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10 boss female activists you need to channel right now


It can be scary speaking up for what you believe in sometimes. And with the shock recent election results, raising your voice will be more important than ever. That’s why we’re incredibly thankful for all the boss female activists out there who inspire us every day!

In these times of political upheaval, they encourage us ALL to open our eyes, pay more attention to the world around us and be a little more woke and accountable in everything we do.

Thanks, ladies!

So what’s got us thinking about these incredibly inspiring women, you ask? Well, you’ve got Catherine Barter‘s new book ‘Troublemakers’ to thank for that. Catherine’s a bright new star in the world of YA and after reading the synopsis of ‘Troublemakers’ she’s about to become your new favourite author too.

Check it out:

Fifteen-year-old Alena never really knew her political activist mother, who died when she was a baby. She has grown up with her older half-brother Danny and his boyfriend Nick in the east end of London. Now the area is threatened by a bomber who has been leaving explosive devices in supermarkets. It is only a matter of time before a bomb goes off.

Against this increasingly fearful backdrop, Alena seeks to discover more about her past, while Danny takes a job working for a controversial politician. As her family life implodes, and the threat to Londoners mounts, Alena starts getting into trouble. Then she does something truly rebellious.

Sounds fantastic, right? Trust us when we say it really is!

Alena is such a compelling character and we can completely understand the eye-opening moments she faces as she takes her first steps in the world of activism, and inspires us to do the same.

 

So what other boss female activists do we look up to currently? Sit back and make a brew, ladies and gents, because we’ve come up with a long, yet wonderful list.

1. Emma Watson

Regular Maximum Pop! readers know that we have a massive girl crush women crush on Emma Watson – she’s a constant source of inspiration to us!

In 2014, Emma launched the He For She campaign at UN headquarters. The campaign aims to empower women and girls and create a gender equal world.

Alongside championing women’s rights, Emma is also an activist for climate change and environmental issues. During her press tour for Disney film ‘Beauty and The Beast’ in 2017, she set up an Instagram account which promotes and encourages people to buy sustainable, eco-friendly fashion. What a boss!

2. Lauren Jauregui

If you’re not following, Fifth Harmony’s Lauren Jauregui on Twitter, we suggest doing so ASAP. Lauren’s incredibly passionate about human rights and urges us ALL to speak up and challenge some of the devastating things that are happening in the world, right now.

When Donald Trump approved a US airstrike on Syria, two months ago, Lauren she didn’t shy away from voicing her thoughts about it.

Sadly, it takes guts for women to share her opinions online and Lauren gives us the encouragement and strength to follow suit.

3. Lady Gaga

As many of you know, Lady Gaga is a massive advocate of LGBTQ+ rights. In December 2016, she was one of the first celebrities to publicly vow to help protect gay rights under the Trump administration.

Opening up to BBC 2, she said:

“What is very important to me is that the LGBTQ community in America knows myself as well as everyone else who loves them are going to do everything that we can to protect the social progress we have made over the last eight years. The truth is, political progress cannot happen unless there is social progress
 things cannot work unless people like each other, unless people are kind to one another. I am here to be, in any way that I can, a person that reminds us all that above anything else is kindness.”

Oh Gaga, our hearts are swelling with love!

4. Jade Thirlwall

Also an advocate of LGBTQ+ rights this side of the pond is Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall. She’s known for her support of gay communities both on and offline.

In March 2017, she attended the LGBT Awards, and she also dedicated Little Mix’s smash hit ‘Secret Love Song’ to the band’s LGBT fans.

5. Beyoncé

Queen Bey has been one of the biggest and most vital voices in the #BlackLivesMatter movement. In July 2016, Beyoncé held a moment of silence during a concert in Glasgow to pray for Alton Sterling, Philando Castile and the countless other victims of police brutality.

Following the silence, the singer urged fans to take political action and posted a long statement about police violence on her website. Her involvement in the movement has encouraged many to learn more about #BlackLivesMatter and try to help put an end to police violence.

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6. Amandla Stenberg

In 2015, Amandla Stenberg (a.k.a Rue from ‘Hunger Games’) called out Kylie Jenner for “appropriating black culture” and “failing to help black Americans” after the ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashian’s’ star posted a selfie with cornrows.

Since, Amandla’s been an activist for cultural appropriation. She frequently posts images and videos on her Instagram to raise awareness of cultural appropriation and calls out those who fetishize black beauty.

bigger than you or me. discussions are healthy. ignorance is not. words by me

A post shared by amandla (@amandlastenberg) on

7. Shailene Woodley

‘Divergent’ star Shailene Woodley is one of the biggest activists for environmental issue around, so much so that she was actually arrested in 2016 for trespassing whilst protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline. She’s truly fearless and was honoured the Environmental Media Association the same year for her activism.

During the award ceremony, she told ET:

“We are an environmental issue! Right? We are the environment. We are the soil, we come from the earth. In order to survive we need oxygen. For me, it’s not about helping the environment or saving the environment. It’s about recognizing that if I want my children to know a world where Manhattan isn’t all the way under water — because guess what, ladies and gentlemen, that world is not too distant and it’s a reality that we must start facing and waking up to — [then] we’ve gotta work our asses off now to make that happen. And I’m down for that cause because I love this Earth. I love humanity.”

HERO!

8. Kristen Bell

When Kristen Bell isn’t busy voicing the fantastic Anna in ‘Frozen’ she’s championing for animal rights. She’s been a vegetarian since she was 11 and frequently attends events and functions to raise money for animals. In 2006 she told PETA:

“I have always been an animal lover. I had a hard time disassociating the animals I cuddled with—dogs and cats, for example—from the animals on my plate, and I never really cared for the taste of meat. I always loved my Brussels sprouts!”

Brussels sprouts?! Some of us here at MP! are also veggie and can conform that anyone who likes brussels sprouts is a brave woman, indeed.

9. Lena Dunham

Lena is a massive women’s rights and political activists. Her show ‘Girls’ was one of the first of it’s kind to portray womanhood in a realistic and accurate way.

She’s also a big Hillary Clinton supporter and even shared her thoughts on Jeremy Corbyn in her latest Instagram post:

We here in America have watched in horror as our siblings in the U.K. have been attacked these past weeks and our president has been unable to offer so much as a word of condolence, only using this to push forward his racist and xenophobic agenda. We no longer have the option to pretend that what happens in Britain or America is separate. We do not live in fiefdoms. We must all work together to quell the tide of hate and complacency. Which is why, despite my US Passport, I desperately urge my U.K. friends/fans/frenemies to get out and vote for the Labour Party. With Jeremy Corbyn you have a chance at a fair and just leader who will temper the fascism and darkness of our current American moment. Thank you for considering, for getting your butts out there and for knowing- even when you feel abandoned by electoral politics- that your vote is all we have. This Thursday, June 8!

A post shared by Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) on

9. Katy Perry

Another huge Hillary Clinton supporter is Katy Perry.

So much so that it was Hillary who awarded Katy with the Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award for her work as a Unicef ambassador in November 2016. Can she do no wrong?!

10. Zendaya

How many people do you know who would spend their 18th birthday by raising fund for Feed Hungry Children? Zendaya for one.The star also spent her 20th birthday in 2016 by setting up a campaign to raise $50,000 to support Convoy’s Women’s Empowerment Initiative. How selfless!

Let us know the boss female activists you look up to in the comments below!