It feels strange to be starting a blog as a year is ending, but in 2018 I’m going to be going on a pretty big adventure, and so I wanted to get my blog up and running before this happens (more on this soon!)
2017 has been a strange year for many reasons, but it’s also been a pretty good year to be a woman. (I mean, we almost had our very first female president!) To honour some of the amazing things we women have achieved this year, I have picked 5 women who are in the public eye who I feel have been particularly inspirational in 2017.
I would like to note that these are in no particular order!
1. Kesha
Kesha has had a very public legal battle in 2017 with her previous producer, Dr Luke. Following Kesha disclosing the sexual, physical, and emotional abuse she and her family were subjected to, Dr Luke sued her and her mother for defamation. In spite of all of this, she made an amazing comeback to music with her new album Rainbow.
Kesha is an inspiration to victims and survivors of abuse everywhere. She is standing up for herself and for all who have suffered in her fight against the injustice she was subjected to. Her story has inspired many to disclose suffering abuse and to receive the support and the justice they deserve.
She also released the powerful single Praying, which addresses her feelings towards Dr Luke as well as finding her strength again.
2. Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato is an artist who I have admired for many years, but 2017 has been a particularly strong year for her.
In October she released the much-anticipated YouTube documentary Simply Complicated, which documented the process of making her new album Tell Me You Love Me. Demi is admirably candid throughout; she goes into a lot of detail discussing living with a mental health condition, fighting an addiction, and her journey to recovery.
Demi is also a huge advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and touches on her fluid sexuality during her documentary.
3. Ariana Grande
Sadly, in 2017 the world was faced with frequent violent and terrorist attacks happening across the globe.
In May, a terrorist detonated a bomb in the foyer of the MEN arena where Ariana Grande had just finished performing. 22 people were killed in the attack.
It would have been understandable for Ariana to leave the UK and all memories of Manchester behind, however she insisted on returning before re-commencing her European tour. She visited injured fans in hospital as well as the families of the victims, and put on a benefit concert with countless famous faces to raise money towards the relief efforts.
Ariana handled the incident better than any of our political leaders, and brought thousands of people together in unity and hope during an otherwise fearful time.
4. Nadiya Hussain
Nadiya Hussain first rose to fame after winning the Great British Bake Off in 2015. Since then, she become a public figure in the UK, hosting various competitions and starring in documentaries and cooking shows.
Although the majority of the British public love and respect Nadiya, she often faces backlash and Islamophobic discrimination on social media. Nadiya does not shy away from this; she tackles it head-on and responds to nasty comments in a polite way. She seeks to educate and spread a message of tolerance.
She has also been vocal in her struggle with anxiety, a mental health condition that dominated her life until her GBBO win. Nadiya is very open about how she manages her anxiety and has been instrumental in spreading awareness throughout the UK.
5. Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist for female education. In 2012 she was shot by a member of the Taliban as a direct response to her increasing notoriety. She was shot on a bus on her way home from taking an exam.
Following the incident, Malala’s activism continued, with her her 16th birthday being dubbed ‘Malala Day’. In October 2014 she was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.
In 2017, five years after her attempted murder, Malala began studying at Oxford University, one of the most prestigious institutions in the world.
Malala is an inspiration to girls and women everywhere, and continues to speak out and fight for girls’ right to education.
peternotwendy 