Today, March 8 2024, marks International Women’s Day. A day dedicated to championing the social, political, economic and cultural achievements of women and highlighting where improvements can be made, it is important to celebrate the day with vigour and gumption. 

For the Gritty Pretty team, we have chosen to celebrate by dedicating this article to the female role models who inspire us daily. Whether a family member, friend, political figure, author, artist, journalist, lawyer or someone in between, we are lucky enough to be surrounded by powerful, intelligent and ambitious women every day. So, let the shoutouts commence…

“It sounds cliché but I’m inspired every day by the all-female team here at Gritty Pretty. The strong, intelligent, creatively in tune, dedicated and hardworking women who have made my wildest dreams a reality for the past decade. I’m in awe and eternally grateful to them. I am always learning from and evolving because of them.”

“Joan Didion is a late American author and journalist who has inspired my own writing for as long as I can remember. Like me, she got her start at Vogue Magazine, where she was famously features editor. She later moved into writing personal essays and also fiction. Her twin grief memoirs—Blue Nights and The Year Of Magical Thinking—have been hugely formative for me and my approach to non-fiction, but also have helped me through my own grief at various times in my life. She will always be my greatest role model.”

“I am lucky enough to be surrounded by so many incredible women but I have to say that I’d be lost without my best girlfriends—or as we like to refer to ourselves, Swim Club. I look up to every single one of them for how ambitious, funny, kind, loving and confident they are. They teach me something new about myself everyday and I am so grateful to have a support system filled with such driven, passionate and hilarious women.”

“Ruth Bader Ginsburg, affectionately known as RBG, embodies resilience, intelligence, and an unwavering commitment to justice. As only the second woman to ever grace the United States Supreme Court, her impact on American jurisprudence is unparalleled. But RBG’s story isn’t just about legal victories; it’s about her relentless drive to break down barriers and propel gender equality and civil rights forward. Her sharp legal mind and unyielding advocacy haven’t just made waves in history books; they’ve sparked inspiration across the globe. 

Beyond her iconic collars and sleek black judicial robes, RBG’s personal journey is what truly resonates. Her story of overcoming adversity with grace and determination serves as a beacon of hope for marginalised communities everywhere.

In a world where change is long overdue, Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy reminds us all of the power of courage, intellect, and an unwavering commitment to justice. She’s not just a role model; she’s an inspiration for generations of women – and that’s something worth celebrating.”

“When I think about the woman I admire the most, I think about my grandmother. She is stoic, charming and the matriarch of our family. She was also born in a time where her strength wasn’t valued, but she used it anyway. I love her stories, her wisdom, and her advice. Whenever I feel a little low or weak, I like to channel her.”

“I always find it hard to define a singular role model, as there are so many inspiring women who I look up to every day. From those closest to me—my mum, my older sister, and my girlfriends—to Australian women who I admire from afar for killing it in their fields—the Shameless Media girls, Stephanie Miller and Laura Henshaw—there are individual qualities I value in all the women I’m lucky enough to call my role models.” 

“My older sister is definitely my biggest role model, and has been I’m sure since I first laid eyes on her as a baby. The eldest daughters in families are so unique to the fabric of a dynamic, and mine, Kate, is the rock to ours. Kate is intrinsically a part of me but being three years older she’s always modelling life flawlessly right before me. Having a shared familial experience of growing together is so special but Kate is the most graceful woman I know. Strong, ambitious and stunningly beautiful, she will forever be my inspiration.”

“A mother, author, supermodel, entrepreneur and a human rights activist. What can’t this woman do? Waris Dirie has been an inspirational figure to me for many years, mostly due to her unwavering courage and relentless fight for women’s rights and body autonomy. Dirie dedicates her life to reverse the gender inequality that is deeply rooted in cultural and religious practices; customs that many of us in the West are unaware of and some we fear to speak out against. Dirie breaks every barrier in pursuit of what’s right, and that is something we can all do to make a difference.”