Editor's Letter: March 2026

Every year on March 8th, the world marks International Women’s Day, a global day of celebration for women’s social, economic, cultural and political achievements and a call to accelerate gender parity. It’s a moment to spotlight how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go.

But if I’m honest, there’s a part of me that bristles at the idea of slotting women’s contributions into a single calendar day. Why one day? Why not every day? Women don’t pause their achievements or their struggles because the date flips on a calendar, and many would argue that celebrating equality only once a year feels almost symbolic rather than substantive. For some, International Women’s Day is even reduced to marketing moments or performative gestures that don’t translate into real change the other 364 days of the year.

Perhaps its the tension between celebration and expectation that makes stories like Eileen Gu’s recent viral interview so relevant. After winning two silver medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics and becoming the most decorated female freestyle skier in history, Gu was asked whether she saw her results as “two silvers gained or two golds lost.” Her response, calling the framing “a ridiculous perspective,” asserted that every medal is the result of hard-earned performance. She pushed back against the notion that anything short of “gold” is a loss, striking a chord precisely because it illustrates how women (in sport and beyond) are too often judged not just on what they achieve, but on how they meet expectations placed on them.

So in spite of all this, this day does matter. With all its limitations, International Women’s Day gives collective focus to issues that are often ignored and celebrate those obstacles that have been overcome. That’s exactly why at Citizen Femme, we don’t just honour women once a year. We keep women’s stories, perspectives and voices in the everyday conversation, from celebration to inspiration. We amplify women who are shaping culture, leadership, creativity, and community in ways that stretch far beyond a single date on the calendar.

And this month, we kick off with a girl’s night in! With all its celebration, sometimes we just need our girls. Chelsea Peers and CF HQ have come together to celebrate lounging and bonding at Charlotte Street Hotel to launch their new Clubhouse Collection. We profiled Kulsum Shadab Wahab, Founder of Ara Lumiere, talking about her work with acid survivors; we travelled into the world of Agnès B, the woman who taught Paris how to dress; we profiled Sara Bowcutt in her role as managing director at Women for Women International UK and her daily work alongside female survivors of war; and, went into Chantelle Nicholson‘s kitchen, chef-owner of London’s Apricity who holds the coveted title of being the first female chef to receive a Michelin Green Star. Plus, we tell you the truth behind fasting, we go to the ‘happiness hotel’, we talk fertility travel, and we travel to Uganda, Malaga, Indonesia, Mexico, and St Tropez.

So yes, March 8th is special, a day for visibility, solidarity and action. But let’s also remember, every day is International Women’s Day if we choose to make it so.

Love,