Name: Misty Copeland
Birthdate: September 10, 1982
Birthplace: New York, United States
Profession: Ballerina
Achievements: She was an African-American girl, passionate
about dance. She got the main role in a ballet company and
the first time she danced in front of the public everybody
was amazed. At the end of the performance, she revealed
that she had six fractures in her leg and had been in pain
during the show. She needed surgery and doctors told her
she could never dance again. But she didn’t accept it. She
went through the surgery and the therapy and worked even
harder to dance in Swam Lake with the American Ballet
Theatre.
Quote: “Sometimes what you’re most afraid of doing is the
very thing that will set you free.”
Name: Astrid Lindgren
Birthdate: November 14, 1907
Birthplace: Vimmerby, Sweden
Profession: Writer
Achievements: She was a rebel girl who was never scared
and could do many different things: fight bullies, clean, fix a
bike, cook, etc. She created a character based on her. Her
name was Pippi Longstocking. When she published the first
Pippi’s book, many adults thought it was a bad influence for
kids but children loved her stories. She was not only a
rebellious girl but showed kids to be independent and
strong, while always caring for others. She published many
different adventures of this strong girl and her books are
nowadays one of the best-loved children books.
Quote: “Children create miracles when they read. That’s why
children need books.”
Name: Millo Castro Zaldarriaga
Birthdate: 1922
Birthplace: Cuba
Profession: Drummer
Achievements: She dreamt of playing the drums but in Cuba
only boys were allowed to play them. But she loved music
and wanted to become a professional drummer so one day,
she convinced her father to take her to a music lesson. The
teacher was so impressed with her skills that he started to
give her lessons every day. Her sister, Cuchito, established
Anacaona, Cuba’s first all-girl dance band and she took ten-
years-old Millo as a drummer. Everybody loved them and
Millo became a world-famous musician and played at an
American president’s birthday when she was only 15.
Quote: “Girls can drum!”
Name: Coy Mathis
Birthdate: 2007
Birthplace: United States
Profession: Elementary school student
Achievements: Coy was born as a boy, but she didn’t feel as
one. She loved the colour pink, dresses and shiny shoes, and
could not stand boys’ clothes. Her parents allowed her to
wear whatever she liked. The doctor told her that she was a
transgender girl. When she started school, teachers said that
she should use the boys’ bathroom or the bathroom for
disabled children. Coy didn’t’ agree, so her parents talked to
a judge about the situation. He said that she should be
allowed to use the bathroom she wanted.
Quote: “I want to go to school. We play games at recess.”
Name: Brenda Chapman
Birthdate: November 1, 1962
Birthplace: Illinois, United States
Profession: Director and animator
Achievements: When she was 15, she asked for a job in Walt
Disney Studios and they told her to get back in touch when
she was older. That’s what she did. She studied Arts and
started to work on animated films for Disney, but she was
one of the few woman animators there. She decided to
change Disney and create a movie with a strong female
protagonist who would be a fantastic archer, could fight
bears and live amazing adventures. Merida would be a brave
red-haired female princess, just like Brenda’s daughter, so
she called her Brave. Brenda won an Oscar for the movie.
Quote: “Girls need strong, better role models, not just a
pretty face that waits around for romance.”
Name: Lakshmi Bai
Birthdate: November 19, 1828
Birthplace: Jhansi, India
Profession: Writer
Achievements: She studied self-defense, archery,
weightlifting, sword fighting, wrestling and was a brilliant
horse rider. She married the Maharaja of Jhansi, became
queen, and had a child with him but the boy died young. Her
husband didn’t overcome the death of his son and he killed
himself. The British wanted to rule Jhansi and they forced
Lakshmi to leave the palace. She assembled an army of
20,000 rebels and fought against the English. Her army lost
the battle but she didn’t give up. The queen rejoined her
forces and led them into the battle, dressed as a man.
Quote: “Charge!”