International Women's Day: From Emma Watson to Beyonce, 8 female celebrity activists making a difference

International Women's Day: 8 celebrity activists who have made a global impact

Celebrity activists have the potential to significantly transform social impact organizations, and International Women's Day (IWD) is a holiday that calls for accelerating women's equality in the present while also honoring the accomplishments of women throughout history. The theme of the 2024 International Women's Day is "Inspire Inclusion," as per Fox News. Breaking down barriers, dispelling myths, and creating safe spaces where all women are valued are all part of the "Inspire Inclusion" campaign. In light of this, it is important to recognize eight female celebrities who have worked hard to bring forth change in women's rights on a global level.

1. Angelina Jolie

Beyond the limelight and the red carpet, Angelina Jolie has devoted years to supporting environmental preservation, women's rights, and the fight against human trafficking by collaborating with nonprofit organizations. She also founded the Jolie Legal Fellowship, which funds lawyers and advocates to defend human rights in underdeveloped nations all around the world. In August 2001, Jolie was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador at the UNHCR headquarters in Geneva. She subsequently donated millions of dollars to aid the organization in resettling Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

2. Beyonce

One of the most successful and well-liked female performers of her generation, Beyonce has amassed a sizable fortune and significant cultural influence over the years. She is a self-described feminist and supporter of women's rights who has utilized her fame and wealth to further social justice initiatives like her nonprofit, Chime for Change, which aims to achieve gender parity internationally.

3. Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is regarded as a trailblazing African American woman in the television industry, having conducted interviews with several prominent figures like former President Barack Obama and Prince Harry. Forbes estimates that Winfrey's net worth of over $2.5 billion made her the richest African American of the 20th century and the only Black billionaire of the 20th century. Through initiatives like 'Oprah's Angel Network', which raised money to rebuild homes for Hurricane Katrina victims, Winfrey has devoted her life over several decades to charitable endeavors. Moreover, she has launched several initiatives to empower women, including the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, aimed to provide education and leadership training to underprivileged girls.

4. Emma Watson

Emma Watson is another Hollywood legend and a strong female role model who has made a name for herself as a leading proponent of equality in terms of gender, sexual orientation, class, and race. Most famously, Watson spoke at the launch of the HeForShe campaign in September 2014 at the UN Headquarters in New York City, where she pushed for gender equality and against the stigmatization of feminist organizations. 

5. America Ferrera

'Barbie' actress America Ferrera is a fervent supporter of Latina empowerment and women's rights. She has been a founding member of two nonprofit organizations: Poderistas, a charity that acts as a digital community made by and for Latinas, and Time's Up Legal Defense Fund, which raises funds to assist victims of sexual harassment. She also backed Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. Ferrera also founded Harness, an organization that links prominent cultural icons with grassroots leaders to raise awareness of marginalized groups.

6. Gloria Steinem

Gloria Steinem is a writer, activist, and feminist organizer often regarded as a proponent of second-wave feminism in the US. Her list of honors and accomplishments includes the Lifetime Achievement in Journalism Award from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Society of Writers Award from the United Nations, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama. Apart from her work for feminism, Steinem was also a part of the Beyond Racism Initiative, which brought together activists from the US, Brazil, and South Africa to compare and gain insight into the racial patterns of those communities.

7. Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai—the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and the second Pakistani woman to do so—is a global symbol of women's rights and education. Yousafzai was shot in the head in October 2012 while on a bus by a person working for the Pakistani Taliban. She was left in serious condition but later made a full recovery from her injuries. Despite opposition from certain Taliban members who have continuously threatened her, she has spent years fighting for Pakistani women's rights to an official education. She also co-founded the Malala Fund, which works in different countries to further education for girls. 

8. Leymah Gbowee

Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee was born in 1972. Leading the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace, she mobilized women to put an end to the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003. Her accolades include the John F Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, the Nobel Peace Prize, and the Blue Ribbon for Peace, which she received from the Women's Leadership Board of Harvard University's John F Kennedy School of Government. Gbowee's memoir, 'Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War', which takes readers through her tumultuous life and a war-torn Liberia, was released in 2011.