This year for International Women’s Day, we’re spotlighting the trailblazing women going above and beyond to make the world a better place.
Across the travel landscape and beyond, these activists, designers, hoteliers and community leaders are using their platforms to drive real change. Take Maryam Montague, a humanitarian, hotelier and designer. The founder of boutique hotel, Peacock Pavilions, Maryam started Project Soar in 2023 with the aim to support thousands of girls across Morocco, Uganda and Syria. Or Kulsum Shadab Wahab, who is on a mission to form a global movement for acid attack survivors through the Hothur Foundation. Then there are the women paving the way in hospitality, such as Chantelle Nicholson of Apricity, the first female chef to receive a Michelin Green Star.
Read on to learn more about the groundbreaking women making an impact so that future generations can follow.
Humanitarian, Hotelier And Designer, Maryam Montague
According to UNESCO data, 129 million girls are out of school globally and, “in countries affected by conflict, girls are more than twice as likely to be out of education.” Humanitarian, hotelier and designer, Maryam Montague, aims to address this with Project Soar, supporting thousands of girls across Morocco, Uganda and Syria for over a decade. In our Female Gaze column, a place to elevate female empowerment and listen to those changing the world, Montague is steadfast in her commitment to supporting the next generation of young girls. Following the programme, 99.5 per cent have avoided child marriage and 100 per cent have pursued higher education, compared to 39.1 per cent nationwide.
Entrepreneur And Activist Shiza Shahid
Entrepreneur and activist Shiza Shahid’s advocacy and entrepreneurial spirit started as a young teenager, when she volunteered at a women’s prison aged 13. Since leaving Pakistan for a scholarship at Stanford University, Shahid’s career has soared. In 2013, at just 22, she – along with Malala Yousafzai – co-founded the Malala Fund, a non-profit which champions and invests in the education of young girls. In 2019, she co-founded Our Place, a hugely successful kitchenware brand rooted in culture and connection, with its first ever shop-in-shop at Selfridges.
Sara Bowcutt, MD Of Women For Women International UK
Passionate about women’s rights, Sarah Bowcutt works tirelessly to make a true and tangible difference to the lives of women the world over. Through Women for Women International UK, she supports women with the skills, knowledge and education – both economic and social – to help transform their future. “We’ve supported more than half a million women, but it’s always the faces and the names of individuals that count,” she says in our column, The Female Gaze. On top of being an advocate for female empowerment, Sara also raises money and awareness for our programmes in places like Afghanistan and Iraq and DRC. Her role is pivotal in making real, tangible change to empower women globally.
Kulsum Shadab Wahab, Founder of Ara Lumiere
Kulsum Shadab Wahab is on a mission to form a global movement with her advocacy and passion to help acid attack survivors. In a recent interview, we spoke to Kulsum about her work with the Hothur Foundation and her purpose-driven brand, Ara Lumiere. While the former focuses on comprehensive rehabilitation, ensuring survivors receive access to reconstructive surgeries, long-term medical care, trauma therapy and psychological support, the latter takes the recovery process a step further. Through Ara Lumiere, acid attack survivors can start again with a creative and fulfilling career in fashion design and crafting handmade garments.
Chantal Khoueiry, Chief Culture Officer At The Bicester Collection
You may know The Bicester Collection for their fabulous shopping villages – but the collection’s work stems far beyond luxury brands and excellent shopping. Behind the scenes, the company’s philanthropic programme, DO GOOD, celebrates women entrepreneurs who are envisioning positive social and environmental change. Headed by Chantal Khoueiry, the programme supports communities locally and globally through charity partnerships, advocacy and innovation. In her role as Chief Culture Officer, Chantal says: “My mission is to make the lives of others better, in how we lead, how we work together, and how people experience being part of The Bicester Collection.”
Meet Agnès B, The Woman Who Taught Paris How To Dress
Bretons, cigarette pants, the perfect straight-leg jeans, fitted cardigans – ‘French girl style’ is instantly recognisable. If you’ve ever wondered who did it first, it was Agnès B who originally paved the way for contemporary French apparel brands. As Ella Alexander, our fashion features editor, writes in her deep dive: “Agnès B walked so Sezane, APC, Maje, Soeur, Sandro and Rouje could run. It was she who originally re-contextualised utilitarian workwear through a style prism; the painter overalls, mechanic jumpsuits and tradesmen dungarees that are now everywhere started their fashion life in her studio.” Over 50 years later, and now in her mid-80s, her business is still family-owned with 242 stores globally.
Chantelle Nicholson Of Apricity
Owner of London’s Apricity, Chantelle Nicholson holds the coveted title of being the first female chef to receive a Michelin Green Star. Originally training as a lawyer in New Zealand, where she’s from, Chantelle relocated to London in 2004 to follow her true calling in food. Since opening Apricity in April 2022, Chantelle has proven to be a formidable force in the hospitality world, championing low-waste cooking and supporting small-scale farmers who provide the restaurant with seasonal, fresh produce from across Britain.
Christina Fuentes Montenegro And The First Female Marines
Christina Fuentes Montenegro was one of the first women to join the marine division of the army, becoming a symbol of progress and freedom for women joining army ranks. The US government’s recent decision to retract a powerful image of her from their official army website is part of a wider campaign to purge diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) content. No matter Trump’s attempts to eradicate or override history, the images were saved in time by Associated Press and online groups like the Data Rescue Project. In our column The Images That Make Us, Marine Tanguy concludes: “Ironically, when you try to destroy images, it means that you take them seriously.”
The Women Making Ice Skating History
When Olympic medallists ice dancers Gabriella Papadakis and Madison Hubbell performed together publicly for the first time in Zurich last year, the images caused a frenzy. Same-sex duos are still rare in the world of ice skating competitions, which is why this moment was so powerful. Marine Tanguy writes in her commentary on the performance: “I have a feeling – and perhaps a lot of hope – that their 2025 show will trigger an array of new styles of performances.” It seems as though it’s already had a knock-on effect, with the UK following suit as of next season.
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