News & Current Affairs

BBC 100 Most Influential Women 2023: Here's the List

By Azeezat Okunlola | Nov 22, 2023

The BBC has unveiled their 2023 list of the 100 most influential and remarkable women in the world.

Michelle Obama, a former US First Lady and attorney, Amal Clooney, a human rights lawyer, Aitana Bonmatí, Ballon d'Or winner, Timnit Gebru, an AI expert, Gloria Steinem, a feminist icon, America Ferrera, a Hollywood celebrity, and Huda Kattan, a beauty tycoon, are all included.

The list includes 28 Climate Pioneers, named ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28.

The women selected were also categories into five fields; Climate Pioneers, Culture & Education, Entertainment & Sport, Politics & Advocacy and Science, Health & Tech.

Below are names of women on the list. Note that names that appear on more than a category are not repeated.

Category 1: Climate Pioneers-

Bayang, China (Diarist and sustainability advocate)
Anna Huttunen, Finland (Carbon impact tech expert)
Susanne Etti, Australia (Sustainable tourism expert)
Arati Kumar-Rao, India (Photographer)
Louise Mabulo, Philippines (Farmer and entrepreneur)
Sophia Kianni, US (Student and social entrepreneur)
Sonia Kastner, US (Wildfire detection tech developer)
Basima Abdulrahman, Iraq (Green building entrepreneur)
Kera Sherwood-O'Regan, New Zealand (Indigenous rights and disability advocate)
Matcha Phorn-in, Thailand (Campaigner for indigenous and LGBTQ+ rights)
Wanjira Mathai, Kenya (Environmental adviser)
Sagarika Sriram, United Arab Emirates (Educator and climate adviser)
Elham Youssefian, US/Iran (Adviser in climate and disability)
Sumini, Indonesia (Forest manager)
Jess Pepper, UK (Founder of Climate Café)
Jennifer Uchendu, Nigeria (Mental health advocate)
Marcela Fernández, Colombia (Expedition guide)

Category 2: Culture and Education

Sarah Ott, US (School teacher)
Jannatul Ferdous, Bangladesh (Burns survivor)
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, India (Bhikṣuṇī, Buddhist nun)
Chila Kumari Burman, UK (Artist)
Marijeta Mojasevic, Montenegro (Disability rights activist)
Hosai Ahmadzai, Afghanistan (TV presenter)
Afroze-Numa, Pakistan (Shepherdess)
Licia Fertz, Italy (Model and influencer)
Daria Serenko, Russia (Poet)
Huda Kattan, US (Beauty business founder)
Carolina Díaz Pimentel, Peru (Journalist)
Paulina Chiziane, Mozambique (Writer)
Esi Buobasa, Ghana (Fishmonger)
Shairbu Sagynbaeva, Kyrgyzstan (Co-founder of For Life sewing shop)
Vee Kativhu, Zimbabwe/UK (Content creator and YouTuber)
Clara Elizabeth Fragoso Ugarte, Mexico (Truck driver)
Lala Pasquinelli, Argentina (Artist)
Natalia Idrisova, Tajikistan (Green energy consultant)
Oksana Zabuzhko, Ukraine (Writer)

Category 3: Entertainment and Sport-

Zandile Ndhlovu, South Africa (Freediving instructor)
Andreza Delgado, Brazil (Curator and cultural manager)
Dia Mirza, India (Actress)
Anne Grall, France (Comedian)
Paramida, Germany (DJ and music producer)
Aziza Sbaity, Lebanon (Sprinter)
Aitana Bonmatí, Spain (Footballer)
Khine Hnin Wai, Myanmar (Actress)
Bianca Williams, UK (Athlete)
Dayeon Lee, South Korea (Campaigner for Kpop4Planet)
America Ferrera, US (Actress)
Camila Pirelli, Paraguay (Olympic athlete)
Harmanpreet Kaur, India (Cricketer)
Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi, Indonesia (Speed climber)
Georgia Harrison, UK (TV personality)
Antinisca Cenci, Italy (Equestrian vaulter)
Justina Miles, US (Deaf performer)
Alice Oseman, UK (Screenwriter)

Category 4: Politics and Advocacy-

Michelle Obama, US (Attorney, author and campaigner)
Christiana Figueres, Costa Rica (Diplomat and climate policy negotiator)
Rina Gonoi, Japan (Former military officer)
Maryam Al-Khawaja, Bahrain/Denmark (Human rights campaigner)
Amal Clooney, UK/Lebanon (Human rights lawyer)
Neema Namadamu, Democratic Republic of Congo (Disability rights campaigner)
Sofia Kosacheva, Russia (Firefighter)
Bernadette Smith, Turtle Island / Canada (Advocate for families of missing persons)
Nataša Kandić, Serbia (Lawyer and human rights activist)
Yasmina Benslimane, Morocco (Founder of Politics4Her)
Ulanda Mtamba, Malawi (Campaigner against child marriage)
Alicia Cahuiya, Ecuador (Indigenous rights activist)
Sonia Guajajara, Brazil (State minister)
Summia Tora, Afghanistan (Campaigner for refugee rights)
Gloria Steinem, US (Feminist leader)
Sepideh Rashnu, Iran (Writer and artist)
Najla Mohamed-Lamin, Western Sahara (Women's rights and climate activist)
Rukshana Kapali, Nepal (Housing campaigner)
Xu Zaozao, China (Egg freezing campaigner)
Yael Braudo-Bahat, Israel (Peace activist)
Renita Holmes, US (Housing campaigner)
Shamsa Araweelo, Somalia/UK (FGM campaigner)
Tamar Museridze, Georgia (Journalist)
Iryna Stavchuk, Ukraine (Climate policy adviser)
Dehenna Davison, UK (Member of Parliament)
Monica McWilliams, UK (Former politician and peace negotiator)
Bella Galhos, East Timor (Political activist)

Category 5: Science, Health and Tech-

Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Uganda (Veterinarian)
Isabel Farías Meyer, Chile (Early menopause campaigner)
Astrid Linder, Sweden (Professor of traffic safety)
Neha Mankani, Pakistan (Midwife)
Timnit Gebru, US (AI expert)
Leanne Cullen-Unsworth, UK (Marine scientist)
Susan Chomba, Kenya (Scientist)
Anamaría Font Villarroel, Venezuela (Particle physicist)
Canan Dagdeviren, Turkey (Scientist and inventor)
Trần Gấm, Vietnam (Biogas business owner)
Natalie Psaila, Malta (Medical doctor)
Sara Al-Saqqa, Palestinian Territories (General surgeon)
Fabiola Trejo, Mexico (Social psychologist)
Claudia Goldin, US (Economist and Nobel Prize winner)
Amina Al-Bish, Syria (Volunteer rescue worker)
Izabela Dłużyk, Poland (Sound recordist)
Rumaitha Al Busaidi, Oman (Scientist)
Olena Rozvadovska, Ukraine (Children's rights advocate)
Qiyun Woo, Singapore (Storyteller)