Female Role Models To Inspire Your Daughters

If you want to be successful, just find someone who is already successful at what you want to do, and model them.

Quite a good idea, don't you think?

Except what if you don't yet know what you want to do?

Or maybe you just want to feel inspired and motivated by women who have achieved success, defied the odds, made a difference in the world, stood up and been counted.

I was asked recently who I would choose as a role model for my daughter, if I had one. (daughter, that is!) Without thinking I immediately replied "Amal Clooney". Because she is brilliant, accomplished, multi lingual, and long before marrying the chairman she was making an important mark on the world.

There are so many mixed messages out there for teenage girls today. Success and notoriety get confused - why work hard at building a career when a sex tape can propel you into reality TV shows, millions of dollars, and a spot standing next to Beyonce, who did put in years of hard work to achieve her success?

All women need to have other women to look up to, to be inspired by, to admire.

So today, on the eve of this blog hitting one million, let's look at a varied assortment of

Female Role Models To Inspire Your Daughters.

1. Amal (Alamuddin) Clooney

Amal leaving her hotel in Athens for a meeting with Greece's Minister of Culture

Born in Beirut and raised in England Amal is a lawyer, author and activist specializing in international law, extradition, human rights, and criminal law. She is fluent in English, Arabic and French, and long before marrying Clooney was living her life on the world stage. Frankly, she is fantastic.

It should be noted too that Clooney didn't catch her because he was a movie star, he caught her in spite of being a movie star.

Amal pre-Clooney

2. Malala Yousafzai

As a young girl Malala Yousafzai defied the Taliban in Pakistan and demanded that girls be allowed to have an education. In 2008 she gave a speech in Peshawar, Pakistan entitled " How Dare The Taliban Take Away My Basic Right To Education". In 2009 under a pseudonym she began blogging for the BBC about living with the threat of the Taliban denying her education, but was outed in December of that year.

She continued to speak out about education for girls and in 2011 was nominated for The International Children's Peace Prize.

In 2012 a Taliban gunman boarded her bus, asked which girl was Malala, and shot her in the head. 

She has made a full recovery, and in 2014 became the youngest person ever to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

This month her biographical documentary He Called Me Malala opens in theaters nationwide.

Order her book, I Am Malala here

3. Danica Patrick.

Apparently no one told Danica Patrick that racing is a man's sport.

Danica made it to the big leagues racing in the Indy Racing League and now in Nascar's Sprint Cup, where as the only female she buckles in each weekend, qualifies and then races against 40+ high testosterone, aggressive men at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. Danica had to earn the respect of her fellow racers, and had to earn her way into Nascar's top tier, where skill, strategy and lightening fast reflexes are a pre-requisite. 

4. Angelina Jolie

Yes she is perhaps the most beautiful woman in the world, and yes she is a movie star and now also a movie director, but part of what makes Angelina Jolie so incredibly compelling is her dedication to her work as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, and now Special Envoy.

Plenty of celebrities lend their names and faces to good causes, but Jolie's commitment to the plight of refugees, her genuine human interest and resolve to help and publicize and advocate for uprooted people is more than inspiring. 

Jolie visiting refugees in Afghanistan

With more than 40 trips to some of the most remote regions of the world to visit and draw attention to the suffering of refugees, Angelina has an incredible understanding of global displacement issues, and is able to represent the High Comissioner at the diplomatic level. 

Most pretty movie stars can't do that.

5. Leandra Medine of The Man Repeller

Leandra Medine on The Coveteur

Blogger Leandra Medine is known for her hilarious blog about serious fashion, which premiered in 2010. Medine has been able to parlay her love of "man repelling" fashion into big business. Forbes named her one of their "Top 30 Under 30", The Man Repeller was one of TIME's Top 25 Blogs of 2012, and Medine also topped Adweek's "Fashion Power 25", even beating Vogue magazine's Anna Wintour.

Leandra Medine's voice is so influential, and so powerful in the fashion industry, her currency is so strong that the 26 year old blogger is now represented by mega agency CAA.  

She is a fantastic example of a girl who has taken a passion and turned it into something massively successful. She wears it her way, and she did it her way.

Leandra Medine wwearing it her way, via Pop Sugar

Want more? Check out the Zoe Report's 15 Inspiring Women To Watch Now and Forbes' 30 Utterly Inspiring Women

Amal Clooney And Sideshow George ~ One Year And Counting

On yesterday's flight home from Australia I was reading 
Grazia Magazine's article about Amal and her 'arm candy' George. 
All the newsstands had pictures of her killing it in a green Versace dress this week, and there was also mention of their one year wedding anniversary.
I can imagine these two going the distance. He always seems both in absolute awe of her, and as though he is endlessly chasing her to keep her interested in him.

I just love Amal. Quite apart from the fact that she is brilliant and accomplished and is at the top of her international game in a non show biz career, she has a flawless sense of style. Personally I think she is already becoming iconic.

I also love that George (The Chairman) is so completely eclipsed by her. In any photo of the two of them your eye is immediately drawn to her. Every time I see them I think "it's Amal and Sideshow George". 
But don't you just love how proud he looks? One year on and he still looks as though he can't quite believe he actually got her. 


Interestingly she also manages to steal the spotlight from Cindy Crawford in any photograph, even though Cindy has spent 30+ years training our eyes to land directly on her.
The Gerbers and the Clooneys spend so much time together - do you ever wonder what Cindy and Amal talk about? Amal is fashion. I can't imagine her being overly interested in talking about it endlessly. Who knows, maybe Cindy can talk human rights and international politics?

Anyway, here is a quick look at what Amal has been wearing this week.

At the O Brother Where Art Thou 15th Anniversary, in Versace.
(photo credit Splash News / Pop Sugar)

Where does your eye go? Straight to Amal

 Amal in New York wearing red Dolce and Gabbana

photo credit Felipe Ramales/Splash News 

Amal and George leaving a restaurant on Portobello Road, she is wearing Dolce and Gabbana.

photo credit Splashnews

All images in this post were taken from Amal Clooney Style, a fabulous blog devoted to what the divine Mrs Clooney wears. For a complete breakdown on Amal's outfits and accessories, check out Amal Clooney Style here 

Read the Grazia Magazine article here

Amal Clooney's Best Looks. Well, Some Of them Anyway....

Amal Clooney is sensational.

In a world full of pretty women she stands out not just for being beautiful, but because she is also intriguing.
Preternaturally thin, she stands out in the fashion world not just because everything looks amazing on her long, lean body, but because she has an innate sense of style. 
Unlike your stereotypical fashonista cavorting glamorously around the world stage, Amal is incredibly accomplished. Brilliantly accomplished. 

Funnily enough that fellow she married has had a big career too. He was considered at one time to be the sexiest man in the world. After a string of young, vacuous companions perennially at his side his brand was beginning to look a little lecherous and a little tarnished. But then he met and married Amal. For a moment she made him look good. 
And then she completely eclipsed him. She is so spectacular, not just because she is gorgeous, but because she is gorgeous and brilliant, and successful in a field that really matters. She specializes in international law, human rights and extradition.

Walking next to her he no longer looks like one of the biggest movie stars in the world, the top name on the marquee. 
Instead he looks like some funny little bloke who got super lucky and now gets to bask in the light that radiates from her star.

This was going to be a fashion post about Amal's enduring relationship with Giambattista Valli, but the more I scrolled through images of her the more taken I was with her overall style.
So here is a look at some of Amal Clooney's best looks:

Amal At Night

Could she possibly look more gorgeous?? I love her in this Maison Margiela. Don't you think George looks like the sideshow? Amal definitely looks like the main event.

Amal in Maison Margiela

Sideshow George escorts Amal to the Met Gala in 2015.

He used to look so debonair in his tux, but now you barely notice him standing there in her shadow.

Amal in Maison Margiela at Met Gala 2015

Amal in Stella McCartney

Amal in Alexander McQueen in NYC

Amal in Giambattista Valli in NYC

Amal in Florence

Amal Just Being Glamorous

Amal in Stella McCartney in Venice

Amal in Venice wearing Giambattista Valli Haute Couture

Amal in Alexander McQueen

Amal In Summer Dresses

Amal in London in Paule Ka pink dress

Amal's Work Clothes

Amal in Camilla Bona

Amal in Giambattista Valli suit, London

Amal in NYC

Amal in Oscar de la Renta at Heathrow Airport

Amal In Jeans

Amal in J Brand leather jacket

Amal in jeans and Giambattista Valli top

Airport Amal

Amal in Winter

Amal wearing a Giambattista Valli coat

Amal in Paule Ka coat

It has always seemed as though the girl with George has had to fight to keep him interested, to keep him coming back.
Now I think the tables have turned.
Don't you think he looks like he still can't quite believe he got her? And like he is going to stay on his toes and do whatever it takes to stay interesting so that he doesn't lose her?

Even in repose she looks like she is thinking interesting thoughts.

Good for you George!

Charlotte Tilbury's Met Gala 2015 Looks

Superstar makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury had a super busy day getting 5 celebs ready fro the 2015 Met Gala .
Tilbury, who is the makeup artist of choice for everyone from Kate Moss to Rihanna to Amal Clooney is not only one of the most highly esteemed makeup artists in the world, but is also a businesswoman with her own sensational makeup line.

It seems like for almost as long as I can remember models and actresses have been going wild for her "Magic Cream", a sensational skin booster that was the best kept secret that only the A list had access to, but now anyone can buy.




Charlotte and her pro team glammed 5 different celebrities for fashion's most prestigious event, this week in New York.
Here is a sneak peak into who got gorgeous via team Tilbury, and which products she used. Click on any product image for a link to Charlotte's website where you can get the same products for yourself.
I don't know about you, but I want anything Amal Clooney uses...

The exquisite Amal Clooney at the 2015 Met Gala

On Amal Clooney Charlotte used her Dolce Vita golden brown eye shadows and an eastern influenced sunset red lip.

Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding also wore Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita eye shadow collection, but her looked was paired with a soft, juicy lip.

Hannah Davis with the beautiful Charlotte  Tilbury

Hannah Davis wore Dolce Vita mixed with Colour Chameleon in Bronzed Garnet, Feline Flick liner.

Honorable Woman Maggie Gyllenhaal

On Maggie Gyllenhaal Tilbury used her Eyes To Mesmerize cream shadows in Jean and Marie Antoinette, pared with a strong red lip.

model Poppy Delevingne

Dolce Vita Eye Shadow



Filmstar Killer Cheekbones Sculpt and Highlight




Charlotte Tilbury Lipgloss


Red Carpet Red Lip Set


Matte Revolution Red Carpet Red Lipstick


Eyes To Mesmerize Kit Jean


Eyes To Messmerize Marie Antoinette