Misty Copeland
In addition to being named one of Time's most influential people, the ballerina was the first African American to earn one of the American Ballet Theatre's highly coveted principal dancer positions.
Melissa Etheridge
The iconic singer and breast cancer survivor has inspired people everywhere with her strength and commitment to LGBT rights.
Idina Menzel
Let it go! The actress made a huge splash on the broadway scene with starring roles in Rent and Wicked and voiced Elsa in the hit movie Frozen. During her off time, Menzel moonlights as a philanthropist for LGBT and arts-driven organizations.
Sheryl Sandberg
She's the COO of Facebook and continues to influence many women in the workplace with her powerful book Lean In.
Melissa McCarthy
The Ghostbusters star has been a champion of positive body image and loving yourself. You go, girl!
Laverne Cox
As one of the first actresses to achieve many milestones for the transgender community in the entertainment industry, Cox balances her time doing advocacy work and starring on hit show Orange Is the New Black.
Sandra Day O'Connor
Appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1981, this political icon became the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court.
Meryl Streep
When it comes to the Academy Awards, it's Meryl's world and we're just living in it. In the last 37 years, the Ricki and the Flash star has earned 19 nominations in the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories—more than any other star in the show's history.
Serena Williams
The star athlete is ranked first in the world for women's singles tennis. So impressive!
Sally Ride
Ride, Sally Ride! At just 32, the astronaut became the youngest person and first woman to orbit into space.
Alanis Morissette
Since her '90s rocker days, Morissette has worked to spread awareness of eating disorders—a disease that plagued the singer in her teens and early twenties.
J.K. Rowling
The famous author turned an entire generation onto reading with her unforgettable tales of Harry Potter and the wizarding school of Hogwarts.
Shania Twain
The Queen of Country Pop released the best-selling album of all time by a female act with 1997's Come On Over.
Bethany Hamilton
This pro surfer is so badass she fought off a shark attack and lived to tell the tale.
Beyoncé
Known for bringing feminism back into mainstream pop culture, Queen Bey is simply that. A queen.
Annie Lennox
VH1 named her Greatest White Soul Singer Alive. On the philanthropy front, Lennox donated all the proceeds from the Eurythmics' 1999 Peacetour to Amnesty International and Greenpeace.
Ellen DeGeneres
The comedian came out as gay on her sitcom in 1997 and was featured on Time magazine with the words, "Yep, I'm Gay."
Marissa Mayer
Fortune named the Yahoo CEO of one of the most powerful businesswomen in the world, and she's also an expert in artificial intelligence!
Jenny Lewis
This former child star grew up just fine, becoming the frontwoman of indie rock band Rilo Kiley and creating a successful solo career.
Carrie Underwood
The country superstar has come unbelievably far since winning American Idol in 2004. Time considers her one of the most influential people in the world.
Elizabeth Holmes
At only 19, this young mogul founded the blood test company Theranos and was the youngest self-made female billionaire on the 2014 Forbes 400 list, with an estimated net worth of $4.6 billion.
Shakira
The Columbian singer's incredible voice and sultry dance moves led her to international success.
Sheryl Crow
With more than 50 million albums sold worldwide and nine Grammys, the mom of two is also a breast cancer survivor.
Madonna
The Queen of Pop has broken boundaries for decades.