To all the brave, strong, inspiring women of 2019… I salute you – The Sun
I AM looking forward to 2020. This country is about to begin a new chapter and no matter how things unfold, there is no doubt most of us are ready for a change.
I am ready to ring in the new with heartfelt enthusiasm. But just before we say goodbye to this year, I’ve been thinking about all the brilliant women who did brave, groundbreaking and seriously inspiring things in 2019.
Here, in no particular order, are my pick of those who really stood out — and hopefully will continue to do so for some time to come.
The Queen
It’s been a very mixed year for her. The country has had a tumultuous time, going to the polls and with two Prime Ministers.
Her grandsons were apparently feuding and she had to be seen to be laying down the law to Prince Andrew.
History may well judge 2019 as her second annus horribilis.
Yet somehow, this amazing woman has been the very definition of a dignified, strong and steady leader, offering us the stability and reassurance we as a country so desperately need.
The Lionesses
Yes, I know women’s football has been going on for years.
But 2019 was the year our Lionesses put it firmly on the map.
Not only that, they have also inspired a generation of girls to get their boots on and play, knowing they can be just as good as boys on the pitch.
So although it’s a shame it’s taken this long, we all owe them a debt of gratitude.
Emily Maitlis
I have long admired Emily for asking the hard questions on BBC2’s Newsnight.
But this year, in the face of the extreme hotting-up of Brexit, culminating in December’s General Election, her coverage has been second to none (well, perhaps apart from Katya Adler and Laura Kuenssberg).
Then her grilling of Prince Andrew in November was a masterclass in conducting a good interview — clinical, forensic and meticulous, without a hint of deference.
Never shouty or confrontational, she gave Andrew the space to show himself to the public so they could make up their own minds about his culpability in his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
She also somehow managed not to make herself the story (take note, Andrew Neil!) although when Prince Andrew described Epstein’s actions as “unbecoming”, she took the chance to look as disgusted as we all feel.
“Unbecoming?” she said. “He was a sex offender.”
In short, she nailed him.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
That photo of her wearing the world’s most beautiful dress, martini and cigarette in hand at the Emmys after-party, said it all.
Earlier in the night she had won three of the four Emmys she was up for — just more in a long line of awards and accolades this year, during which she proved the brilliance of Fleabag was not a one-off.
Her sharp, witty and totally original writing on Killing Eve showed she is seriously clever as well as unbelievably glamorous.
And her portrayal of women is original, transgressive and totally refreshing.
No wonder she was drafted in to give her input and perspective on the next Bond movie.
I have a feeling that in 2020 we will realise Phoebe Waller-Bridge is only just getting started.
The Duchess of Sussex
She has had her first baby, conducted her first royal tour and guest edited Vogue. Oh, and she met Beyonce.
All in all, not a bad year! She has also managed to consistently put on a brave and happy face while on the receiving end of more criticism than most of us could stand.
But it is her life-long passion for and commitment to feminism I admire most.
On International Women’s Day, she said: “Men can understand that they can be feminists,” and should feel comfortable about women being by their side, rather than behind them.
As we know all too well, not everyone likes a strong woman. But because she is strong, my view is that she will win over her critics in the end.
WOMEN4GRENFELL
Leave it to the women to organise, unite and provide support to local women in their community and provide support for those affected by the terrible tragedy of the Grenfell fire.
Their aim is to provide a networking platform and discussion forums for women and arrange positive actions and initiatives that will help the community. But above all, they want to remember — which is why they organise a monthly silent walk in memory of their “lost angels”.
My heart breaks for them that they have to do this.
But what a brilliant reminder of the power of organisation and women coming together to support each other.
Samira Ahmed
Earlier this year, at an equal pay tribunal brought against the BBC by the TV and radio presenter, Samira said she: “Could not understand how pay for me, a woman, could be so much lower than Jeremy Vine, a man, for presenting very similar programmes and doing very similar work . . .
“I just ask why the BBC thinks I am worth only a sixth of the value of the work of a man for doing a very similar job.”
On behalf of every woman who has felt she should have said something, should have done something, should have spoken out, stood up or walked out when they knew they were being paid less than men in similar roles, but who felt they had no choice but to put up with it, I salute her.
Megan Rapinoe
I also want to give a mention to the captain of the US women’s soccer team.
Yes, she is a great player. But people have lined up to criticise her because she is another strong woman who seems genuinely not to care what people think of her and what she says.
They describe her in the US as a “badass” and there is no doubt that she is outspoken on every issue going.
But it is her ongoing campaign to normalise gay relationships in sport that really resonates with me.
Working in a sport where no male has ever come out as gay while playing in the Premier League, it seems sad — and unacceptable — that people can’t be open about being gay.
I think Megan is helping to change that, though.
Asked in an interview how it felt to lead the US team, she replied: “Go gays!”
She continued: “You can’t win a championship without gays on your team. It’s never been done before. Ever.”
Greta Thunberg
Could any collection of amazing women be complete without a mention of the 16-year-old schoolgirl who has started an international revolution?
Everything this young woman has done — and she has done more than anyone I can think of to raise awareness about the climate emergency — has been made so much more impressive because of her tenacity in the face of such extreme criticism.
Most of the youngster’s critics seem to be men of a certain age who are, I guess, threatened by someone so young and female being so bold, opinionated and unconcerned about what they think.
Amazingly, the insults and attacks seem only to have empowered her further and fuelled her determination to make the world listen to what we need to do to try to stop climate change in its tracks.
A slip of a girl — and a teen at that — is changing the world.
Bravely, and in the face of extreme confrontation at times, she has created a movement where millions around the world follow her and listen to her.
She has turned down many accolades because she is not in it for the adulation. She really just wants to make change happen. Truly inspirational.
Roula Khalaf
A bit like female Prime Ministers, female newspaper editors are a rarer breed than male ones.
Women have such an important role to play in journalism and in fighting for equality.
And now, for the first time in 131 years, there will be a female editor of the Financial Times, which really is groundbreaking, given the paper has been such a bastion of male power for so long.
Roula is going to do a magnificent job, not least because she is so focused on increasing newsroom diversity and attracting more female readers, which gives her an obvious spot among my Women of the Year.
Dr Nyla Raja
And a final mention must go to Dr Nyla Raja, purely for personal reasons.
She has transformed my skin this year.
Everyone needs a great facial and a little help . . . and boy, does she deliver!
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