With Friday 8th March marking International Women’s Day, every year we like to take this opportunity to highlight the ways that Black women all around the world are doing their part in making the world a better place. As well as highlighting people you’ll already know, we hope you come across some new names too. From the modelling industry, to international sport, let these ladies’ achievements inspire you…
Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura – Senegal 🇸🇳
Named by Forbes as the Most Powerful Woman in International Sport, Fatma Samoura was personally appointed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino to become the organisation’s Secretary General in June 2016. With this, she became the first non-European and the first woman ever to hold FIFA’s second most powerful position. Prior to this, Samoura was also a UN diplomat with over 22 years of experience; she was working with the United Nations’ global programmes for peace and development in disaster prone countries. Working in a male dominated industry such as football reflects Samoura’s passion and dedication to achieve gender equality in sport as she encourages more women and girls to participate.
Elaine Welteroth – USA 🇺🇸
As the former editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, Elaine Welteroth was responsible for the publication’s complete transformation. It went from being more of a typical teen glossy magazine to something much more socially conscious. It challenged beauty standards and covered political news on their website too. When asked about this Elaine said: ‘I felt like there was an opportunity to go a little deeper and to feature a different type of girl: someone who actually used their platform to be a role model and to be a thought leader. There was something shifting in the zeitgeist.’
Hired at 29, Elaine was the youngest editor-in-chief for a Condé Nast publication and only the second Black woman to hold that title there. Elaine has since left Teen Vogue but there’s no doubt that her contribution was fundamental and instrumental for the publication. Elaine is releasing a book in the summer and is set to be the new judge on Project Runway.
Margaret Busby – Ghana 🇬🇭
Born in Accra, Ghana and educated in the UK, Margaret is an accomplished writer, editor and broadcaster. She is also the UK’s youngest and first Black woman publisher when she co-founded Allison & Busby in the late 1960s. In 1992 Margaret compiled Daughters of Africa, an international anthology of words and writings by women of African descent. It was highly acclaimed and was described as a ‘landmark’ by Black Enterprise. Margaret has worked hard to increase diversity within the publishing industry; in the 1980s she founded (GAP) Greater Access to Publishing, which worked with campaigns that aim to increase Black representation in British publishing. She is also the patron for Independent Black Publishers (IBP). Margaret’s continues efforts to diversify publishing saw her recognised in 2018, when she was acknowledged by The Voice newspaper in celebration of the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote; she was listed alongside Diane Abbott, Lilian Bader and Mary Seacole.
Lizzo – USA 🇺🇸
If you’ve heard of Lizzo, then there’s a high chance that this singer/songwriter/flautist/twerk queen is already sitting on your mental list of dream friends. However, if not, there’s plenty of reasons why you’ll soon be a fan. Lizzo is fabulousness personified – full of positive energy, she does her best to spread love far and wide through her lyrics, her performances, and through her social media posts; love for self, and others. She fully embraces her plus-size figure, which, in an age of faux body positivity and constant images of slim bodies as standard, is refreshing. Plus – she’s mega talented. Keep your ears out for new album Cuz I Love You, out next month!
Caster Semenya – South Africa 🇿🇦
As one of Africa’s most decorated athletes, Caster Semenya has done much to make South Africa, as well as the wider continent, proud. However, the middle distance runner, and double Olympic champion, has been plagued with unfair criticism throughout her career, as authorities as well as fellow runners have called her biological sex into question due to her impressive speed.
Recently, the IAAF proposed a testosterone limit for women competitors – which would severely impact Semenya’s future in sport, as it means that athletes described as ‘hyper-androgynous’ (such as herself) would have to chemically lower their testosterone levels to run any international race. At the time of writing, Semenya had launched a legal battle against the proposition, which had yet to be resolved. Having her natural ability scrutinised on a public scale is no easy thing to deal with, yet Semenya has not only responded to criticism with grace, but with pride in who she is and security in her talent. She’s doing her best to ensure that she, nor other athletic Black women get penalised for being excellent in their field – and for this, we salute her.
Ilhan Omar – Somalia / USA 🇸🇴 🇺🇸
It doesn’t take much to imagine that occupying the spaces of ‘Black’, ‘woman’ and ‘Muslim’ in America can come with plenty of difficulties. And when you combine that all with being a politician, it doesn’t seem like it’ll get any easier — yet, Ilhan Omar is making waves as one of Minnesota’s foremost US Representatives.
In November 2018, she was elected to the United States Congress and became the first naturalised citizen from Africa to do so – as well as being the first of two Muslim women to join congress (alongside Rashida Tlaib). She’s making history, and helping to change the face of American politics at a time where diverse perspectives are so desperately needed.
Adut Akech – South Sudan / Australia 🇸🇸 🇦🇺
At only 19, Adut Akech is making a big name for herself in the modelling world as the one to watch. Having made her professional debut in 2016, Akech first walked on the runway at a local fashion show, organised by her aunt. From there, she went to Melbourne Fashion Week, before walking for Saint Laurent in Paris a short while later — and from then, she’s walked for countless top name brands and shot editorials for the world’s top fashion magazines. Models.com named her as Model of The Year for 2018 — so we can only imagine how much higher 2019 will see her reach!
Emma Dabiri – Ireland / Nigeria 🇮🇪 🇳🇬
Broadcaster, academic and author – when it comes to having a way with words, Emma Dabiri has got it locked down. Tackling topics such as mixed-race identity in Dublin, the African diaspora, as well as her BBC series Britain’s Lost Masterpieces, tracking down lost and hidden masterpieces from local museums, her work is compelling and unique. She also is a teaching fellow at London’s School of African and Oriental Studies. Dabiri’s first book, Don’t Touch My Hair, is due for release in May 2019, and it sets to explore why black hair matters — and why it’s never ‘just hair’. From the title alone, we’re fully on board.
Words by Nicole Vassell and Emmanuella Ngimbi
