Theresa May is now among the world's most admired women - but here are 10 who should have made the list
Theresa May has made it. No, no, hold your horses, she hasn’t solved Brexit or Jeremy Corbyn (yet). But for the first time, she’s made it on to the list of the world’s most admired women, as compiled by pollsters YouGov. To put this in perspective, she has entered the list at number 15 and therefore ranks below Angelina Jolie (number one), the Queen (number four) and Taylor Swift (number nine). But still, it’s a far better result than she managed at the last General Election and we’d hate to take it away from her.
On the other hand, we would like to point out a few surprising omissions from the list, which also includes Michelle Obama (number two), Oprah Winfrey (number three), Hillary Clinton (number five) and Madonna (number 10). Here are 10 women who aren’t on the list but really should be.
Meghan Markle
As well as having forged a successful career as an actress, Prince Harry’s bride-to-be has used her platform to highlight social and humanitarian issues. She’s also doing the Royal stuff her way - to an extent, at least.
JK Rowling
Her Harry Potter books inspired a cult following, with fans expressing the kind of adulation last seen around the time of The Beatles. Her journey from single mother on benefits to bestselling author is surely worthy of some degree of admiration - even if you don’t like wizards.
Lady Gaga
Not only did she bring Poker Face into our lives (thank you, Gaga, thank you), she also deserves credit for what one newspaper described this week as having “queered mainstream pop forever.” Through her song Born This Way, she created what became an LGBT celebratory anthem.
Sonia Gandhi
The Italian-born politician was once the most powerful woman in India and is deemed by many to be the driving force behind pioneering welfare schemes in the country. She was also a committed supporter of the right to information.
Beyoncé
She instructed a generation of recalcitrant men to “put a ring on it” and reminded the world with her sheer existence that beauty doesn’t only come in a size zero. She also happens to be one of the world’s best-selling music artists.
Meryl Streep
She was equally convincing as Margaret Thatcher as she was playing Miranda Priestly (a thinly disguised take on Anna Wintour) and has become a byword for brilliant movie acting. At 68, no-one is writing her off because of her age, which we imagine will still be true when she’s 90.
Serena Williams
Pretty good at tennis, yes, but also a supporter of equal pay and founder of the Serena Williams Fund, which works towards equity through education and to assist “victims of senseless violence”.
Melinda Gates
Through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, she has done an enormous amount to reduce inequity around the world. And she’d like to get more women into tech, which is only be a good thing.
Christine Lagarde
She has been managing director of the International Monetary Fund since 2011, the first woman to occupy the role. The straight-talking French lawyer and politician is known as the “rock star” head of the IMF.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
The first woman to be elected head of state of an African country (Liberia, from 2006 to 2018), she received the 2011 Nobel Prize for Peace for her efforts to further women’s rights.
