Adele
She recently took the world by storm with her surprise single (if you haven't heard "Hello" by now, it's a must as soon as you finish reading this), and her kick-ass album that we can all relate to. Adele is not only a superstar, but she's too real and I love it. She's not your average singer: She prefers a no-fuss type of lifestyle in London with her son and boyfriend. Also, if you're a huge fan like me, then you know that people have questioned her body size time after time in interviews. She so effortlessly shut down the body-shamers and teaches us that it really doesn't matter what size you are, but it's about everything else. Pure talent and confidence will take you far, not looks (even though Adele is naturally gorgeous, but so is every person on this earth).
Malala Yousafrazi
Being fearless is really hard to do. Take an extraordinary young woman like Malala, who went through a horrific time, yet managed to rise above everything and everyone to do some really good things in the world, like start her own organization. Malala should inspire us all to take advantage of the education we have been blessed with, because it's not easy for everyone. Also, be fearless in everything that you do, because you only grow when you step out of your comfort zone.
Misty Copeland
For those of you out there who have never heard of Misty, let me start by saying that she is the coolest and strongest ballerina of our generation that I know of, and I know a lot of dancers, being one myself. She recently became the first African American principal ballet dancer for the American Ballet Theater. This is beyond huge. Not only is she fierce, but she's a true role model in that sense that if you work hard, you can achieve pretty much anything. Regardless if you know anything about ballet or not, what you do need to know is that she earned her spot. I find that so many people these days think that things will be handed to them on a silver platter when that is so not the case, especially in college. If you want an A, you have to earn it. There are simply no shortcuts in the real world, and Misty can attest to that.
Amy Schumer
If you have not heard of Amy by now... well, now you have. She's taken over the world of comedy in the past year, making herself known for not just being funny, but for so much more. Schumer is teaching people everywhere to love themselves. This can be really hard to do. I think I speak for everyone when I say that at some point or another, we all have felt insecure about ourselves. The point is: Don't. Everyone is fortunate enough to be their own person, so why waste time trying so hard to be "some other version" of what you were put on this earth to be? Embrace your flaws, always.
Lena Dunham
Lena is someone that some may have never heard of, but she's definitely a woman you want to know. HBO's "Girls" creator, author, and "Lenny" newsletter founder, Lena Dunham has influenced young woman everywhere with her brutally honest work. She is just too real, and I absolutely love that. So many powerful woman in the music, movie, and TV industry have painted a warped perception of what little girls should want to be like. However, Lena is just honest about how things should be. Topics such as positive body image, mental health, and being a nice person in general, are all things Lena touches upon. I love how honest she is about everything. In today's society, there's too much pressure on young woman to be something that they are not. Lena teaches us to be real.
Jennifer Lawrence
JLaw is just really cool, in general. Aside from being an Academy Award-winning actress, she strives to be the voice for women everywhere. Jennifer Lawrence recently wrote an essay about the gender pay gap in Hollywood, unveiling the truth of what it's like for struggling, hard-working women everywhere. In addition, she is just constantly saying kickass things about being an individual, not giving a shit about what anyone else thinks, and overall being a powerhouse. She's right. It's time for people to stop worrying so much about what other people have to say, and time to start worrying about the things we can change and have control over. Following the crowd will not get you far, but doing things the way you want in order to be great? That's something to strive for. As cheesy as it sounds, being your own, confident person will take you places. Just look to Lawrence for guidance on how to do so.
