From Lucy Punch to Chappell Roan: these are GH's women to watch this International Women’s Day
What will we be watching, wearing, eating and listening to in 2025? To mark International Women's Day, we predict the 12 women who’ll be leading the way this year...
The TV star: Lucy Punch
There are few things as hilariously relatable as the popular BBC series Motherland, about a mismatched group of school parents. In it, Lucy Punch somehow manages to make her character, Amanda, both infuriating and endearing. There were moments when Lucy brought such humanity to the part that we couldn’t help but root for her – especially after we were introduced to her narcissistic mother, played perfectly by Dame Joanna Lumley.
In her new spin-off series Amandaland, her character – who has already navigated a marriage breakdown and a business launch – is forced to downsize. With her two children in secondary school, Amanda wrangles with modern motherhood dilemmas, including social media, eco-anxiety and teenage drinking – all with her sniping mother in tow. A nightmare for Amanda, but for Lucy, it’s finally time to take the spotlight.
The decluttering expert: Dilly Carter
There are few things more satisfying than unwinding in a clean, organised home, and professional organiser Dilly Carter can help you do exactly that. Dilly is the force behind professional organisers Declutter Dollies, but most will recognise her from Stacey Solomon’s smash-hit show Sort Your Life Out, helping families streamline their homes. She’s written two books, Create Space and Change Your Space. You might have also spotted our very own cover and on The Art Of Decluttering panel at Good Housekeeping Live in November.
After being diagnosed with womb cancer in 2023, Dilly formed a deeper connection with the public by speaking openly about her experience with the disease. “The scars and the daily side-effects are just the physical reminders. The mental effects are with you for ever,” she said on social media. We’re relieved that she’s firmly back on her feet in 2025, and with a brand-new series of Sort Your Life Out. We can’t wait to see what she does next.
The writer: Natasha Brown
“Mind-bending”, “incredible” and ”electrifying” are all words that official reviewers have used to describe the work of novelist Natasha Brown. Natasha’s debut breakout novel, Assembly, about a Black woman dealing with racism in the City, was shortlisted for multiple awards and she was a finalist in the Women’s Prize x Good Housekeeping Futures Awards in 2023. Bernardine Evaristo has praised her “exquisite prose, daring structure and understated elegance”.
This month, Natasha releases her much-anticipated follow-up, Universality (Faber & Faber), about an ambitious journalist trying to find the truth behind the intriguing case of a man found bludgeoned with a solid gold bar. GH books editor Joanne Finney predicts Natasha’s latest novel will “cement her as a really special writer” and be the book everyone will be reading.
The fitness coach: Caroline Idiens
With 25 years’ experience as a personal trainer behind her and an army of 2 million dedicated followers in tow, fitness guru Caroline Idiens is a force to be reckoned with. She offers online course subscriptions to help clients build strength from home, as well as free workout classes via her website.
Through easy-to-follow social videos, she provides tips to millions with short, straightforward routines that anyone can try. Now, Caroline is releasing her debut book, specifically targeted at midlife women. Fit At 50 (DK RED) promises to be a bible for achieving a "stronger, fitter and happier" life – and all in just six weeks. Ready to overhaul your health and fitness in 2025? Caroline might just hold the golden ticket to your success.
The singer: Chappell Roan
Few in pop history have catapulted to sudden stardom quite like Chappell Roan – the alter ego of Kayleigh Rose Amstutz. The US star has carved a unique niche for herself, standing out from the crowd with her drag-inspired aesthetic and vibrant, unapologetic and impossible-to-get-out-of-your-head music. Her talent is evident in expertly crafted songs such as Pink Pony Club, or the song that first exploded her career, Good Luck, Babe!, while HOT TO GO! and its accompanying dance routine have injected joy back into pop music.
Her fans include Billie Eilish (who also shot to fame seemingly overnight), Charli XCX (her British pop contemporary) and Sabrina Carpenter (the Disney star turned chart topper). Even Chappell said of herself at Coachella: "I’m your favourite artist’s favourite artist," a phrase she borrowed from drag queen icon Sasha Colby.
The entrepreneur: Julia Collins
Looking after the environment is at the heart of everything Julia Collins does. A serial entrepreneur, she was the first Black woman to co-found a ‘unicorn company’ (a startup valued at over $1bn). She also launched Moonshot, a planet-friendly snack brand, in 2019, inspired by her desire to create a healthier world for her first son, Mosi.
Now, Julia leads Planet FWD which is on a mission to help companies reach net zero by giving them the tools to measure and reduce their carbon footprint. Each year, the Good Housekeeping Institute conducts thousands of product tests on hundreds of brands, so we know first-hand what a positive impact a new generation of sustainable brands could have. And that’s why we’re excited to be working with Planet FWD to do lifecycle assessments on selected products. “We can’t wait to see the positive change Julia makes with the GHI,” says Laura Cohen, GHI commercial director.
The health expert: Dr Jenna Macciochi
With a specialism in how nutrition and lifestyle interact with the immune system, it’s perhaps little surprise that Dr Jenna Macciochi first came to our attention during the Covid-19 pandemic. The immunologist is all about taking a holistic approach to health, illustrated by her roles as a senior lecturer in immunology at the University of Sussex, fitness instructor and health coach. Through her two books (Your Blueprint For Strong Immunity and Immunity: The Science Of Staying Well), she explains how to strengthen your immune system and improve your health, while across social media, she gives accessible advice without the jargon.
“Dr Macciochi is at the forefront of the science of immunology,” says GH health editor Sarah Maber. "And reaches thousands on social media with her no-nonsense, expert advice.” Crucially, everything Dr Macciochi communicates is backed by real facts. In a world of misinformation and conflicting health advice, she’s a tonic, helping to decode what we really need to know.
The presenter: Amelia Dimoldenberg
What began as a column idea in a local youth magazine from the then-teenage Amelia Dimoldenberg has spun into a decade-long online interview series that easily books huge A-list talent and has made Amelia a rising star in her own right. Chicken Shop Date ees the comedian and presenter interviewing guests on a ‘date’ in various real takeaway shops around the UK. Why? Because “You would never take someone there seriously on a date, which is why it’s the best place to go”, says Amelia, referring to the quirky comedic layer the now iconic setting brings to her interviews.
Inspired by Louis Theroux’s slightly awkward, offbeat interviewing style, Amelia’s clever combination of informal (but extremely well-informed) manner and off-the-wall questioning give her an uncanny ability to both charm and disarm her interviewees. She’s also become a firm favourite red-carpet interviewer, and has begun appearing on a host of big-name talk shows in New York, including Late Night With Seth Meyers. Amelia is everywhere.
The fashion expert: Hannah Rochell
Journalist Hannah Rochell has an impressive crowd of dedicated fans – including Lauren Laverne, India Knight and Caitlin Moran – who follow her blog, enbrogue.com. It’s devoted entirely to stylish flat shoes – which Hannah’s even written two books about. But it’s Hannah’s love of independent brands, comfortable style and ‘slow fashion’ – championed in her Slowette newsletter, which is available on Substack – that’s truly captivated her audience. On social media (@hannah.rochell), she shares outfit inspiration and advice, with tips on everything from styling a summer dress for autumn to how to wear a statement collar in multiple ways.
The main theme of her growing Instagram presence (36k and counting) is how to shop, wear and, of course, rewear pieces to cultivate a more sustainable approach to fashion. Hannah’s bread and butter is solely sustainable fashion, making her an eco expert in all things fabulous.
The actor: Naomi Ackie
From Shakespearean manors (Lady Macbeth, 2016) to faraway galaxies (Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise Of Skywalker, 2019), Camden-born Naomi Ackie has already proved she has incredible range. Her biggest role so far was in 2022, when she was cast as Whitney Houston in the I Wanna Dance With Somebody biopic, before pivoting to a lead role alongside Channing Tatum in Zoë Kravitz’s dark feminist thriller Blink Twice, which was released last summer. Perhaps because of her chameleonic ability to transform into such a diverse range of characters, she’s largely slipped under the radar – until now.
Next, we'll see Naomi in sci-fi thriller Mickey 17 alongside Robert Pattinson and she joins the stellar cast of fellow British talent in The Thursday Murder Club. Having been recently declared ‘Hollywood’s new femme fatale’ for Blink Twice by The Hollywood Reporter, Naomi’s star is set to rise even further.
The footballer: Aggie Beever-Jones
Not many aspiring footballers get to play professionally, but even fewer play for the very team they grew up supporting. But Agnes ‘Aggie’ Beever-Jones has done just that. She was a dedicated Chelsea fan who cut her teeth in the park as goalkeeper for a local boys’ team. She joined Chelsea Academy at just nine years old, before signing to the Chelsea women’s team in 2020. Her very first match on the senior team was against Aston Villa and resulted in a 4-0 win – a taste of the success to come.
Not only was she named Young Player of the Year at the London Football Awards in 2024, but the call also came for her to join the Lionesses for the Euro 2025 qualifying games. Winning the admiration of manager Sarina Wiegman is no mean feat, but the player’s performance at Chelsea saw her secure a place on the team. With the Euros coming up this summer, fans will be hoping for another historic performance from the England women’s team.
The chef: Margie Nomura
Margie Nomura is the Oxford University and Ballymaloe Cookery School alumna striving to inspire people to cook her easy, fresh and comforting dishes at home. In her poplar podcast, Desert Island Dishes (a clever spin on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs), the chef chats with celebrities including Twiggy, David Gandy, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Emma Willis, Stanley Tucci and James Martin about the seven meals they’ve eaten at important moments in their lives, with spinoff episodes about their dream dinner parties.
As well as her podcasts, Margie has a social media following of more than 600k on Instagram (@desertislanddishes), where she shares recipe videos, including her ‘100 days of easy recipes’ series. And her Dinner Tonight newsletter, ranked in the world top 30 on Substack, offers a 30-minute meal idea every Sunday. Whether you’re a pro cook or a novice looking for inspiration, Margie will be the name on everyone’s lips over the coming year.
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