Happy Women’s History Month!

Women’s History Month is celebrated every March to honor the achievements, leadership, and impact of women throughout history. First officially recognized by Congress in 1987, the month highlights women’s contributions in areas like science, politics, education, activism, and the arts. International Women’s Day, observed every year on March 8, is part of the celebration and has been recognized globally since 1911. This year’s theme, “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” focuses on how women are driving progress toward a more equitable and sustainable world, according to the National Women’s History Alliance. So, continue on and explore how these 13 remarkable women are leading the way through their achievements, contributions, and ongoing efforts for change.

Dolores Huerta

Dolores Huerta is an American labor leader and feminist activist best known for co‑founding the National Farm Workers Association with Cesar Chavez and Gilbert Padilla. She played a major role in the 1965 Delano grape strike, helping organize boycotts and negotiating for farmworkers’ rights, and is often credited with creating the famous slogan “sí se puede.” Her lifelong fight for justice, workers rights, and gender equality makes her an essential figure to highlight during Women’s History Month.

Amy Sherald

Amy Sherald is an American painter known for her calm, thoughtful portraits of African Americans in everyday settings, using a style called simplified realism based on staged photographs. Born in Columbus, Georgia and now working in the New York City area, she focuses on capturing ordinary moments that reflect contemporary Black life in the United States. Her work expands representation in art and makes her an important figure to recognize during Women’s History Month.

Cecilia Chung

Cecilia Chung is an internationally recognized civil rights leader who advocates for LGBT equality, HIV/AIDS awareness, and social justice. An immigrant from Hong Kong and a longtime San Francisco resident, she has broken major barriers as the first transgender woman and first Asian person to lead the SF Pride Board and the first transgender woman living openly with HIV to chair the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. Her decades of work–from helping document discrimination in the 1990s to shaping major policies and programs for transgender communities—make her a powerful figure to highlight during Women’s History Month.

Simone Biles

Simone Arianne Biles Owens is an American artistic gymnast whose 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals make her the most decorated gymnast in history. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time and one of the greatest female athletes in sports history, holding the most Olympic medals ever earned by a U.S. gymnast. Her record‑breaking achievements, resilience, and leadership make her an extraordinary figure to highlight during Women’s History Month.

Mahnoor Omer

Mahnoor Omer is a Pakistani activist whose work began when she was just a teenager. At 14, she founded the Noor Foundation after realizing that major NGOs weren’t effectively educating girls about issues like sexual violence, climate change, and menstruation. A few years later, she learned how expensive sanitary products were for many women in Pakistan–often taxed up to 40%–and began fighting to end what she argues is a discriminatory tax that limits access to safe menstrual products. Her advocacy highlights the challenges girls and women face and makes her an important young leader to recognize during Women’s History Month.

Milani Varela

Milani Vaerla, an Afro‑Latinx and gender‑nonconforming performer, spent ten years leading the House of Ninja while becoming a strong voice for HIV prevention and community health. She now works as a lead navigator at CALOR‑AHF, serves as an ambassador for the CDC’s “Let’s Stop HIV Together” campaign, and uses pageants like Miss Diosa Latina USA Plus 2023 to expand her outreach. Her work makes her a powerful figure to recognize during Women’s History Month.

Sheryl Lee Ralph

Sheryl Lee Ralph is an Emmy Award–winning actress, singer, activist, and 2026 TIME Woman of the Year. She’s known for her role as Barbara Howard on Abbott Elementary and earned a Tony nomination for playing Deena Jones in the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls. Beyond her performances, Ralph is a longtime advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness and founded the DIVA Foundation in the 1990s to support affected communities and fight stigma, making her an inspiring figure to highlight during Women’s History Month.

Reshma Saujani

Reshma Saujani is an American lawyer, politician, and civil servant best known for founding Girls Who Code, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing the number of women in computer science and closing the gender gap in tech. Through her leadership, the organization has helped thousands of girls gain skills and confidence in STEM fields. Saujani’s work has made her a major voice for equity in education and technology, making her an important figure to highlight during Women’s History Month.

Mel Robbins

Melanie Lee Robbins is an American author, motivational speaker, podcast host, and former criminal defense attorney whose work centers on helping people overcome hesitation and build confidence. She became widely known for her viral TEDx talk, “How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over,” and for her bestselling books The 5 Second Rule, The High 5 Habit, and The Let Them Theory. Through her writing, speaking, and coaching, Robbins has inspired millions to take action in their daily lives, making her an influential figure to highlight during Women’s History Month.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone is an American hurdler and sprinter who holds the world record in the 400‑meter hurdles and the U.S. record in the flat 400 meters. She is a two‑time Olympic champion, winning gold at both the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics, and has also earned world titles at the 2022 and 2025 World Athletics Championships. Her record‑breaking performances and leadership in track and field make her an inspiring athlete to highlight during Women’s History Month.

Christina Koch

Christina Hammock Koch is an American engineer and NASA astronaut known for her groundbreaking work in space exploration. She earned degrees in electrical engineering and physics from North Carolina State University, completed advanced research at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and later served as station chief for NOAA in American Samoa before joining NASA’s 2013 astronaut class. Koch’s achievements in science and space make her an inspiring figure to highlight during Women’s History Month.

Sarah McBride

Sarah Elizabeth McBride is an American activist and politician who represents Delaware as its at‑large member of Congress. In 2020, she became the first openly transgender person elected as a state senator in the United States, after years of advocating for protections against gender‑identity discrimination in employment, housing, insurance, and public accommodations. She also made history as the first openly transgender person to speak at a major party convention in 2016, and her memoir Tomorrow Will Be Different reflects her leadership in the fight for trans equality–making her a powerful figure to highlight during Women’s History Month.

PinkPantheress

PinkPantheress, born Victoria Beverley Walker, is a British singer, songwriter, and producer known for her unique blend of drum and bass, alternative pop, and UK garage. She began making music in her bedroom as a teenager, posting early tracks on SoundCloud and Spotify under the name “Vbw,” before rising to international fame. In February 2026, she appeared as a contestant on The Weakest Link and later became the youngest artist–and the first woman–to win the Brit Award for British Producer of the Year. Her creativity, genre‑blending sound, and record‑breaking achievements make her an exciting artist to highlight during Women’s History Month.

Which inspirational figure stood out to you the most with this years theme? What new voices or stories do you think deserve a spotlight next Women’s History Month? Do you have any recommendations for next year’s lineup of figures? Leave a comment and share your thoughts. Stay tuned for more Women’s History Month articles!

Sources:

• https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/time-reveals-2026-women-of-the-year-list-recognizing-16-leaders-working-toward-a-more-equitable-world-302697748.html
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Womens-History-Month
• https://latino.si.edu/25-latinas-you-should-know
• https://journeytowardzero.com/part2/
• https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2026/03/06/when-international-womens-history-day-month-theme-why-march/88984107007/