She messed up on Autumn Leaves - oh well...
As a woman, I am proud to having achieved being independent, being successful as a business woman and entrepreneur, and finding the man of my life. Women today are not always that blessed; we still have to fight more (and always harder) for things that are granted to men more easily. This is true all the way from education to work life.
Today, I want to share with you the 29 women in business and politics (but also in the entertainment and publishing industry), of the past and current century, who I admire most, and who have influenced my life in one way or another. I didnt place them in any chronological order of their importance.
1. Michelle Obama - What can I say about the future first lady. She is well educated, versatile and elegant.
2. Christiane Amanpour - Chief International Correspondent for CNN. Has shared a residence with John Kennedy Jr. while attending college. (John Kennedy Jr. was my first crush.) That is admirable - or maybe more envious.
3. Hillary Clinton - Fascinating woman. Hillary is a role model for many women.
4. Caroline Kennedy - Hopefully the next senator of New York. Attorney, editor, and author, Caroline lives in NYC.
5. Oprah Winfrey - Everyone knows Oprah and all her humanitarian work, as well as being the first African American to become a millionaire.
6. Rachael Ray - Locally born author and talk show host, along with several food shows to her credit.
7. Marlo Thomas - Actress, author, and still continues the work with St. Judes Hospital, which her father Danny Thomas opened.
8. Condoleezza Rice - The first woman to serve as National Security Advisor from 2000 to 2005. In ‘05, she became the second woman to be the Secretary Of State, and the first African American woman to hold the job.
9. Annie Leibovitz - The absolute best female photographer in the world. Annie had photographed John Lennon and Yoko the day Lennon was shot.
10. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis - the word eloquent comes to mind when I think of this woman. A woman of great strength and style.
11. Katherine Hepburn - Her voice, I think, was a major part of her sex appeal. You just don’t see too many actresses with her poise, although Cate Blanchett did a fabulous voice impersonation of Hepburn in The Aviator.
12. Jodie Foster - She is one of my favorite actresses.
13. Diane Lane - She is great in anything she does. Diane was filming Under The Tuscan Sun in Italy while flying to work in London on Unfaithful at the same time.
14. Angelina Jolie - Wonderful actress and humanitarian. One of my favorite movies is Mr. and Mrs. Smith, but The Mighty Heart really is one of her best roles. She captures the emotional side wonderfully, while always remaining a strong lead character.
15. Angela Merkel - Angela is the first female Chancellor of Germany. She received the Charlemagne Prize in 2008 for reforming the European Union. She is the 4th female to receive this prize, the last woman before her was Queen Beatrix.
16. Sarah Jessica Parker - I love her! From the stage to Sex In The City. She is amazing and dated John Kennedy Jr. for a short time in the early 90’s.
17. Agatha Christie - I love her books and she was pretty darling when she disappeared for 11 days in 1926. Personally, I think she staged the disappearance.
18. Barbara Walters - Media Icon. Barbara is most known for her interviews with country leaders, and her talk show, The View.
19. Rosie O’Donnell - Ironically funny comedian, author, and talk show host. Rosie got her start as a stand up comedian at local clubs in Long Island.
20. Venus and Serena Williams - the best female tennis players in the world. Both sisters have held the title of the World’s #1 female tennis player.
21. Frido Kahlo - Mexican artist whose house is now a museum which holds her artwork. It is located in Coyoacan, Mexico City.
22. Heidi Klum - My favorite model. She ranks third on the Forbes list of the highest paid models, and is married to Seal.
23. Stella McCartney - Fashion designer and daughter of Paul and Linda McCartney. Stella designs for Adidas, as well as her own line. Adidas is my favorite label for sportsware.
24. Aretha Franklin - The Queen of Soul. Respect is my favorite Aretha song.
25. Tina Turner - The Queen of Rock and Roll. Tina, like Aretha, is legendary. (Great pair of legs at 69.) With Tina, it is hard for me select only one tune. We Don’t Need Another Hero, Private Dancer, What’s Love Got To Do With It, and of course Proud Mary all come to mind.
26. Nora Jones - singer, song writer, and daughter of Ravi Shankar. Favorite songs: Don’t Know Why and Come Away With Me. I just love her.
27. Diana Krall- Canadian Jazz pianist and singer. Diana studied music in Boston at Berklee College of Music. The Look Of Love and Autumn Leaves are two of my favorites.
28. Marianne Pearl - Marianne is a freelance journalist and reporter. She is the wife of Wall Street journalist Danny Pearl, who was executed by terrorists in Pakistan in 2002. Her devastating story of her husband’s kidnapping, and the murder, is the movie The Mighty Heart.
29. Princess Diana - Fantastic humanitarian worker for AIDS Awareness, as well as supporting several charities.
These are my favorite women in business, politics, and entertainment. Did you know them all? I’m interested in hearing your thoughts.
And this is Condoleezza Rice playing at Buckingham Palace to the Queen, for her farewell as Secretary of State.
