Before Women’s History Month comes to a close, we would like to rave about some of our favorite ladies past, present and Houston. We’re no strangers to badass women and celebrating them, but this list is a must for anyone wanting to channel these game makers and their superpowers. These women didn’t just change the game, they made their own, showed up and entered the arena—challenging history and writing the future.

Past

Eleanor Roosevelt

The Arena: The United States of America
Superpowers: Diplomat, Civil Rights Mover, Community Activator

Even though traditional roles of the First Lady usually meant flexing your hostess skills, flashing smiles and showing off your domestic prowess, Eleanor was the first to reimagine what that role could mean. She fought to expand women’s roles in the workforce, for civil rights of African Americans, Asian Americans and WWII refugees, and strong-armed the U.S. to join and support the United Nations, becoming one of its first delegates. Oh, and pilot phenomenon Amelia Earhart was one of her BBFFs (Badass BFFS).

That’s What She Said: “Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.”

Maya Angelou

The Arena: The Arts and Human Rights
Superpowers: Soul Stirrer, Civil Rights Shaker, Mind Liberator

Crossing the lines of race and culture, Maya dared to enter a life devoid of constrictions and walls. She was a writer and performer, an entrepreneur, a fighter of justice and a collector of many accolades and honorary degrees. Her humanness was relatable and her vigor for life drenched every bit of artistic expression she ever made—she was celebration.

That’s What She Said: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

Mother Teresa

The Arena: The World
Superpowers: Humanitarian, Empathic, Visionary

Sainthood. Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Mother Teresa was almost untouchable. Until it was discovered that she lost her faith at times, proving to people that even though you may not fully understand, or fully know something is true, you can still walk with kindness and service at the center of your life. You can question things and still act. Still do. Still believe—in people.

That’s What She Said: “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

Frida Kahlo

The Arena: The Arts
Superpowers: Dream Painter, Constructs Challenger, Life Luster

Despite tragedy after tragedy, Frida lusted after life—she carpe-d every diem and was a rambunctious energizer. She challenged art, gender, her capabilities as an artist and as a person with physical constraints. She lived as though she didn’t even know the word “constraint”—for her life was anything but. She taught us that who YOU are is worth painting, worth embracing, worth exploring and worth being. And in knowing that, you are free to be an adventurer of life.

That’s What She Said: “Nothing is more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and abandon oneself, to be light. Tragedy is the most ridiculous thing.”

Present

Laverne Cox

The Arena: Human Rights and The Arts
Superpowers: Way Paver, Possibility Model, Wisdom Dropper

Okay, first things first. Orange is the New Black and Jenji Kohan, thank you. Because of Jenji and her ability to create powerful characters, the world met Sophia Burset, an African American transgender woman behind bars played by a brilliant African American transgender woman. People couldn’t help but fall in love with Sophia—she was honest, bold and multi-dimensional. Through her character we were given a lens that dissipated discrimination and ignorance. Beyond the beauty of Sophia, Laverne is a public speaker, culture and equality-driver and complete lady-badass. You may have seen her work on the cover of Time.

That’s What She Said: “Each and every one of us has the capacity to be an oppressor. I want to encourage each and every one of us to interrogate how we might be an oppressor, and how we might be able to become liberators for ourselves and each other.”

Malala Yousafzai

The Arena: Human Rights and Education
Superpowers: Fearless Fighter, International Mover, Education Pioneer

The youngest laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize, Malala brought a generation of apathy to its feet, awakening ears and widening eyes across the world. She let herself be seen, even when that meant being called out from a crowd and getting shot in the head. She spoke loudly and with fervor about her belief that every person has the right to an education. Her willingness to speak up for her beliefs, even when circumstances threaten you, is why she should be on every list until the end of time. Bonus: Catch her mural by Houston muralist Anat Ronen, it’s at the Avis Frank Gallery.

That’s What She Said: “Let us pick up our books and pencils. They are our most powerful weapon.”

Houston

Angela Blanchard

The Arena: Communities
Superpowers: Change Challenger, Community Transformer, Innovation Leader

Long time Black Sheep friend Angela Blanchard pushes boundaries and builds on what works. A champion of appreciative inquiry and challenging people to actively seek out the things they aspire, she is the CEO and president of Neighbhorhood Centers Inc., the region’s largest community development organization. She was on TEDxHouston in 2011 and inspired people to rethink what neighborhoods mean, low socioeconomic or not, and the importance of community. Oh, and she’s Cajun and loves a good dance-off. What’s not to love?

That’s What She Said: “I believe we are amazingly creative and generous. We are capable of creating a life purely out of our own imaginations. Fueled by passion and an idea or two we set out to shape our journey, to bend the road to conform to our dream of a better life.” 

Sicily Dickenson

The Arena: Energy
Superpowers: Daily Juggler, Brand Builder, Energy

The CMO of NRG—Sicily IS energy. She’s quick-witted, honest, bold and unapologetic. She has built brands that people can’t help but love, led teams of 60+ and (we hear) she even went to film school with Matthew McConaughey. Some of her favorite shows are Breaking Bad and Orange is the New Black and among her favorite people are Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. AND she’s the mother of two kickass girls and a French Bulldog.  Yeah, we know. Go ahead and sign up to be on her best-friend-to-be waiting list—right behind us.

That’s What She Said: “My hope is that through this dialogue, we can begin to discuss today, how we can create a better, brighter and cleaner energy tomorrow.”

Beyoncé

The Arena: Music and Pop Culture
Superpowers: Ruler of all the Dancing and Singing, Haver of Poise, Being Bey

It’s Bey, y’all. The Houston Gem of All Gems (along with Wes Anderson and the Rodeo and about a thousand other Houston favorites). Need we say more? Okay, we will anyway. Bey launched a feminist conversation heard around the world when she featured Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s sampled TEDx talk (Go watch the full talk now.) on ***Flawless. She’s the reason Kanye steals mics and the reason we wear leotards on Wednesday.

That’s What She Said: “Why do you have to choose what type of woman you are? Why do you have to label yourself anything?”

Brené Brown

The Arena: The Arena
Superpowers: Vulnerability Scholar, Culture Collider, Human Connector

One of our forever favorites, University of Houston professor, author and darer of greatness Brené Brown, shows up and lets herself be seen. You may have seen her top viewed TED talk The Power of Vulnerability. She launched conversations that were traditionally taboo to have. Conversations about the difference between shame and guilt, what it means to be vulnerable and how these things affect your ability to accept joy. She challenged us to heed the words of the great Teddy Roosevelt’s Man in the Arena and go out every day and dare greatly.

That’s What She Said: “Most people believe vulnerability is weakness. But really, vulnerability is courage. We must ask ourselves, are we willing to show up and be seen?” 

*Photo of Eleanor Roosevelt by Wikipedia, Maya Angelou by York College ISLGP, Mother Teresa by Wikimedia Commons, Frida Kahlo by Wikipedia, Laverne Cox by KOMUnews, Malala Yousafzai by Wikimedia Commons, Beyoncé by nonu photography and Brené Brown by Wikimedia Commons.