As we celebrate our outstanding Wonder Women, we also recognize the women making history this year—championing equity and inspiring future generations. Below are some of their latest history-making accomplishments that we can all celebrate:
Women Athletes Receive Their Own Barbies
In honor of Barbie’s 65th anniversary, the toy brand has chosen nine athletes to honor by making a doll of their likeness. Knowing the role that sports can play in boosting girls’ confidence and leadership skills, these dolls are being released in tandem with the Barbie Dream Gap Project—a program that strives to level the playing field for girls in all areas of life. The dolls featured in this line include American tennis player Venus Williams, Canadian soccer player Christine Sinclair, Australian football player Mary Fowler, Mexican gymnast Alexa Moreno, Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, French boxer Estelle Mossely, Spanish para-triathlete Susana Rodriguez, Italian swimmer Federica Pellegrini and Polish track and field sprinter Ewa Swoboda. Photo Credit: MATTEL
Taylor Swift Breaks Numerous Records with New Album
Taylor Swift is breaking records once again as her newest album, The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD), gains popularity across all platforms. Swift’s album not only garnered the most pre-saves in Spotify history, but became the most-streamed album in a single day and the fastest album to reach one billion streams. TTPD and its songs also debuted on the Billboard 200—tying Swift with Jay-Z for the most number one albums among soloists in the nearly 70-year history of the Billboard chart. She also broke the record for the largest streaming week since 2014 and dethroned Rihanna for having the most albums to spawn at least one top charting hit. Photo Credit: JOHN SHEARER/TAS24/GETTY IMAGES FOR TAS RIGHTS MANAGEMENT
Five Women Graduate from NASA’s 2024 Class
In 2021, 12 candidates were chosen out of a pool of 12,000 to undergo astronaut training. Earlier this year, these candidates—five of which are women—completed their training and graduated as full-fledged astronauts. While these women are not the first female astronauts, their feat builds on the legacy of NASA’s Sally Ride and further diversifies the STEM field in one of the most visible ways possible. The program’s newest women astronauts are Nora AlMatrooshi, Nichole Ayers, Chris Birch, Deniz Burnham and Jessica Wittner. Photo Credit: NASA/JAMES BLAIR
Oana Lungescu Becomes Longest-Serving NATO Spokesperson
In 2010, Oana Lungescu became the first woman, first journalist and the first person born in the former Eastern Bloc to be a NATO spokesperson. Now, after 14 years of service, she has also become the longest-serving spokesperson in NATO history. Fluent in five languages and with an impressive background in journalism, Lungescu has used her expertise to not only serve as the organization’s principal spokesperson, but has directed much of NATO’s media and communication procedures. Lungescu also served under two secretary generals and received the NATO Meritorious Service Medal in 2023. Photo Credit: DURSUN AYDEMIR/ANADOLU AGENCY/GETTY IMAGES
First Black Woman Air Force Pilot Takes Her Final Flight
Theresa Claiborne, who became the first Black woman pilot in the U.S. Air Force in 1981, has officially taken her last flight and retired. While in service, Claiborne was a pilot and instructor for the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, working with the plane for seven years on active duty and 13 years in the reserves. Upon leaving the military, she went on to spend the next 34 years flying with United Airlines and mentoring other women of color to become pilots. She logged 23,000 flight hours over the course of her career, making her final flight from Lisbon, Portugal to Newark Liberty International Airport. Claiborne told ABC 7 news: “I guess maybe I did make an impact and that’s important because when you put your heart and soul into something and it turns out that people appreciated it, and people listened and got something out of it, it makes it all the better.” Photo Credit: U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY AIRMAN 1ST CLASS KATELYN FANKHAUSER
Claudia Sheinbaum Becomes Mexico’s First Female President
For the first time in Mexico’s 200-year-old history, the country has elected their first woman president. Climate scientist and the former mayor of Mexico City, Claudia Sheinbaum was elected as the country’s president, winning between 58% and 60% of the overall vote against her opponents. Her presidency comes at an especially pivotal moment as Mexico works to end gender-based violence and misogyny across the country. Upon winning, Sheinbaum told the press: “I will become the first woman president of Mexico. I don’t make it alone. We’ve all made it, with our heroines who gave us our homeland, with our mothers, our daughters and our granddaughters.” Photo Credit: GERARDO VIEYRA/NURPHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES
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