From Phoebe Waller-Bridge at the Emmys to Dina Asher-Smith breaking records, these women rocked the world in 2019
FROM pop-culture heroines to sporting superstars and campaigners, Fabulous Magazine reveal who’s made our Women Of The Year list.
Whether it’s writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge taking home a bag full of Emmys or Dina Asher-Smith breaking records and Greta Thunberg fighting for the planet, we bow down to women who rocked the world this year.
Rosie Duffield, 48, politician
The Labour MP earned a standing ovation in the House of Commons while debating the domestic abuse bill this October, after bravely recounting the coercive control she was forced to endure in a past relationship.
As a show of support, female MPs from all parties gathered round her, with Speaker John Bercow commending it as one of the most “moving contributions” he had heard in the Commons.
Greta Thunberg, 16, environmental activist
Proving to President Trump that she’s more than just a “very happy young girl,” the Swedish teen has not only managed to start an international youth movement against climate change, but was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize – all before her 17th birthday.
Jesy Nelson, 28, singer
The Little Mix star bravely spoke out in her September BBC3 documentary Odd One Out about the online trolls who drove her to attempt suicide.
Jesy revealed how she sunk into depression amid the daily abuse after the band won The X Factor in 2011, with trolls calling her the “fat, ugly one”.
The documentary helped shine a much-needed light on the escalating problem of cyber bullying.
Coco Gauff, 15, tennis player
Currently the youngest player ranked in the top 100 by the Women’s Tennis Association, US star Coco cried after beating her idol Venus Williams, 39, at Wimbledon this year.
While she didn’t win the tournament, she did bag her first WTA trophy in Linz in October.
What an ace!
Michelle Obama, 55, author, lawyer and former First Lady
Her memoir Becoming was No.1 on Amazon for 47 days this year (selling more than 10 million copies), breaking the previous record set by Fifty Shades Of Grey.
The former First Lady didn’t hold back in the book, bravely discussing her struggles with IVF, miscarriage and life in the White House, as well as offering some priceless pieces of advice, such as: “If you don’t get out there and define yourself, you’ll be quickly and inaccurately defined by others.”
Preach!
Emily Maitlis, 49, journalist
The Newsnight presenter had the nation gripped last month as she skewered Prince Andrew over his friendship with convcted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Emily’s fearless, forensic questioning saw the prince tying himself in knots while denying having slept with 17-year-old Virginia Roberts.
Emily knew exactly when to press him and when to sit back. A masterclass in journalism.
Olivia Colman CBE, 45, actress
The British actress blew us away with her hilarious speech when she landed the Oscar for Best Actress, thanks to her portrayal of Queen Anne in The Favourite.
Proving she’s the true grande dame of the screen, Olivia’s also received rave reviews for her role as Queen Elizabeth II in the latest season of Netflix’s The Crown.
Dina Asher-Smith, 24, athlete
We can barely keep up with the sprinter’s achievements – and no wonder, seeing as she’s the fastest British woman in recorded history.
In October Dina bagged the 200m gold medal at the World Championships in Doha and set a new British record for the 100m, finishing second in 10.83 seconds.
Go, Dina!
Harriet Wistrich, 59, human rights lawyer and feminist
Born in Hampstead Heath, Harriet studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University, before training to be a lawyer.
Her incredible work fighting to hold the powerful to account and champion the rights of women has seen her win multiple accolades, including the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year in 2018, as well as helping dozens of women get the justice they deserve.
As well as being co-founder of feminist law-reform group Justice for Women, Harriet successfully fought to have Sally Challen’s life sentence for killing her husband overturned. The landmark case saw the 65 year old’s conviction for murder changed to manslaughter after a change in the law to recognise coercive control as a crime in 2015.
Katie McGlynn, 26, actress
Millions wept as our cover star Katie’s Corrie character Sinead succumbed to cervical cancer, in a story that raised awareness about the importance of smear tests.
Last month, Katie tweeted: “RIP Sinead […] Thank you to everyone for the support and hats off to all of my co-stars […] and remember, GO FOR YOUR SMEARS!”
We couldn’t agree more.
Kate Middleton, 37, Duchess of Cambridge
She never puts a foot wrong, is mum to three adorable kids and continues to use her position in the royal family to champion mental health charities, including the Heads Together campaign that aims to raise awareness and provide help for people affected.
Kate, we salute you.
Steph Houghton MBE, 31, England Football Captain
Steph has more than 100 caps for the national team and led the Lionesses into the World Cup semi-finals this year in France – before they were knocked out 2-1 by USA.
Her husband Stephen Darby, 31, who had to give up his own football career after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year, was there cheering her and the team on from the sidelines.
We wish we could bend it like Houghton.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, 34, actress, producer and writer
She brought us the fab Fleabag, which scooped four Emmys this year, co-wrote series one of Killing Eve and has been drafted in to write the screenplay for the 25th James Bond film No Time To Die.
No time to rest more like!
Margaret Atwood, 80, author
As the brains behind bestselling novel The Handmaid’s Tale – which has also become one of the biggest shows on TV, starring Elisabeth Moss and recently renewed for a fourth season – the author has now picked up her second Manbooker Prize for the sequel The Testaments.
Praise be.
Jodie Comer, 26, actress
The Scouse actress won a place in our hearts as the psychopath (but oh so stylish) assassin Villanelle in the BBC’s Killing Eve.
The female-led show racked up 3.3 million viewers for its first episode in the second series, and Jodie bagged the Best Actress gong at this year’s Emmys.
And if that’s not enough, her mastery of accents is unrivalled and her fashion choices on point.
Dame Cressida Dick, 59, Metropolitan Police Commissioner
As head of the Met, Dame Cressida is the highest-ranking police officer in the UK and the first woman to ever hold this title.
To mark her dedication to the police force, she was given a damehood in Theresa May’s resignation honours list earlier this year.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 30, US politician and activist
Serving as the US Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district since 2018, AOC has been championing LGBTQ+ rights, highlighting homelessness and environmental issues as well as gender equality across the pond.
Letitia Wright, 26, actress
The Black Panther actress’ box-office success has not only earned her a BAFTA for Rising Star, but a starring role in next year’s remake of Agatha Christie’s Death On The Nile.
The British actress has also bravely spoken out about her struggles with depression. We expect even bigger things from her in the future, so watch this space.
most read in fabulous
Amika George, 20, activist/ women’s rights campaigner
After founding the #FreePeriods campaign during her A levels back in 2017, the north London student forced parliament into action with her petition calling for an end to period poverty with the provision of free sanitary products for disadvantaged teenagers nationwide.
Thanks to Amika’s efforts, the government has pledged £1.5million to the cause, and in April the Department for Education announced its commitment to providing free sanitary protection across England’s schools by early 2020.
But Amika is still battling to end period shame, saying: “We need to change the narrative that [periods] are gross, and not something for discussion in a public space… we need to end period taboo.”
Katarina Johnson-Thompson, 26, athlete
KJT smashed the British record and won gold in the heptathlon at the World Championships in Doha this year.
Even previous record-holder Jessica Ennis-Hill is a huge fan!
Here’s to Tokyo 2020…
Gina Martin, 27, activist
At a festival in 2017, Gina was a victim of upskirting (taking a sexually intrusive photograph up someone’s skirt without permission), but after reporting it to the police she was informed it wasn’t a crime.
She turned to Facebook to detail what happened, and after her post went viral Gina launched an online petition to get her case reopened, as well as calling for upskirting to be made illegal.
Thanks to her, the Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019 came into force this year, with anyone caught upskirting at risk of facing up to two years in prison.