Chances are, you know at least one woman who makes your life a little sweeter on the regular. In fact, we’re willing to bet that if you take a minute to think about it, you actually know a few. From your mom to your best friend, or your most inspiring colleague: strong and beautiful women are often powerful pillars in our lives. This International Women’s Day, we decided to talk about a few girl bosses who never fail to inspire us and who make us proud to recognize the strength that is female.
Ylette Luis: Mother, sister, and Founder of XIO by Ylette
We love this Latina entrepreneur for so many reasons. Ylette Luis is the founder of the Aura Room podcast, and XIO. And if you haven’t heard of either, where have you been girlfriend?!
This Cuban-American mom of four created the monthly jewelry subscription you’ve been waiting for. In fact, it’s the first jewelry subscription box that requires no swaps or returns. A.k.a: you get to keep it all! And just a fair warning here, Ylette’s gems are absolutely stunning. XIO is a tribute to her grandmother Xiomara, who inspired her love for unique pieces and entrepreneurship.
As for the Aura Room, we seriously can’t get enough of how positive and uplifting the discussions are. On top of that, it’s clear how much Ylette loves empowering her listeners and how much she puts into awakening them mentally and spiritually.
This International Women’s Day, we’re happy to celebrate strong and creative women like Ylette and we can’t wait to see what she creates next.
Cleo Wade: Poet, Activist, and the voice of her generation
From poetry to TED talks, Cleo Wade is a motivating woman who has us feeling all kinds of good when we listen to her.
Whether she is exploring feminism or self-acceptance, Cleo’s work speaks to everyone. Her work communicates to not only women, but also people of color and the LGBTQ community. Often called an “Instagram poet”, Cleo’s outlook and perspective on the realities of our modern day lives is refreshing. For real, just check out her poem on the year 2020.
Cleo’s activism in the realm of intersectionality is commendable to say the least. In addition to that, we love how eloquently she can put into words what so many of us seem to be feeling these days. Never a fan of just “tweeting for social change”, Cleo is consistently taking real action.
Recently, she lead discussions on how to begin a passion project (and keep it running seamlessly) in partnership with Aerie. The #AerieREAL Change Initiative has allowed her to help people get even closer to healing, and to go a little deeper when it comes to their self-exploration.
All and all, we love what this powerful woman is doing on so many platforms. Therefore, we had to include her on our list of inspirational ladies this International Women’s Day.
Annie Jaffrey: Healthy Lifestyle Blogger and everyone's BFF
We love all things natural! Therefore, finding a healthy lifestyle blogger who prioritizes eating right and living clean is always up our alley. But Annie, well, she’s more than that. She’s also that motivating friend you wish you had back in high school when you just couldn’t get over your bonehead ex.
Annie started her YouTube channel in 2011, and has grown exponentially since then. From easy healthy recipes to wellness and self-care planners, Annie has all of the tips and tricks you need to make your life just a little better. Not to mention, her advice will definitely help you stay on track with your healthy living journey – effortlessly.
Beyond her addictive vlogs and style tips, Annie is also venturing into entrepreneurship with a new skincare line. All of this while still providing her followers with enriching content on a weekly basis.
The reason you’ll love this girl goes way beyond her delicious quinoa bowls and tips for self-love. Watching Annie or reading her posts feels like you’re talking to a friend who legit wants the best for you. And in a world full of click bait and unproductive content, that’s worth a lot if we do say so ourselves.
Bianca Miller, Entrepreneur, Motivational Speaker, and young boss to watch out for
After making it on the Forbes list of 30 under 30, it’s safe to say this girl boss has achieved impressive heights. Bianca Miller *quite literally* wrote the book on being “Self-Made: The Definitive Guide to Startup Business Success”.
Although she is a successful author, Bianca is best known for having created the Be Group in 2012. The Be Group is a specialist provider in personal branding, image consultancy and employability skills training. This brazen beauty believes in helping everyone reach their utmost potential. Her passion for inspiring others is clearly shown in how much pride she takes in her business.
When she isn’t busy running her company, Bianca is also a motivational speaker. She has distinguished herself with her discussions surrounding diversity, being a woman in business, and making your dreams come true – no matter what appears to be standing in your way.
Danielle Winckworth: Co-owner of White & Green, the company behind the organic sheets you can sleep like a baby in
After being a runway model at the age of 15, Danielle Winckworth now runs an ethical linen business with her mother and sisters. This family affair is called White & Green, and they make organic yet luxurious cotton items that you’ll wonder how you ever lived without.
Danielle and her family have traveled the world to ensure that they are offering only the highest quality, ethically sourced fabrics. In addition to that, White & Green prides themselves on knowing their cotton farmers personally and on sourcing their materials fairly.
After discovering how disastrous the cotton industry could really be, Danielle and her family took a stand and decided to do better. Today, they run White & Green with the intention of helping you get your best night’s sleep ever. All while leaving a positive mark on this beautiful planet of ours.
Bethenny Frankel: Entrepreneur, Television Personality, and bad ass philanthropist
If you only know Bethenny as one of the Real Housewives of New York, you’re totally missing out. Mostly known for her role as a young hustling entrepreneur on the show, Bethenny is best recognized for her Skinny Girl brand. She strategically leveraged her time on the show to promote her brand and to put it mildly, it paid off. Her low calorie drinks disrupted the alcohol industry, and made her a multi-millionaire.
Not one to mince words, Bethenny is now known for her no-nonsense attitude and her insane work ethic. Most recently, she’s been recognized for her work on Shark Tank and for her podcast “Just B”. And let’s just say if you want all of the tea on how to be a boss babe, you should be listening into her latest episodes on the regular.
What a lot of people don’t realize, is that Bethenny has used her platform to do more than inspire other likeminded entrepreneurs. She created her very own charity called BStrong that offers disaster relief to people in crisis. BStrong has provided millions of N95 masks to healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The charity continues to be a strong source of aid during this unprecedented time.
So trust us when we tell you, this standout woman is so much more than a real housewife.
Beatrice Dixon: Founder and strong force behind the Honey Pot
Creating the world’s first plant-based feminine care line? Yeah, Beatrice Dixon thought of that. More importantly though, she broke down multiple barriers and stigma to get there.
Beatrice knew there was a gap in the feminine hygiene market for natural yet effective products. After trying it all, she started her company with a $21 000 loan from her brother and co-founder. It wasn’t long before Target, Walgreens, and Whole Foods saw that she was on to something, and started carrying her products.
Now that she has achieved great success with the Honey Pot, Beatrice often speaks about the challenges she once faced fundraising for her company as a black woman. Her insight into how women can grow businesses despite the odds against them is raw and real.
We highly recommending checking out the Honey Pot products. Oh and, giving any of Beatrice’s interviews a thorough listen this International Women's Day. Whether you’re a late night or early morning hustler, play her advice in the background while you’re on your daily grind. You’ll be more than glad you did.
Jen Atkin: Hair Stylist, Entrepreneur, and all around girl boss
Or as Kendall Jenner would call her: “the Kobe Bryant of hair”. You might have seen Jen make a few appearances on Keeping up with the Kardashians. However, this girl boss is more than just another friend of the famous family.
Adopted to a Mormon family, this Peruvian beauty knew she was born to stand out and do great things. When Jen decided to pick up and move to Los Angeles as a teenager with her best friend, she did so with almost nothing. She knew she wanted to pursue her dream of being a renowned hair stylist, and her journey is seriously moving. Although her success in no way happened overnight, she ended up building a long list of celebrity clientele. What's more, she distinguished herself in a highly competitive industry.
Today, Jen has been named one of the most influential hairstylists in the world by the New York Times. What’s more, she has built her own haircare line called OUAI. A brand that she prides on being inclusive, and environmentally friendly.
Her latest accomplishment however, comes in the form of her very first book. “Blowing my Way to the Top” is hilarious, inspiring, and the kind of read you just can’t put down. We love this lady for her brutal honesty, relatable experiences, and her kind words of advice and encouragement to people everywhere who want to pursue their dreams.
Celebrate all of the ladies on this International Women’s Day
We know the gems we just fawned over above surely inspired you too. And in all that you do every day to be the best woman you can be, you should admire yourself a little too, gorgeous. Before we sign off, we think it’s only right we leave you with an important reminder. In the immortal words of Beyoncé: who run the world? Girls.
Happy International Women's day babe, <3 .
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