Women are such amazing beings and if you need a bit of inspiration to keep going, here are stories of inspiring women who made a mark on history! 

Jane Austen (1775-1817)

Sadly, Jane Austen lived a short life. She died at the tender age of 41 and never got to see how she influenced the British culture. 

She wrote about what life was like during the late 1700s and early 1800s through the books Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Emma. These books were released within just four years of each other. 

Two other books, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, were published after she died. However, that didn’t stop these novels from being well-loved around the world. There was supposed to be a seventh and final book, unfortunately, she died before completing it. 

Her face is now on the new £10 note, reminding us every day how much her books have affected us all. 

Florence Nightingale (1820-1910)

Talk about pure dedication in serving others, Florence Nightingale went against what society expected her to be and went on to become a war-hero nurse. 

She was born into a wealthy family, who disapproved of her entering the nursing profession. After receiving a letter from the Secretary of War who asked to her put together a team and look after British soldiers during the Crimean War, she moved to London. This was the first time that women were allowed to serve in the army. 

The conditions at Crimea (where she served) were horrible. There weren’t enough beds for everyone, no proper comfort room, and rats infested the area. The army doctors weren’t the most welcoming either. But Nightingale wouldn’t leave and made work to improve the conditions of the hospital. 

At night, she would walk around the hospital to check on wounded soldiers, making sure they are comfortable. She would carry a lamp with her, giving her the famous name of the lady with the lamp.

She went home as a hero and even received a thank you letter from Queen Victoria. She left a legacy in healthcare in the war. 

Marie Curie (1867-1934)

One of the famous scientists of all time comes in the form of Marie Curie. Together with her fellow scientist and husband Pierre, they made amazing work on their discoveries. In 1903, they received a Nobel Prize. She won another Nobel Prize in 1911, the first woman to do so. 

The Curies were the pair who made discoveries on radioactivity, where “special chemical elements give off energetic particles when a part of them called their nucleus breaks down.” 

Radioactivity made way for radiotherapy, which is used to treat illnesses. Their discoveries also paved the way for the creation of X-rays. During WWI, Curies developed a portable X-ray unit used near the battlefront. 

Coco Chanel (1883-1971)

Coco Chanel was the woman who changed the fashion game forever. 

She was born in France and taught herself to sew. In the early 1900s, she opened her first shop and started by sewing and designing hats. She soon began launching clothes and by 1920, she created her first perfume. 

Her brand went on to rock the modern world and is still one the famous luxury brand in the 21st century. 

Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

In September 2016, Mother Teresa was announced to be named as a Saint, which she deserves after her dedication to help people drowned in poverty. 

At the young age of 12, Teresa decided she wanted to go to India and spread the Christian message in the country. In 1929, she traveled to India and dedicated her whole life to helping poor people, especially in the Indian city of Kolkata. 

During this time, she started the Missionaries of Charity, a group that has now thousands of people helping unfortunate people all over the world. 

She received the Nobel Prize in1979 and canceled the big dinner celebration. She then suggested giving all of the money to the poor people in Kolkata. 

Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013)

Just when you thought women couldn’t get any powerful, here we have Margaret Thatcher, the woman who changed modern British politics. 

Her political career started at Oxford University as the president of the Conservative Association. Later on, she represented Dartford and ran for parliament, but she lost twice. In 1959, she won the parliamentary seat in Finchley. 

In 1975, she became the leader of the Conservative Party and became the first female British Prime Minister in 1979. She had radical views and earned the nickname the Iron Lady. She was the longest-serving prime minister of the 20th century and was forced to quit in 1990. 

The opinions under her rule vary. Some say she did the country good, while others would argued that she ruined Britain.

Hillary Clinton (1947-present)

Another woman who made history in the field of politics is Hillary Clinton. Back in July 2016, she was the first woman from America’s two main political parties to run as president. She was representing the Democrats. 

Though she did not win the presidential seat, she made her mark as she inspired millions of women and little girls around the world. 

Malala Yousafzai (1997-present)

At the age of 11 years old, Pakistani student Malala wrote an anonymous diary, talking about what life was like under the control of the extreme group Taliban in northwest Pakistan. 

In the diary, she mentioned how she wanted to stay in school and how education should be allowed. However, the Taliban wanted to ban girls’ from getting any form of education. Her diary has reached different corners of the world and was read by millions of people. She became the face of young girls fighting for their right to an education. 

However, the Taliban didn’t like this and in October 2012, she was shot by their soldiers. She survived the attack and gained the support of millions of people worldwide. 

When she was 14 years old, she won a Nobel Peace Prize, becoming the youngest person to do so. She continues to campaign for the rights of girls and has won more awards. She inspired generations of young girls to do the same.