This past year has been a major turning point for many women in the spotlight. Women such as Reese Witherspoon, Emma Watson, and Misty Copeland have used their desire, courage and dedication to push past societies boundaries and create new paths for both women and men. Reese Witherspoon and Emma Watson have been using their known fame and status to make a significant change in gender equality around the world, and Misty Copeland has proved that if you work hard enough and stay true to yourself, you can reach any dream you have, no matter your race or body type. These three women are an inspiration to many, and should be an inspiration to you. Tell your mother, friend, or daughter to look them up, and see what other inspiring things they have planned for the future.

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon has been a major woman in Hollywood ever since her 1991 debut for the movie, "The Man in the Moon." She has starred in over 40 movies and at only thirty-nine years old, she has won 50 awards out of 84 nominations. This past year, Witherspoon visited seven production company executives looking for a film with a starring female protagonist, only to find that one out of the seven companies were offering such movie. Soon after seeing how limited her options were, she cofounded a production company called Pacific Standard. Her production company immediately bought the rights and screenplays for films that star strong female protagonists. A few movies that have come out of this company include "Wild," which starred Witherspoon, and "Gone Girl." Witherspoon’s production company has an additional 32 productions currently in the works and is looking forward to putting women front and center in major motion pictures for the years to come.

Emma Watson

We all know Emma Watson as the intelligent, headstrong and curious Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. Although these words describe a fictional character, they can easily be used to describe Ms. Watson as well. Watson has used her fame for more than being a pretty face; since the end of the Potter era, Watson has become a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador after making a speech to the importance of gender equality and feminism. She is a major figure in the “HeForShe” campaign and has since brought the concern for gender equality to a new audience. The day after her 25th birthday, Watson was named 26 on the Time’s “Top 100 World’s Most Influential People.” Starting in January, Emma Watson has continued to spread her feministic ideals by launching a book club with numerous books she has read.

“As part of my work with UN Women, I have started reading as many books and essays about equality as I can get my hands on. There is so much amazing stuff out there! Funny, inspiring, sad, thought-provoking, empowering! I decided to start a Feminist book club, as I want to share what I’m learning and hear your thoughts too.”
(Source: emma-watson.net)

Emma is a headstrong, confident and influential woman; someone who is sure to make a difference in society. Follow her this year and let her inspire you!

Misty Copeland

American Ballerina, Misty Copeland, has made major strides in the ballet world. She broke through stereotypes and is trying to redefine the typical ballerina image. Starting her career at thirteen, (very late in a ballerina career) she worked hard and later joined her dream company, American Ballet Theatre, at seventeen. While at ABT, she went through late puberty, costing her her long and slender ballerina body. She was told by her company to lose the weight puberty had given her saying she was too curvy and muscular. Instead of undergoing the strenuous weight loosing tactics that were subtly suggested, Copeland decided to embrace her different frame and see where it would take her. Soon she realized that slight discrimination was present because of not only her body type but of her race as well. However, she persevered. in 2012, she was offered her first staring role in the production of Firebird , and then on June 30, 2015, she was named the first ever African-American Principal Dancer in ABT's 75 years as a company. Misty's career has been inspiring for so many young aspiring ballerina's who don't fit the typical stereotype and her advertisement for Under Armour (seen above) has given her and her ideals a larger stage to be seen on. Follow Misty this year to see the other ways in which she can break down boundaries and create new roads for the young boys and girls who have the same dreams she did.