pioneeringwomen
Juana Inés de Asbaje y Ramírez de Santillana, considered as the first female feminist in América
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Juana Inés de Asbaje, better known as Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, was born on November 12, 1651 in the State of Mexico, Mexico. She was one of the most important intellectuals in Mexico. She wrote poetry, plays and essays. She entered the Order of San Jerónimo to […]
Zaha Hadid, first woman to receive the Pritzker Prize
Zaha Hadid The first woman to receive the Pritzker Prize, and until today the only woman to receive the Gold Medal of the Royal British Institute of Architects. She was born on October 31, 1950 in Iraq, in a high class family. Her mother was an artist and her father was a wealthy industrialist, co-founder […]
Evelyn Miot, the first black woman to reach the top fifteen finalists position in Miss Universe
Evelyn Miot Born in Haiti in 1943. At age 18 she was one of the 15 finalists of the 1962 edition. In her own words she says that her legacy is having been a pioneer for Haiti in Miss Universe. Married for more than 45 years with the Italian, Johnny Camarchioli, they have lived for […]
Viola Desmond, The First Canadian Woman to Appear Alone on a Bank Note ($10 bill)
Viola Desmond She was born in Nova Scotia, Canada on July 6, 1914. Viola grew up in a middle-class mixed-race family, one of ten children of James Albert and Gwendolin Irene DavisOne. When Viola graduated from high school, she worked as a teacher in two racially-segregated schools for Black students. After that period, she was refused admittance […]
Cassie de Pecol, The First Woman on Record to Travel to Every Country in the World
Cassie de Pecol Cassie was born on June 23, 1989 in United States, she grew up educated by her parents through homeschooling before attending public school at 13. She majored in environmental studies in College. At 21 she started her own business and her solo travels where she would live in 9 countries and travel to […]
Gabriela Mistral, The First Latin American Woman To Win The Nobel Prize
Gabriel Mistral December 1945, Lucila Godoy Alcayaga, better known as Gabriela Mistral, received the Nobel Prize for Literature, became the first woman in Latin America to receive this award. She was born in 1889 in a small town in Chile, daughter of a rural teacher who abandoned his family when Gabriela was 3 years old. […]
Zahida Kazmi, First Pakistani Woman Taxi Driver
Zahida Kazmi Zahida is considered the first female taxi driver in Pakistan. She was born in Pakistan, is a single mother, independent worker and fighter. During her childhood, she and her family moved to India where her father owned a successful transportation business. Later, when India and Pakistan separated, the family came back but they were […]
Elsa Avila, The First Latin American Female to Reach the Summit of Mount Everest
Elsa Ávila She is, in her own words, a professional climber, business woman, inspirational speaker, civil engineer, woman and mother of two kids. At the age of 15, she began rock climbing, participating in several expeditions and always adding achievements in ‘Big wall’ ascents in Yosemite, the Rockies, the Alps, the Andes, the Himalayas, Patagonia […]
Emilia Pardo Umaña, The First Female Journalist in Colombia
Emilia Pardo Umaña Born in Colombia in the year of 1907, she had 8 brothers, her only older brother becomes her accomplice and companion in her journalism career. She began her elementary studies at age 8, continued with middle-school and studied nursing, an occupation that was considered appropriate for women. However, Emilia broke stereotypes and […]
Paola Longoria, The First Racquetball Player who won both World Champion in Women’s Singles and Doubles
Paola Longoria López She is a professional racquetball player and studied Engineering at the Autonomous University of Nuevo León. She was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico in 1989. At age 9, she qualified for her first youth world championship and at 18 she won the US Open for the first time. In her sports […]