Wilma Rudolph (1940-1994) The Olympic Runner Who Beat Polio Overcame polio, poverty, measles, mumps, scarlet fever, racism, whooping cough, and teenage pregnancy to make Olympic history by winning three gold medals.
Yennenga (early 12th century) The Warrior Princess Who Just Wanted to Have Kids An unbeatable warrior princess who just wanted to have kids – and founded a new nation in her quest to do so.
“Stagecoach” Mary Fields (1832-1914) The Baddest Postal Worker in the Wild West Pistol-packing, liquor-swigging, 6’2″ black postal carrier/babysitter of the Wild West.
Grace O’Malley (1530-1603) Ireland's Pirate Queen Irish pirate queen who led decades of rebellions against England, met face-to-face with Elizabeth I, and got official license to continue her piracy.
Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) The Lady with the Lamp One half of the odd couple of Crimean nursing - the by-the-book Victorian rebel who revolutionized the field of medicine who stood in stark to Mary Seacole's jolly reliance on folk remedies and home comforts.
Mary Seacole (1805-1881) The Most Famous Black Woman of the Victorian Era One half of the odd couple of Crimean nursing - the jolly black businesswoman who swore by folk remedies, in stark contrast to Florence Nightingale's by-the-book Victorian approach to medicine.
Andamana (14th century) The Lady Who Laid Down the Law Indigenous lawmaker who united warring tribes under a unified code of laws that she made herself.
Kurmanjan Datka (1811-1907) The Tsarina Who Kept the Peace A clever woman who rose from obscurity to become a political force, playing nations against each other to protect her people.
Sybil Ludington (1761-1839) Teen Midnight Rider of the US Revolution To warn against the incoming British, this teen girl staged her own midnight ride – far longer and more dangerous than Paul Revere’s.
Moremi Ajasoro (12th century) Spy Queen of the Yoruba When a neighboring tribe threatened the Yoruba, this queen went undercover as a spy to find their weakness.