26 August marks Women’s Equality Day and to celebrate, we’ve gathered 10 female celebs who empower and champion for female equality through their work.
If you’ve always wondered why HBO’s Girls is so darn relatable, it’s because the show was written and created by Lena specifically to highlight the real struggles and aspects of being a woman. The show’s been praised and celebrated for its raw nature and refreshing representation of women in the industry.
In an interview, Lena revealed that Girls was written to reflect a part of the American population that wasn’t normally portrayed and hoped that it would alter this skewed perception of how women were supposed to be.
America’s First Lady, Michelle Obama, has always been huge on equal education opportunities.
Michelle launched the initiative, Let Girls Learn, that aims to create a better future for girls by providing them education. She also showed appreciation for the leading ladies that taught her the importance of strong matriarchal influence with an Instagram post.
“I am an example of what is possible when girls from the very beginning of their lives are loved and nurtured by people around them. I was surrounded by extraordinary women in my life who taught me about quiet strength and dignity.”
Related: Why We Love Michelle Obama
Amy started Smart Girls – an initiative and online community- that encourages young girls everywhere to embrace their own special traits.
The community also celebrates the accomplishment of girls and young women everywhere and occasionally does profiles and interviews with these girls to raise awareness.
Besides the Smart Girls initiative, the actress also has an Ask Amy YouTube Playlist where she shares thoughts on various topics that include finding self-confidence, friendships and having courage.
A list of inspiring female celebs that champion women’s equality wouldn’t be complete without Beyonce.
She not only wrote the song that empowered females everywhere to stand up for themselves, she’s also known to speak up about the lack of equal rights women have been receiving throughout the years.
In an interview with ELLE magazine, she said, “I’m not really sure people know or understand what a feminist is, but it’s very simple. It’s someone who believes in equal rights for men and women. I don’t understand the negative connotation of the word, or why it should exclude the opposite sex. If you are a man who believes your daughter should have the same opportunities and rights as your son, then you’re a feminist. We need men and women to understand the double standards that still exist in this world, and we need to have a real conversation so we can begin to make changes.
She might only be 19 but actress Chloe Grace Moretz is mature beyond her years.
Acknowledging that the word ‘feminist’ might come with negative connotations, she strives to change the stigma that surrounds it, “Feminism means equality for people of all genders, races, and economic situations. But at the same time, I never really thought that feminism was about hating men.”
Kate isn’t shy to let everyone know that she loves participating in the sports her husband, William, is interested in.
From hunting to rowing, Kate’s not a stereotypical princess.
While some might argue that Adele’s lyrics and songs seem very anti-feminist, the inspiring singer’s always been honest and real about her feelings.
The singer proved that she’s championing equal rights when she allowed her son, Angelo, to dress up as Anna from Frozen when they visited Disneyland. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she said, “I believe that everyone should be treated the same, including race and sexuality.”
As a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, the actress works hard to raise awareness on the plight that women face every day. From unequal opportunities to unequal pay, Emma is huge on social media and tweets just about everyday on the #HeForShe campaign.
Malala notably went against the Taliban by fighting for equal education. In Pakistan, the Tabiban have banned girls above the age of eight from receiving formal education. Despite being shot in the head by a gunman while boarding the bus to school, Malala recovered and fought even harder for equal education.
In the entertainment industry, many female actors are paid significantly less than their male counterparts and Amy isn’t one to pretend it doesn’t happen. The actress has spoken out about the disparity. In fact, she did so with an advertisement for Bud Light: