Women continue to make history, especially as we further establish ourselves in male-dominated fields. But let’s be clear: We have always been trailblazers.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we are remembering women who achieved some fantastic “firsts” over the past 150 years – women who paved the way for others by disrupting the man-made status quo. Below, you’ll find inspirational, thoughtful words from 11 such women, and learn a bit more about the history they made.

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 ‘Queen of Salsa Music’ Becomes First Afro-Latina on U.S. Quarters

1

Sen. Tammy Baldwin. (Credit: AFGE, Flickr)

“Our constitutional liberties shall not be sacrificed in our search for greater security, for that is what our enemies and all enemies of freedom and democracy hope to achieve.” – Sen. Tammy Baldwin

Tammy Baldwin made history by becoming the first openly gay senator in the U.S. She served as a Wisconsin State Representative for seven consecutive terms until 2013, when she was elected to the state Senate. While in office, she has prioritized statewide educational reform, as well as student debt relief and college accessibility.

2

Director Kathryn Bigelow. (Credit: David Shankbone, Wikimedia Commons)

“If there's specific resistance to women making movies, I just choose to ignore that as an obstacle for two reasons: I can't change my gender, and I refuse to stop making movies.” – Kathryn Bigelow

Famed director Kathryn Bigelow is the first woman to ever receive a Best Director Oscar, which she won at the 2008 Academy Awards for her work on “The Hurt Locker.” Since then, only two other women have won it — Chloe Zhao in 2021, and Jane Champion in 2022. While subsequent years of Oscar nominations have largely left out women directors altogether, Bigelow’s achievement helped fuel the ongoing push for more female representation in all categories at major Hollywood awards ceremonies.

3

Performer Aretha Franklin. (Credit: Mike Bouchard, Flickr)

“We all require and want respect, man or woman, Black or white. It’s our basic human right.” – Aretha Franklin

Undisputed Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 – the only woman to receive that distinction up to that point. She is still regarded as one of the most influential recording artists of all time, with multiple chart-topping hits such as “Respect” — probably her most successful song — “Chain of Fools,” “I Say a Little Prayer” and “(You Make Me Feel) Like a Natural Woman.” By 2009, she had won 18 Grammys and had sung at three presidential inaugurations, among myriad other accomplishments.

4

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. (Credit: Deb for Congress)

“We must shift our thinking away from short-term gain toward long-term investment and sustainability, and always have the next generations in mind with every decision we make.” – Deb Haaland

Deb Haaland was the first Native American woman to serve as a cabinet secretary. Prior to her 2021 appointment to the office of U.S. Secretary of the Interior, she became the first Native American woman to lead a state party in 2014 when she became New Mexico’s Lieutenant Governor. As Secretary of the Interior, Haaland was focused on preserving the nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage. Now, she’s running to be New Mexico’s next governor.

5

Vice President Kamala Harris. (Credit: GPA Photo Archive on Flickr)

“To the children of our country, regardless of your gender, our country has sent you a clear message: Dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see yourself in a way that others might not see you, simply because they’ve never seen it before. And we will applaud you every step of the way.” – Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris was the first woman to serve as Vice President of the United States. That’s not all – she’s also the first Black and first South-Asian Vice President in American history. And she was, of course, the first woman of color to secure the Democratic nomination for President in 2024. Before joining President Joe Biden’s team, Harris served as District Attorney of San Francisco, Attorney General of California and as a U.S. Senator.

6

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

“Girls, I know it has not been easy, as I have tried to navigate the challenges of juggling my career and motherhood. And I fully admit I did not always get the balance right. But I hope that you’ve seen that with hard work, determination and love, it can be done.” – Ketanji Brown Jackson

Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court was an historic one — she is now the first Black woman to serve in the highest court in the country. She was nominated by the Biden administration and confirmed in 2022. Jackson rallied significant support from respected organizations such as the NAACP.

7

Former Rep. Patsy Mink. (Credit: J Kurnow, Flickr)

“We self-righteously expect all others to admire us for our democracy and our traditions. We are so smug about our superiority, we fail to see our own glaring faults, such as prejudice and poverty amidst affluence.” – Patsy Mink

Patsy Mink was the first woman of color elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and the first Asian-American woman to serve in the U.S. Congress. As a Hawaii native, Mink jumped at the opportunity to serve when Hawaii officially became a state in 1959. She earned a seat in the Hawaii State Senate in 1962 before winning a new position in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1964. Mink was a strong supporter of gender and racial equality, and an especially strong voice behind landmark legislation such as Title IX. Her work in government continued until her death in 2002.

8

Actress Rita Moreno. (Mitchell Weinstock, Flickr)

“It is through art that we will prevail and we will endure. It lives on after us and defines us as people.” – Rita Moreno

Rita Moreno changed the film game for Latino people in America. She became the first Latina woman to win an Academy Award for her portrayal of Anita in the 1961 film “West Side Story.” Moreno is also an EGOT winner — meaning that she has won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards — and earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George Bush in 2004. She continues to perform, in roles such as Valentina in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake of “West Side Story” and in the 2023 comedy “80 for Brady.”

9

Frances Perkins. (Penn State Special Collections, Flickr)

“The people are what matter to the government, and a government should aim to give all the people under its jurisdiction the best possible life.” – Frances Perkins

In 1933, Frances Perkins became the first woman to hold a position in a presidential office as the Secretary of Labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She was said to be the “driving force” behind the New Deal. In interviews, Perkins recalled resisting her family’s encouragement to take a teaching position, as many women in New England did at the time. She instead paved the way for future women to assume top roles in government, including first-ever woman Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

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Coach Katie Sowers. (@katesowers5, Instagram)

“It’s awesome being the first, but what I keep saying is that it’s more important that I’m not the last.” – Katie Sowers

Football is an especially male-dominated sport. Yet change is slowly occurring, and not just because of the Taylor Swift effect. The league hired its first woman and openly gay coach in Katie Sowers, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers. She even became the first woman to take a team to the Super Bowl in February 2020. Sowers had always loved football, but had never seen a woman coach in the NFL before landing a role herself. She now works at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Ontario.

11

Author Edith Wharton. (WBUR Boston NPR, Flickr)

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” – Edith Wharton

Edith Wharton won a Pulitzer Prize in Fiction — formerly known as the “Novel Prize” — for “The Age of Innocence” in 1921, making her the first woman to ever do so. The novel was adapted into film in 1993, and starred respected actors like Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfiffer and Winona Ryder. In 2020, the book and subsequent film were both honored at Wharton’s historic home, The Mount — which now is a cultural center — as part of marking the novel’s 100th anniversary.

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Inspiring Quotes From 10 Iconic Black Women

Editor’s Note: This post, updated for 2026, was originally published March 8, 2023.

The post Inspiring Quotes from 11 Iconic Women Who Made History appeared first on The Story Exchange.

Today, we mark Indigenous People’s Day, a celebration created in 1992 to honor the culture and contributions of Indigenous people. 

They certainly comprise a mighty, if small – but growing – portion of America’s national startup scene. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, Native Americans own 402,582 businesses throughout the U.S. as of 2024, and employ 307,933 individuals. The women among them have used their ingenuity to build firms that make lives easier, save the world (a little), and sell damn good food.

In honor of their great work, we’re reflecting upon six innovative Indigenous women business owners whose work and wisdom have inspired us.

Related

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1

Virtual Gurus founder Bobbie Racette. (Credit: Virtual Gurus)

Bobbie Racette (Cree-Métis) – Virtual Gurus

Bobbie Racette made history as the first Indigenous woman to close a Series A funding round of over $8 million for her company, Virtual Gurus. Since starting up, Racette has taken Virtual Gurus’ value from $300 in 2016 to over $40 million, she says. Run with a team of dozens of employees – most of them from underrepresented groups – Virtual Gurus provides remote technical assistance to clients from its Calgary headquarters.

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Teara Fraser (Cree-Métis) – Iskwew Air

Aviator Teara Fraser founded Iskwew Air in 2016. The name Iskwew Air comes from the Cree word for “woman” – making it a fitting moniker for the first Indigenous woman-owned airline. In an interview with Bust Magazine, Fraser called the name, and her work, “a reclamation of womanhood, a reclamation of matriarchal leadership, a reclamation of language.”

3

Tribal Tech founder Victoria Vasques. (Credit: CSUF Photos, Flickr)

Victoria Vasques (Diegueño) – Tribal Tech

Victoria Vasques’ Tribal Tech is an Alexandria, Virginia, management services company that works with government agencies and tribes to provide training and tech assistance, event coordination and more to customers. Vasques also owns Cowan & Associates, a unit of Tribal Tech that provides management consulting services in the national security and public sectors, and has a history of over 30 years in public service.

4

Cheekbone Beauty founder Jenn Harper. (Credit: Jenn Harper's Instagram account)

Jenn Harper (Anishinaabe) – Cheekbone Beauty

A descendant of the Anishinaabe people in Canada, Jenn Harper founded Cheekbone Beauty, a line of beauty products specifically for Indigenous people that are cruelty-free and environmentally friendly. The Ontario-based company’s path to sustainability employs a mix of “western culture and Indigenous wisdom” to help protect the planet. In addition, Cheekbone has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to various causes that support Indigenous women. 

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Her Braids founder Sunshine Tenasco. (Credit: Her Braids' Instagram account)

Sunshine Tenasco (Anishinaabe) – Her Braids

Sunshine Tenasco launched her company, Her Braids, to raise funds to provide clean drinking water for First Nations communities in Canada. Tenasco is Anishinaabe, and her priorities lie in supporting the First Nation home she grew up in. She and her team have always sold bead pendants and necklaces representing Anishinaabe cultures. But the company, with headquarters in Quebec, expanded to include apparel and accessories such as stickers, hats and t-shirts.

6

Dana Thompson (Dakota) – Owamni

Dana Thompson, former co-owner of Indigenous eatery Owamni and founder of social impact brand Heti, believes ancestral foods have the power to do more than just taste good. The restaurant features food on its “decolonized” menu that is prepared with ingredients commonly used by Native Americans long before European settlers came along. Her low-dose THC beverages continue that mission. While the scars of historical injustice can never fully be erased, Thompson and others believe such culinary work can help restore some of what was lost.

Related

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This article, originally published in October 2022, has been updated for 2025.

The post Meet 6 Innovative Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs appeared first on The Story Exchange.

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time for supporting and honoring the one in eight U.S. women grappling with the disease – as well as the many who have lost their lives to it.

Each year, roughly 317,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer, and about 42,000 lose their lives. The famous are not exempt. An example: Katie Couric, celebrated journalist and founder of Katie Couric Media, shared in 2022 that she had been fighting breast cancer, less than 2 months after the death of singer and activist Olivia Newton-John. 

Prominent women who have battled the disease, like Couric and John, often use their platforms to spread knowledge and discuss the intricacies of their stories, so that others might be informed and empowered. Below, we’ve gathered quotes from nine high-profile breast cancer survivors – wise words on everything from the value of check-ups and openness, to the power of finding strength in others and caring for oneself.

1

Actress Christina Applegate. (Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr)

"I'm getting used to the new me, my new body."

Longtime actress Christina Applegate offered this bit of insight to Elle magazine while discussing her experience with breast cancer, noting that changes happen both inside and out when one survives such an ordeal – and that both shifts should be honored. It’s one of many interviews she’s given about her numerous health struggles over the years, having also openly talked about the experience of living with multiple sclerosis.

2

Celebrated journalist Katie Couric. (Credit: Joella Marano, Flickr)

“To reap the benefits of modern medicine, we need to stay on top of our screenings, advocate for ourselves, and make sure everyone has access to the diagnostic tools that could very well save their life.”

In a post about her diagnosis, Couric recounts how even she – a known cancer advocate – was six months late scheduling her annual mammogram. She has also focused attention on the inequities of breast cancer research and treatment for women of color, who have a 40% higher mortality rate. Couric and organizations such as Black Women’s Health Imperative, which has partnered with Mary J. Blige, who lost her aunt to breast cancer, are promoting research and awareness for the disease for Black women in particular.

3

Journalist and entrepreneur Giuliana Rancic. (Credit: Walt Disney Television, Flickr)

"When I hear women say they got their first mammogram or they do breast checks more regularly because of my story, I am reminded that sharing [it] was absolutely the right decision.”

In a personal essay for E! Online, journalist and entrepreneur Giuliana Rancic shared her journey toward surviving breast cancer, and how opening up has inspired other women to stay alert. She was diagnosed at age 36 – a relatively young age to develop the disease – during a routine mammogram for IVF process treatments. She ultimately had a double mastectomy and had to take medication daily for five years – all while trying to start a family. She recalled not feeling inherently different for a long while, which is why she launched “Fab-U-Wish” – a program that grants wishes to women going through breast cancer, so that they can feel like themselves “if even for a moment.”

4

Actress Olivia Munn. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

“It comes at you, and you have no choice but to face it head-on.”

While speaking with People magazine, actress Olivia Munn had those words to say about her experience with an especially aggressive form of breast cancer. “You realize cancer doesn’t care who you are. It doesn’t care if you have a baby or if you don’t have time,” she added. Munn underwent an equally aggressive course of treatment that included surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Though it was hard, “I feel grateful that I was given the opportunity to fight,” she added.

5

Actress Krysta Rodriguez. (Credit: @krysta_rod on Instagram)

“It's a gift, in a way, to have one sort of goal. And it’s a goal that everyone can get behind.”

Actress Krysta Rodriguez was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 30, even younger than Rancic. She recalls in an interview with Playbill being grateful for her support team – her family – helping her achieve the ultimate goal: Fight cancer and survive. Indeed, solidarity is crucial to Rodriguez, who is considered a “Breast Cancer Warrior” as she continues to research and awareness. She even hosted a benefit concert for ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis in New York City.

6

Co-Founder of The Home Edit Clea Shearer. (Credit: @cleashearer on Instagram)

“Self-examining is the best thing you can possibly do and it costs nothing. Self-examining is what saved me.”

Clea Shearer, co-founder of organization services company The Home Edit, was diagnosed with breast cancer after she felt an unfamiliar lump in her breast during a self-examination. Because she discovered her cancer by self-exam, she told People magazine she hopes to alert women to always check themselves, in addition to regular screenings. “If I can make my cancer purposeful, [I want to] have people understand that if you feel anything amiss, you have to say something,” she said.

7

Actress Kathy Bates. (Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr)

“I’m doing something real, something truly worthwhile. When I go to sleep at night, I think ‘I did something good today’ and I feel better about everything.”

Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates shared with PracticalPainManagement.com that while she survived breast cancer after undergoing a double mastectomy in 2012, she then suffered from lymphedema, a common side effect of the surgery. It caused painful swelling in both of her arms, affecting her ability to use them for everyday activities. Since then, she has been a strong advocate for lymphedema awareness, becoming the spokeswoman for Lymphatic Education & Research Network and helping the organization raise thousands of dollars with events such as the California Run/Walk to Fight Lymphedema & Lymphatic Diseases.

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Good Morning America Anchor Robin Roberts. (Credit: Anders Krusberg)

“If stories of survival are not comforting, they will be in time. It’s okay to be selfish. Give yourself a break. Those of us who have been through it know that it is about you, and it’s okay.”

Beloved “Good Morning America” anchor Robin Roberts opened up to Cancer Connect about her diagnosis, and subsequent survival, of breast cancer in 2007. She shared her journey openly on GMA to provide awareness and reveal what her time has been like fighting the disease. Years later, in February 2022, Roberts shared that her partner, Amber Laign, was also diagnosed with breast cancer. Roberts’ role as a survivor-turned-caregiver helped her better understand the need for self-preservation and care for all involved.

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Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

"I'm very happy to be alive."

This simple statement of gratitude, offered by beloved performer Julia Louis-Dreyfus during an interview with Today.com, is born of the grim reality that not everyone survives a cancer diagnosis. “I hate to have to think about it,” the award-winner added of that truth. But since learning about her cancer in 2017, and undergoing treatment that put her career on pause, she has cultivated an appreciation for the preciousness of life.

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(This article, first published Oct. 10, 2022, has been updated for 2025. Candice Helfand-Rogers contributed to the writing of this listicle.)

The post 9 Thought-Provoking Quotes from Influential Breast Cancer Survivors appeared first on The Story Exchange.

Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty line sells makeup, which is made without animal-derived ingredients and byproducts. (Credit: Selena Gomez, rarebeauty.com)

National Hispanic Heritage Month is officially underway. Throughout this month, we’re called to honor people with roots in Latin America and Spain who have helped the U.S. flourish – quite literally, in the case of Latina entrepreneurs.

According to the 2024 Wells Fargo Impact of Women-Owned Businesses report, there are 2 million Latina-owned businesses in the U.S., which collectively employ over 845,000 and generate $175.2 billion in revenue. Those numbers are poised to keep growing, as Latina entrepreneurs launch roughly 400 new businesses per day, research by American Express shows.

Honoring Latina women – celebrating their achievements and appreciating their contributions to our economy and culture – takes on new importance as President Donald Trump and his fellow conservatives ramp up harmful anti-immigration policies and sentiments. One example: Just this week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing law enforcement to racially profile individuals based solely on superficial factors, such as the color of their skin or the language they’re speaking.

That’s why we’ve compiled these thoughtful quotes from 10 successful Latina women entrepreneurs and business leaders – to elevate their voices, showcase their wisdom and appreciate what they have given to this nation through their presence, creativity and hard work.

Related

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1

“Don’t fight back that rhetoric with words, but with actions.”

In 2012, Paty Funegra founded La Cocina VA (now called Kitchen of Purpose), a community kitchen that offers culinary education to Latin-Americans. As anti-immigration sentiment became amplified by President Donald Trump, Funegra became even more committed to helping the most vulnerable. Her quote is a testament to her belief that fighting back with the same hurtful speech won’t do the community any good.

2

Selena Gomez at the 2024 Golden Globes. (Credit: IHeartRadioCA YouTube video, Wikimedia Commons)

“Being rare is about being comfortable with yourself. I've stopped trying to be perfect. I just want to be me.”

Selena Gomez was already an accomplished actor and award-winning artist with millions of followers on Instagram. Then, in 2020, she entered the world of entrepreneurship — naming her product Rare Beauty. Gomez’s beauty line sells makeup made without animal-derived ingredients and byproducts. Sustainability is woven into the packaging, too, which is 100% recyclable. 

3

Co-Founder of EBY Renata Black. (Credit: EBY)

“The nutty thing about success is that it is an ever-changing goal.”

EBY, a company that sells seamless, comfortable underwear for every body type, has won fans, followers and accolades thanks to its co-founders, Renata Black and Sofia Vergara. Ten percent of EBY’s sales are donated to women in poverty in the form of micro-finance infusions, giving women the opportunity to start their own businesses. The company counts numerous celebrities and influencers among its customer base, and says it has empowered thousands of women and girls to take charge of their financial freedom. This quote speaks to the power of keeping one’s mind open, and their work shows how impactful a multi-pronged approach can be.

4

Founder and COO of The Honest Company Jessica Alba. (Credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images for TechCrunch)

“When you come from people having zero expectations of who you could be, there’s a fearlessness; you can only go up from there.”

The Honest Company, created by actress-turned-entrepreneur Jessica Alba, provides baby, beauty and home products. In interviews with NBC’s “Today” and other media outlets, Alba has said people doubted her abilities to build a successful business when she first started up. While the company has weathered lawsuits over the years related to how its ingredients are labeled, Alba seems to have exceeded expectations. The Honest Company is now a public company making close to $400 million in revenue each year.

5

Beautyblender founder Rea Ann Silva. (Credit: @reaannsilva on Instagram)

“You have to embrace – not fear – the challenges. Dream, be fearless, and follow through.”

Fun fact: Makeup artist Rea Ann Silva was featured in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History as the original inventor of the egg-shaped Beautyblender sponge used by makeup professionals and everyday consumers (and replicated by many leading cosmetic companies). She rose to popularity by being one of the first makeup artists to adapt and understand ethnic skins. Her brand has grown since its start, now producing cruelty-free beauty blenders, makeup, facial cleansers and other makeup accessories.

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Co-Founder of Cooler Cleanse and Blend It Yourself Salma Hayek. (Credit: Harald Krichel)

“I’m making a commitment to my health and hitting the reset button.”

Back in 2008, actress Salma Hayek began partnering with New York chain Juice Generation to create two juice cleanse brands: Cooler Cleanse and Blend it Yourself. Hayek, who grew up in Mexico, has credited her grandmother with instilling in her the concept that beauty starts in the kitchen and swears (on Juice Generation’s site) that juicing is one of the most important tools in her beauty regimen. Hayek works with expert Eric Helms to create the blends.

7

“We hope, 50 years from now, the food system is totally different.”

This quote speaks to the ambition of Tatiana Garcia-Granados, who seeks to fix the nation’s broken food distribution system. Years ago, she was upset by the lack of healthy food in her high-crime Philadelphia neighborhood, and took action by developing The Common Market. The nonprofit connects family farms to schools, hospitals and workplaces to bring nutritious foods to local communities. While it began in Philadelphia, The Common Market has expanded far beyond city limits and into other U.S. regions.

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Geisha Williams has since left her role at PG&E and was appointed to the Artera Services board of directors in 2021. (Credit: PR Newswire, Artera Services)

“I'd like to see a world where there are so many Latina women leaders – and women of all different backgrounds – in the top jobs around the country. When that happens, we've succeeded.”

As an accomplished business woman, Geisha Williams fully knows what it’s like to be a trailblazer. The Cuban native was the first in her family to graduate from college, earning a degree in engineering from the University of Miami. She then went on to serve as CEO and president of the Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), making her the first Latina of a Fortune 200 company. That’s not easy when the statistical odds were stacked against her, with Latina women only making up 1% of top management positions. Yet, working in a space dominated by men — with some seeing her as an outsider — Williams preserved and took the high road: “I didn’t let them bully me,” she told Time Magazine. “I just took it in and decided to respond very professionally and respectfully.

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Julissa Prado (Credit: Julissa Prado, LinkedIn)

I am a believer that what is meant to be will be. As long as I walk in my purpose, the right doors will open.”

As a child, Julissa Prado was often made fun of for having curly hair. It wasn’t until high school that she started embracing her hair, rather than feeling ashamed of it — and that ultimately led her to a successful beauty career. In 2017, Prado launched Rizos Curls, a haircare line with products to strengthen and maintain curly hair. Within only the first two years of launching her brand, she generated $1 million in sales, she told the Awakened-Woman digital site. Prado’s business has been 100% self-funded since its beginning  — a testament to her entrepreneurial spirit.

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“I knew I wanted to reflect my culture in my brand because it is what truly inspires me and pushes me forward.”

Troubled by the lack of Latina voices in news, Marivette Navarrete in 2018 launched The Mujerista, a digital publication that shares Latinas’ stories along with tools, resources and support. It’s a venture she solely funds and operates. Having a background in social media marketing, she also established the “M Space,” a safe place for women to connect and share their stories, and aims “to broaden our message to all women who feel left out of the conversation,” she told Forbes in 2019. What propelled Navarette was her ability to take risks. “Don’t hesitate,” she said, giving advice to aspiring entrepreneurs. “Just go for it.”

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(This post, originally published Sept. 15, 2023, has been updated for this year’s National Hispanic Heritage Month.)

The post 10 Inspirational Quotes From Impressive Latina Entrepreneurs appeared first on The Story Exchange.

Stress is natural – but if it’s not acknowledged or managed, it can be debilitating to one’s everyday life. 

Unfortunately, there is much to be stressed about, at present – two out of every three adults (66%) told the American Psychological Association that the current political climate is a significant source of stress in their lives.

Their research also shows that 27% of Americans said they were so stressed out, they had trouble functioning. And, some 75% blamed their stress for physical issues such as headaches, extreme fatigue and nausea, as well as mental health complications like anxiety and depression. 

We’ve rounded up six ways to manage it all, along with examples of women-owned companies that are offering new methods to restore well-being and calmness in these fraught times.

Related

As Anxiety Rates Soar, More Startups Promise a Way to Chill

1. Take care of your physical health.

It may seem like a no-brainer, but one of the best ways to keep stress at bay is by exercising. This can mean anything from walking and jogging, to gardening – anything that gets you active, really. “Virtually any form of physical activity can act as a stress reliever,” says the Mayo Clinic, adding that exercise pumps up your endorphins and other natural, neural feel-good chemicals. Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains also helps.   

Women-owned companies in the well-space abound, including Tone It Up, founded by Karena Dawn and Katrina Scott, which provides fitness programs, nutritional supplements (its protein powders are sold at Target) and a space to connect with other women to keep you motivated. And for better eating habits, there are services like Sunbasket. Co-founded by San Francisco chef Justine Kelly, Sunbasket is a meal kit delivery service with recipes and supplies for healthy, home-made meals. The company also says it watches its carbon footprint. 

2. Attend therapy or counseling sessions regularly.

Therapy can be beneficial for anyone, even those who don’t have a mental health disorder. After Covid lockdowns, many therapy services have adjusted to offer virtual services, making it easier than ever to attend regular sessions by phone or via video calls. 

E-Therapy Cafe, founded by Dr. Jude Black, aims to make therapy more accessible and available when it’s needed most. After working with military officers and families through a former company called Cope Today, Black developed her own company to offer virtual services for various counseling needs. 

3. Practice meditation.

Meditation is another common way to manage stress, as it focuses on relaxing the mind. It’s been practiced for thousands of years, but of course there are new ways to find your zen. 

After taking time off to focus on her own mental health, tennis star Naomi Osaka partnered with the workplace wellness platform Modern Health to narrate free audio meditations. And Women’s Meditation Network, founded by podcaster Katie Krimitsos, is another free, online source for guided meditations. There are eight podcasts for different meditation focuses, and a YouTube channel with more. The company strives to create meditations that “speak to the woman’s soul.”

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5 Stress Management Tips from Our World-Weary Team

4. Keep a journal.

There are many ways to journal that can benefit your mental health and relieve stress — daily affirmations, venting, writing out gratitude, manifestation and more. For those new to journaling and don’t know where to begin, there are many guided journals or mental health workbooks to get started.

“The No Worries Workbook,” written by author and social media strategist Molly Burford, offers 124 lists, activities and prompts to “get out of your head and get on with your life.” Wellness publication Shape.com listed the “No Worries Workbook” as the best guided journal for stress in 2023. Shape.com’s best overall journal is “Zen as F*ck,” written by Monica Sweeney. Sweeney wrote the book to “turn toxic positivity on its head” by providing “cathartic” methods of venting and gratitude journaling. And “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron will also help you engage with your inner artist while chilling out.

5. Maintain a routine.

Maintaining a schedule or planning your day out in the mornings can also help prevent stressors. Writing in a physical planner — not your online Google Calendar — can help you remember all of the things you need to do that day, week, month or year, and it allows you to take a break from your screens, even just for 10 minutes. Plus, many planners have different focuses, including self-care, mindfulness and physical activity.

Simple Self, founded by entrepreneur Marylyn Davis, offers planners for more than just writing out your schedule. Davis said she was looking for a daily planner that allowed her to make goals for self-care, gratitude and mental wellness, so she created Simple Self to do just that. Similarly, Free Period Press, a self-care stationery and blogging company founded by Lora DiFranco, sells planners with self-care focuses, workbooks and habit trackers. It also has adult coloring books, for the days when you just need to get off your phone. 

6. Surround yourself with as much “good” news as you can.

The news cycle has been be ugly, to say the least. Constantly reading or hearing about the worst things happening in the world can seriously be detrimental to one’s mental health. But there are positive things happening in the world, too. 

Wondermind, a mental fitness platform started by Selena Gomez in partnership with her mother, has an email newsletter that brings articles on mental wellness to your inbox. The content includes interviews with celebrities and influential people on anxiety, self-love, healing from trauma, meditation practices and more. The Newsette, founded by Daniella Pearson, sends a daily newsletter to your inbox with “engaging and digestible content” – a mixture of beauty and style tips with relevant news for women intended to “make women across the globe feel more powerful every single day.”

This post, originally published May 1, 2023, has been updated for 2025.

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With so much uncertainty in the world, it’s no wonder that people are turning to the stars, planets and moon for guidance. 

Four-in-ten Americans believe in psychics and the presence of spiritual energy in physical objects like mountains or trees, and about 30% subscribe to astrological beliefs, Pew Research has found. That’s translating into big business, with the U.S. psychic industry expected to reach $2.3 billion in revenue in 2024, according to research firm IBISWorld. 

Believers – or perhaps just the “star-curious” – are trying a number of mobile apps that promise everything from hyper-personalized horoscopes to moon-phase trackers. One of the most popular apps, Co–Star, has secured $21 million in investments over the years. Despite skepticism from the scientific community, modern astrology continues to soar.

Many of the leading astrology apps were founded by women entrepreneurs, and count young women in particular as a key part of their demographic. Here are six that bring the stars to your fingertips.

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Astrology Zone, founded by Susan Miller. (Credit: AstrologyZone.com)

1. Astrology Zone Horoscope

Fashion writer and astrologer Susan Miller founded AstrologyZone.com in 1995, offering blog posts about love, relationships, and life — and how the zodiac affects them all. Miller has since expanded her brand by launching Astrology Zone Horoscope, an app that provides your sun sign’s daily and monthly horoscopes with articles to help users learn the basics of astrology (including what your “sun sign” is) and how  to use it. The app is basically a portable version of the original site, so you can easily use its resources on the go.

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Chani, founded by Chani Nicholas. (Credit: ChaniNicholas.com)

2. Chani

Chani Nicholas started a career in astrology in 2015 with only a newsletter and a budding Instagram account. Now, she has over 606,000 followers on Instagram, a New York Times bestselling book, a podcast and a mobile app. With roughly one million users, the Chani app is essentially a one-stop-shop for Nicholas’s services. It includes a comprehensive and easy-to-understand breakdown of the user’s birth chart; a daily, weekly and yearly horoscope; moon phases; guided meditations and affirmations; and a link to shop her products.

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Co—Star, founded by Band Guler. (Credit: Costarastrology.com)

3. Co—Star

Founded by Banu Guler, Co-Star’s black-and-white visual model was designed to target Millennials, but has been a hit among Gen Z as well. The app uses AI technology, NASA data and “human astrologers” to provide daily horoscopes and extensive run-downs of each user’s birth chart. Co-Star’s unique ability, however, is its social media component. Users can connect with friends on the app and look at their compatibility, other people’s birth charts, and tips from the stars on how to communicate with your friends IRL.

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Moonly, founded by Olga Ramora. (Credit: Moonly.app)

4. Moonly

The app Moonly tracks moon phases to provide a similar experience to daily horoscopes. It offers daily self-care recommendations based on where the moon is in its phase (waxing, waning, etc.) and which sign it’s in. These practices go beyond western astrology, which is based on practices of the Sun, by using Vedic astrology — or Hindu astrology, one of the oldest astrological practices that originated in India. Founder Olga Ramora discovered Vedic practices while looking for a way to handle her mental health issues. Moonly’s mission is to combine astrology with psychology, “making lives of thousands of people better.” The app offers daily readings, as well as daily affirmations, a daily tarot card and rune, guided meditations, articles and other self-care practices – all influenced by the moon.

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The Pattern, founded by Lisa Donovan. (Credit: ThePattern.com)

5. The Pattern

YouTuber-turned-astrologer Lisa Donovan created The Pattern to offer a new approach to astrological guidance. She was originally skeptical of all things astrology, so she created The Pattern to offer a platform devoid of astrology jargon, so it can be better understood. Users enter their birth chart and the app generates a unique “pattern” based on their natal chart. The patterns relate to the user’s personal life, relationships and compatibility, and “the significance of various time periods in your life.”

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Stardust, founded by Rachel Moranis. (Credit: Stardust.app)

6. Stardust

Stardust, founded by Rachel Moranis, provides a new way to follow lunar phases while also tracking another cycle — your menstrual cycle. According to its website, “Stardust integrates science, astronomy and artificial intelligence to connect your hormonal cycle with the cycles of larger celestial bodies: the stars, planets, sun and moon.” You can watch how the moon changes as you go through your cycle, as well as follow and interact with friends. It also sends self-care tips based on where you are in your cycle and the lunar phases. The app’s design is also aesthetically pleasing, we must say, and easy to use.

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Editor’s Note: This post, updated for 2025, was originally published Feb. 9, 2023.

The post For Astrology Fans, These 6 Apps Provide Tips, Tricks and Guidance appeared first on The Story Exchange.

The Final Four games in the NCAA women’s March Madness tournament weren’t just exciting – they were also historic.

Viewers tuned in to broadcasts of the basketball games in record-setting numbers, ESPN reported. With an average of 4.5 million viewers each, they were the most-watched Division I women’s basketball semifinal games ever. 

And Sports Illustrated learned that, further back in the tournament, Iowa’s Elite Eight contest against Louisville also drew a record-smashing audience of 2.49 million fans.

“This is the game we love, and seeing it get the recognition it deserves is obviously super rewarding,” Monika Czinano, starting center for Iowa, said to The New York Times. “It’s about time women’s basketball gets this kind of viewership, and it can only go up.”

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She added: “The game is evolving in such a great way. I’m glad you’re tuning in now, but keep it up.”

The matchup between Iowa and South Carolina was especially popular this year, with a reported 5.5 million viewers – 72% higher than the same game in 2022. Iowa guard Caitlin Clark brought in some of that special attention after an impressive month with her team, surprising audiences with a series of “high-scoring feats” throughout March for an otherwise low-scoring team, according to Sports Illustrated. 

In the championship match between Louisiana State University and Iowa, LSU ultimately won the day for the first time in the program’s existence — another historic moment – and star forward Angel Reese was named most outstanding player of the Final Four.

This year’s March Madness saw a shift in in-person support and excitement for the women’s matches, too, that quantifiably bested the men’s – including a record-breaking attendance of over 357,000 fans. This comes despite a rise in ticket prices for the women’s tournament, with admission costs totalling nearly $100 more than seats at men’s games. 

For those on the court, such changes are heartening – but not surprising. As Iowa player Clark told the Times, “When people come and watch and understand the game, they see how fun and how great the product is, and they keep coming back for more.”

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The late science-fiction author Octavia Butler has received numerous honors in her hometown of Pasadena, California — including a middle school named after her. Now, she’s getting a bookstore. 

Octavia’s Bookshelf, which opened in February, is the first and only Black-owned bookstore in Pasadena. The establishment joins the country’s roughly 2,500 independent bookstores, only 6 percent of which are owned by Black Americans.

Its founder, Nikki High, a long-time admirer of Butler’s work, told The Guardian she wants the store to reflect Butler’s values and to carry books by authors of color. The shop also sells a collection of gifts, home products and quirky items that highlight influential Black women literary figures.

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About 200 people from the Pasadena neighborhood and nearby Los Angeles attended the store’s opening weekend. High has received enormous support since writing a tweet about her new venture on New Year’s Eve 2022 that instantly went viral with 5.1 million views and brought in over $22,000 in donations to the store’s GoFundMe. 

High said that without these donations, she wouldn’t have been able to open the bookstore with the freedom she has now. “I wanted [my bookstore] to be completely independent so that I would not have to compromise my values,” she told The Guardian.

The store’s namesake is perhaps best known for “Kindred,” a novel that combines time travel and slave narratives, which was first published in 1979 and recently turned into a Hulu series.

With all the new attention, High is talking about hosting art workshops, educational programs and other events to elevate Black voices.

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Reba McEntire probably wasn’t referring to the sleepy town of Atoka, Oklahoma, when she sang, “Is There Life Out There?” But the answer, thanks to some recent moves by the country legend, is a resounding yes.

McEntire, who grew up in Atoka County, recently partnered with the Choctaw Nation – whose reservation includes Atoka – to rebuild the small town’s life and economic stability, starting with a restaurant. Reba’s Place is a three-story building with Southern food, a stage for live entertainment – including a special performance from the woman herself on the establishment’s opening – and a plethora of McEntire’s merchandise and memorabilia. 

“I thought it was a pipe dream,” McEntire told The New York Times. “You have got to dream big to make it big.” 

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With the help of the Choctaw Nation and an “ambitious” economic development plan, Reba’s Place has already begun to drive more traffic to the town of about 3,000, located just off Highway 69. The goal is that over the next few years, Atoka will open boutique hotels, a waterpark and an airport. The restaurant has already attracted over 500,000 guests since its opening in January, according to the Times, and other businesses in the area report a boost in sales as a direct result.

McEntire was already a legend in Atoka and in the eyes of its residents. For over 30 years, she’s performed benefit concerts for a local medical center, which has since named its rehabilitation center “Reba Rehab.” 

Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton said he “jumped” at the chance to work with her. “Reba is about faith, she is about family, she is about culture,” Batton told the Times. 

Some say Reba’s Place could become the next Dollywood, but McEntire is staying humble. “I don’t know if I could ever touch that,” McEntire said, according to the Times.

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The post Reba McEntire Is Restoring Her Oklahoma Hometown, With Help From the Choctaw Nation appeared first on The Story Exchange.

(Editor’s Note: We are now accepting applications for our 2023 Brilliant Business Ideas list. Submit yours today!)

Around the world, women are still fighting for equality. 

In addition to  the wage gap and the battle over our reproductive rights, female representation in various fields of arts and culture is also suffering. A survey published by the Public Library of Science, or PLOS, found that in the 18 major U.S. museums, 87 percent of artists were men. As of 2018, the National Endowment of the Arts found that less than 25 percent of women playwrights had their plays produced, and in films and television, women receive about half the screen time and dialogue as their male counterparts.

However, women are making headway in their fields, and many are changing the game for the women who will one day follow in their footsteps.

In honor of Women’s History Month, here are 11 women inspiring or creating change in areas of fine art, performing arts, journalism, film and television and more. 

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1619 Project founder Nikole Hannah-Jones. (Credit: MacArthur Foundation)

Nikole Hannah-Jones

Nikole Hannah-Jones is a Pultizer-prize winning journalist responsible for creating the “1619 Project” at the New York Times Magazine. The Project — which became a miniseries on Hulu earlier this year — is an ongoing action reframing American history by placing slavery and the impact of Black Americans at the center. It started as a series of essays written by Hannah-Jones and other writers in August 2019, but it quickly expanded to include a podcast series and books for both children and adults, in addition to the docu-series on Hulu. Hannah-Jones is also a Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism at Howard University. She earned a Pulitzer Prize in 2020 for her essay, “Our Democracy’s founding ideals were false when they were written. Black Americans have fought to make them true.”

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Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey. (Credit: @mega2e, Instagram)

Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey

In 2017, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey published an investigation into the years of sexual misconduct and assault allegations against the infamous movie producer Harvey Weinstein. The story became a catalyst for the #MeToo Movement, especially when it came to workplace harassment. Kantor and Twohey won the Pulitzer Prize in Public Service for their investigation in 2018, published their book “She Said” in 2019 detailing the investigation, and saw it turned into a movie in 2022. Both women continue to write for the New York Times on gender inequality, women’s issues in politics and workplace news.

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Pop art artist Yayoi Kusama. (Credit: Susanne Nilsson, Flickr)

Yayoi Kusama

93-year-old artist Yayoi Kusama changed the American art scene in the 1960s. Her use of polka dots and bright colors sparked the beginning of “pop art,” a common practice used by Andy Warhol and other artists in the 1960s and 1970s. Kusama primarily developed colorful and immersive sculptures and installations, as well as paintings, fashion and video and performance art. Her “happenings,” or performance art installations, explored feminism, minimalism and creativity, as well as her own experiences, such as living with OCD and embracing her sexuality and freedom. Kusama’s work is regularly featured at major galleries and museums, including New York City’s Museum of Modern Art.

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Rapper and flutist Lizzo. (Credit: Andy Witchger, Wikimedia Commons)

Lizzo

Singer-songwriter, rapper and flutist Lizzo has gained a large following over the years, and her influence continues to soar. Her music is empowering — as a “Big Grrrl,” Lizzo sings and raps about her self-love, the power she feels in her body and her journey dealing with the haters who disagree. She continues to make an impact, and not just in music; in 2022, she earned the “People’s Champion” award at the People’s Choice Awards, and dedicated her award to 17 women activists who she thought “deserved the spotlight.” Her success continued, earning an Emmy award in 2022 for her competition show, “Watch Out For the Big Grrrls,” and the “Record of the Year” Grammy for her single “About Damn Time” in 2023.

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Fashion designer Stella McCartney. (Credit: Jaguar Mena, Flickr)

Stella McCartney

English fashion designer Stella McCartney is a longtime animal rights activist and focuses her brand on providing sustainable fashion. Most recently, the company released a parka made entirely of recycled fishing nets and other plastic waste. When the customer is done with the parka, they can return it to a Stella McCartney store or follow other instructions to recycle it so the company can use the materials for other clothing. In addition to her products, McCartney backed The Fashion Act in New York, a bill that, if passed, would require all fashion brands in the state that have an annual global revenue of over $100 million to report their greenhouse gas emissions and chemical management, and energy, water and plastic usage.

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Diane Paulus

Theater and opera director Diane Paulus is best known for “reinventing the classics” on Broadway, directing revivals of well-known works such as the musicals “Pippin,” “Hair,” The Gershwins’ “Porgy and Bess” and the newest gender-bent revival of “1776.” In addition to the various revivals, Paulus also recently directed two Broadway musicals — “Waitress,” based on the 2007 movie of the same name with music by Sara Bareilles, and “Jagged Little Pill,” a new musical made up of songs by Alanis Morissette. Outside of Broadway, Paulus is the artistic director of the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, a well-renowned theater for new works bound for Broadway. Paulus was also one of TIME’s 100 most influential people in 2014.

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Award-winning author Torrey Peters. (Credit: @torreyadora, Instagram)

Torrey Peters

“Detransition, Baby” author Torrey Peters made history in 2021 as the first transgender woman to publish a novel through one of the “big five” publishers, One World. Peters’ debut novel is a fiction story widely reviewed as a “beautiful” exploration of gender, sex, identity, and relationships. The book earned her the 2021 PEN/Hemingway award for debut fiction. Peters newest novel, a collection of four novellas titled “Infect Your Friends and Loved Ones,” will be published by Random House later this year.

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Actress Florence Pugh. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Florence Pugh

27-year-old English actress Florence Pugh has had wild success, developing a reputation for taking on strong feminist roles. In 2019 alone, Pugh starred in three feature films: biographical film “Fighting with My Family,” horror film “Midsommar,” and a remake of the classic “Little Women,” for which she received BAFTA and Academy Award nominations. After leading the psychological thriller “Don’t Worry Darling” last year, Pugh is preparing to star in three more films this year, including the highly anticipated “Dune: Part Two” and “Oppenheimer.” She joined 11 other young stars, including Selena Gomez, Keke Palmer and Ana De Armas, on the cover of Vanity Fair’s “Hollywood Issue,” where they alluded she might be this generation’s Kate Winslet.

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Modern artist Cindy Sherman. (Credit: j-No, Flickr)

Cindy Sherman

Modern artist Cindy Sherman has made a successful career exploring identity through photography. In most of her work, she plays with costumes, props, makeup and other means of guise on her subjects, including herself. In 1977, Sherman debuted her Untitled Film Stills in New York — the installation was a series of photos of herself in different disguises, largely mimicking 20th century “B movies.” She makes her guise imperfect on purpose, highlighting “the artificiality of these fabrications, a metaphor for the artificiality of all identity construction.”

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Musical theater composer Jeanine Tesori. (Credit: @anrizzy, Instagram)

Jeanine Tesori

Jeanine Tesori has made a lasting impression composing on Broadway. In her recent productions, Tesori’s music elevates minority stories, such as Black, Asian-American and LGBTQ+ stories. She and lyricist Lisa Kron became the first all-woman team to win the Tony award for Best Original Score in 2015 for “Fun Home.” The musical was an adaptation of Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel of the same name, a story about her discovering her own sexuality while being raised by a closeted-gay father. Her newest project, “Kimberly Akimbo,” is currently running on Broadway. The story follows Kimberly, a 15-year-old girl who has a rare genetic condition where she ages faster than most people — therefore she is living in the body of a woman in her 70s, played by Broadway veteran Victoria Clark.

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Two-time Emmy award-winning actress Zendaya. (Credit: Walt Disney Television, Flickr)

Zendaya

Zendaya became the youngest actress to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama series — an award she’s now won twice, and is the only Black woman to do so — in 2020 for her role in HBO’s “Euphoria.” She plays Rue Bennett, a teenager recovering from addiction trying to find a place in her world. In 2023, after winning the award for the second time, she thanked the people who are struggling with addiction alongside Rue. “I want to say thank you to everyone who has shared their story with me,” Zendaya started in her recent speech. “I want you to know that anyone who has loved a ‘Rue’ or feels like they are a ‘Rue,’ I carry your stories. I carry them with me and I carry them with her.”

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