Ada Lovelace (1815-1852) The Enchantress of Numbers History’s first computer programmer, who invented algorithms for the first computer – which didn’t even exist during her lifetime, so she had to do it all in her head.
Wallada bint al-Mustakfi (c.1000-1091) Andalusian Slam Poet Spirited poetry-spouting princess who lived an audacious life and put her cheating lover on blast with her expert slam poetry.
Yael (13th century BCE) The Lady With The Hammer Saved the Jewish people by hammering a tent spike through an unsuspecting house guest's head.
Rani Lakshmibai (1828-1858) The Rebel Queen of Jhansi Widowed young queen who led a fearsome rebellion against the British with her child tied to her back.
Theodora (c.497-548) The Concubine Who Conquered Constantinople Sex worker who became empress of the Byzantine Empire, and used her political power to safeguard her interests, and her husband’s reputation.
Tomoe Gozen (c.1157-1247) The Samurai Who Made Samurai Flee Fearsome undefeated samurai warrior who was “a match for any god or demon,” and is one of Japan’s greatest heroines to this day.
Xtabay (Mesoamerican myth) Siren of the Yucatan Chaste and virtuous woman spends life assuming she’s better than her more sex-positive neighbor, and for this haughtiness becomes in death a demonic woman who lures wayward men to their death – a stunning indigenous inversion of the Madonna/whore complex.
Nanny of the Maroons (c.1680-1750) The Mother of Us All Led colony of escaped slaves and protected them from the English using borderline supernatural abilities.
Nana Asma’u (1793-1864) The Princess Who Loved Learning Massively educated princess who started all-female gang of itinerant teachers, who would roam the land and educate unsuspecting passersby.
Chiyome Mochizuki (16th century) The Widow Who Ran a Ninja Academy Recruited widows, orphans, and prostitutes into an all-woman ninja spy group, the largest in Asia at the time.