to give back to the community. She is an ispiration to women because she continues to be independent and strong. 

Elizabeth  Bennett: Female Heroine 

Jane Austen had written many strong females into her different novels. Her novels were written in time that women were best seen and not heard. They were to marry for status, and to make sure that their families would be taken care of. It was a time when couples met at fancy balls, and dating was a courtship, that consisted of letters, supervised visits, and secret moments. Young women, basically had arranged marriages that they were forced into. They were a mix of those who did the right things, those who upheld traditions and in some cases those who stood up and fought for what they believe in. In my favorite novel that she has written, Pride and Prejudice, her character Elizabeth Bennett is a women who did not believe in the status quo. She was willing to turn her back on tradition to get what she wanted out of life. Elizabeth Bennett was born to a interesting eclectic family. She had four sisters, all who had different personalities. Her mother was obsessed with her daughters marrying up in society, as to improve the families status, and guarantee that she would be taken care of when her husband were to pass. Elizabeth was one of her father's favorite because of her spunk and determination. An example of her determination was when she proposed to by her cousin, she refused to marry him, even though it would have saved her family. She wanted to find a love of her own, she wanted to marry someone that would "bewitch her body and soul". She watched as one of her younger sisters was married off to a questionable marriage. Elizabeth met her match in the eligible single, very wealthy Mr. Darcy. Their relationship started off as little quarrels here and there, but overtime they both realized that they could spend the rest of their lives without each other. He stood up to his family to be with her, who they considered not good enough, and she fought for the right to marry for love. Elizabeth Bennett has taught us to be strong willed, to stand up for what we believe in, and then most importantly follow your heart. 

Jackie Kennedy Onasis 

"I want to live my life not record it", spoken by a true American heroine. In the spirit of this week marking the 50th anniversary of the gruesome murder of JFK, I want to focus on a women who was brave for the whole country a time of need. Jackie Kennedy was born to a upper class family, groomed to be the perfect wife from a young age. She met her future husband on a family vacation to Nantucket. From the beginning she was smitten with John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Life in the White House was not always easy, with rumors surrounding her husbands extra marital affairs, but that never stopped Jackie from being the perfect first lady. She was a fashion forward style icon for the female population. She inspired a nation of women to begin wearing the "pillbox" hat. She was the perfect mother to two adorable children. During a trip to Dallas her life would tragically change forever. She and her husband, John, were supposed to appear in a parade thrown in their honor. Many dedicated Americans came out to see their President and First Lady. During the parade route shots rang out and the President was shot in the head. He was rushed to a local hospital but it was unfortunately to late, and he perished. Jackie became a beacon of hope during that tragic time. She showed strength and bravery to an entire nation. Standing on Air Force One, she stood next to the Vice President Johnson, as he took the oath of office. Jackie was still dressed in the blood soaked suit and pillbox hat she had worn to the parade. As the days after her husbands assassination occurred, she remained strong at her husbands funeral. She held it together for her children, family, and ultimately a nation who had not known such an assault since the assassination of Lincoln. That was not the last tragedy that Jackie would ever face, her brother in law Bobby Kennedy was killed on his campaign tour, and then her son was killed when his private plane went down. Called the "Kennedy Curse" by many, Jackie still remained a pillar of strength until her death in May 1994. Her legacy is one of style, grace, strength and pill box hats. She will forever be remembered as a part of American culture.

Eleanor Roosevelt

 

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"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent", Eleanor Roosevelt's quote can relate to everyone's life. At some point, people will try to put you down, or try and hold you back from succeeding. It can be an inspirational quote for women to break the "specific gender roles" surrounding certain occupations.  In previous elections, the debate surrounding whether society is ready for a woman president took full swing. While, the debate has some merit, I challenge you to realize that the United States has already had a powerful woman in office. Eleanor Roosevelt was a powerful strong First Lady. Married to Franklin Roosevelt. Her life, did not begin as a fairytale or knowing she was on the path to the White House. As a young child, Eleanor experienced heartache and death fairly soon with the death of her mother. She was quickly sent to live with another female relative who was very belittling and who would even call her ugly. It was a dark time in her past, but one that would influence her for the challenging years ahead, when times got tough  Eleanor drew on her childhood for strength. After having a life changing experience when visiting a poor community and seeing the conditions the families with children were living in, it was in that moment that she found her calling. With her compassion, Eleanor spent most of her life focusing on charity work and how to make the world a better place. She was constantly working to help the less fortunate. After getting married, the Roosevelt's began their public career together, with the help of Franklin's  uncle Theodore Roosevelt, a previous President of the United States. FDR had many successes during his terms, especially with the introduction of the New Deal program during the Great Depression. He was so successful and liked as a president that he was elected for four terms, something quite unheard of back then.  During Franklin's fourth term his long term battle with the medical condition polio became worse and caused his presidency to be extremely difficult. In many, occasions it was rumored that Eleanor took over her husbands duties by signing important documents, and making decisions, while her wheelchair ridden husband was unable to fulfill his duties. Without someone with Eleanor Roosevelt's courage, who knows where the country would be today. It is important that the future female leaders dig deep and find the same courage, and bravery.

Sybil Crawely: A Woman who Stands Up Against Sterotypes 

Picture from Pintrest

 

Picture from Pintrest

Like the majority of History enthusiasts, I am obsessed with PBS's show Downton Abbey. The female characters within the show are all strong, independent females in their own right. My favorite character on the series is Sybil, the youngest daughter who is all about pushing the boundaries. Throughout the series she pushes the limits in fashion, her political beliefs, her choice to become a nurse during the war, and her marriage to the families driver, who as one could guess it is outside the families social class. Sybil's character helped take the series throughout many twists and turns until her untimely death as a result of child birth. I think women, or anyone can take a page from Sybil's book and stand up for their beliefs. She fought for her equality as a women, and fought for her beliefs back when women were more seen not heard. Her comments and beliefs are very different from her family. Sybil would cause her father many headaches, but she continued on her quest to be a "worldly woman".  I like Sybil's spunk and defiance against society. Today, people are becoming more individualistic instead of all being the same. We should all follow in Sybil's footsteps and be passionate about our beliefs.

Margaret Thatcher: The Iron Lady 

Margaret Thatcher is the clear definition of an inspirational woman. She grew up with an outspoken father during World War II, it was this that caused her to be inspired to fight for what she believed in. She went to college at Oxford, and then started small trying to break into politics. She was a member of the Conservative Party. It was with courage and hard work that she became Great Britain's first lady Prime Minister. She broke the barriers, of the "mans world" of British Politics. Margaret Thatcher got her nickname for her radical ideas and style of government. When trying to reform problems that were occurring she stuck to her guns and refused to negotiate with the protesters against her ideas. When staying at a hotel, an attempt was made on her life by the plantation of a bomb. She escaped without harm. In other instances she also went against the queen when dealing with the Apartheid issues in South Africa. It caused quite a controversy, and a problem between the Royal Family and Parliament. I consider her a powerful and inspirational woman. Although her political career ended in a way that is not looked upon in a good light, she did a lot for the British people and proved that women could hold their own in Parliament and British politics.

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