Top 5 Inspirational Women of 2014

Drum roll please..... and in no particular order the  top 5 inspirational women are....

I think us ladies forget how truly fabulous we are! By the time we finish work, sort out the family or finish our studies, there is hardly anytime to self-reflect and this is why i love

International Women's Day. This is the one day of the year where we cannot deny how fabulous we are as women. 

So, in honour of the special day, i thought I'd share with you the women that are inspiring me to be the best i can be. The five women i have selected, have character traits that include; love, passion, self-belief, humbleness, selflessness, honesty and determination.

Their inspirational qualities are not based on their wealth, but a richer quality that lies within them as people, which is why someone of these ladies are VERY wealthy!

1. Oprah Winfrey  - The richest self made woman in America

From a child who experienced sexual abuse to now been dubbed the “Queen of All Media” who also happens to be the first African American billionare… I can only be talking about the lovely … Miss Oprah Gail Winfrey.

Oprah did not have it easy as a child, she was born into poverty and spent her early years being brought up by her nan. She was the victim of sexual abuse and became pregnant at the age of 14 ,but her son died  shortly after.

After graduating from college, Oprah started her TV career in 1984 and today she owns a TV  network and has one of the most successful chat shows of all time.

My heart goes out to anyone who has experienced sexual abuse, and for the survivors, long term effects can include; low self esteem, lack of trust and lack of self confidence. So, what inspires me about this woman is the belief she has in herself, she hasn’t let her painful past dictate her future and she’s created her own lane for success.

Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it.’ – Oprah Winfrey 

2. Pat McGrath – the most "influential make-up artist in the world. "

From young child growing up in Northampton  to now been described by Vogue in 2007 as the most "influential make-up artist in the world. "Born in Northampton, Pat Mcgrath's career spans over 20 years and she has worked with all the major fashion labels and some of the most iconic celebrities such as Madonna. She also happens to be the Creative Director for Proctor Gamble and is adored by both designers and models across the world.

In the 2014 Queen Elizabeth II's New Year Honor's List, McGrath was "named an MBE, or Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the fashion and beauty industry.

“Creativity is your best makeup skill, don’t be afraid to experiment.” Path McGrath

I'm a big fan of her work and this phenomenal woman has achieved things people could only dream of, yet she is incredibly humble, and to be humble after achieving the level of success she has, is truly inspiring.

3. Doreen Lawrence - The modern day Superhero

Her son, Stephen Lawrence was murdered in a racist attack in South East London in 1993 and her and  Neville Lawrence campaigned for 6 solid years  before an enquiry was launched to investigate the circumstances of her son’s death. The public enquiry was the subject of intense media interest which became international when it concluded that the Metropolitan Police was "institutionally racist" and that this was one of the primary causes of their failure to solve the case.

After the enquiry Doreen continued to campaign for victims of racist crime and was appointed OBE in 2003 and received a life time achievement award in 2012 and Lawrence was elevated to the rank of baroness, sitting in the House of Lords as a life peer, which is usually associated with the Royal Family.

We are a nation who are self obsessed and rarely go out of our way to help others, but Doreen has dedicated her life to helping others. What I love about this woman is, she doesn’t sit back and say nothing, she stands up for what she believes in.  She challenged the police and the entire system and won!! We need more Doreen Lawrence's in the world!

4. Camila Batmanghelidjh described as "Britain's most colourful charity leader"

Founder of two charities; the place2b and Kids Company where she and her team care for 17,000 vulnerable children and young people in London and Bristol. The charity’s turnover is £24m a year, or £2m a month. The vast majority of money comes from public donations, and philanthropists.

In February 2013, she was assessed as one of the 100 most powerful women in the United Kingdom and appointed as an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her work on behalf of underprivileged children in Britain.

Run your organisation on love and passion. Every day desperation stares us in the face. We have no predictable income and are entirely reliant on the goodwill of complete strangers. It’s not been easy being a relentless beggar, but in the process, collectively, we have created an extraordinary organisation that runs on love. No apologies made. Camila Batmanghelidjh

Camila has so much love to give and no one can take away the passion she has for caring for vulnerable children.  Its this passion that drives her team to raise £24 million a year to keep the charity going. How can anyone not love her.

5. Luptia Nyong’o - All i can say is, this young lady is incredible

This beautiful lady has just burst onto the scene but I have a feeling she is going to be around for a while.

She recently won Best Supporting Actress for role in 12Years A Slave. She delivered a speech on racism and western perception of beauty at the annual Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon – hosted by Essencemagazine – Luptia expressed feeling so underrepresented by the entertainment industry as a young girl of Kenyan descent growing up in Mexico City that she wished she “would wake up lighter skinned”.

Luptia speech keeps it real and now has accepted who she is as a person on the inside and out and thats why i love her!

“It doesn’t escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is due to so much pain in someone else’s,” she said in reference to Patsey, the slave she portrayed in the acclaimed film, which was based on a real-life memoir." Luptia Nyong'o

Check out her speech below... But get the tissues ready

What i love about all of these ladies is, they have very clear goals and the majority of them haven't experienced success over night, its something they have worked long and hard to get over a period of time. Also, their decisions have been based on their passion for what they believe in. 

urban beauty said... which phenomenal woman inspires you?

For more information on International Women's Day visit the website