Trailblazing Women Who Changed History

Time published a photo project called "First," with striking portraits by Brazilian photographer Luisa Dörr. The images put women front and center, spotlighting those who pushed past limits to claim major firsts in their fields. We took that idea and added more names, highlighting women whose choices helped reshape history. See how many of these trailblazers you recognize.

A Teenager's Diary That Moved Millions

Anne Frank was a Jewish teenager hiding in an attic during World War II who wrote a diary that crossed the world. Her account, penned in cramped, tense conditions, became a bestseller and has been translated into many languages. Readers still point to her honesty and emotional depth as the reason the book matters. Decades on, her words continue to move people everywhere.

Small-Town Roots, Global Pop Culture Icon

Marilyn Monroe rose from small-town beginnings to become one of the planet's most recognizable faces. She worked as an actress, model and singer, and her look came to define an era. Gossip about famous lovers and the mystery surrounding her death only intensified public fascination. Today her image still feels like a touchstone of pop culture.

A Nun Who Lived for the Poorest

Mother Teresa, born in Albania, founded the Missionaries of Charity and spent decades in hands-on service. She and her order cared for tens of thousands in Calcutta and beyond, often in brutal conditions. Her work pushed global attention toward extreme poverty and human suffering. For many, she became a symbol of moral commitment and compassion.

Two-Time Nobel Winner in Radioactivity Research

Marie Curie, a Polish-French scientist, led the earliest research on radioactivity and changed laboratory science. She shared the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics and won the 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering radium and polonium. Her experiments opened the door to major advances in medicine and science. She remains one of the few people awarded Nobels in two separate sciences.

Marie Curie

Marie Curie was a Polish-French scientist, a pioneer in the study of radioactivity. Was awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize in physics for her research on radiation and the 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of radium and polonium and for the study of radium.

Patricia Bath

First person to invent and demonstrate laserphaco cataract surgery.

Toronto protesters

This photo might look trivial now, but back in 1937 it was a taboo showing women legs in Toronto. This is the first-time women in uncovered legs walked in public in Toronto.

Aircraft Technician

Lockheed employee in the middle of her work fixing a P-38 Lightning in California in 1944.

Serena Williams

First tennis player to win 23 Grand Slam singles titles in the open era.

Margaret Hamilton

Hamilton is an American computer scientist, systems engineer, and business owner. In this photo she stands next to the code she wrote by hand — the same code that was used to take humans to the moon in 1969.

Nadia Comăneci

No gymnast has ever received a perfect ten in the Olympic Games before her.

Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart is known around the world due to fact she was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Apart from the fact that she has participated in many early aviation records, she was also a famous author. Sadly, during an attempt to make a circumnavigational flight of the globe in 1937, Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the central Pacific Ocean.

“Winnie”

The woman in the picture was one of the 2,000 women who worked in the US shipyards during WWII (1943).

Rosa Parks

Parks was an activist in the civil rights movement best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Parks refused to obey bus driver's order to give up her seat in the "colored section" to a white passenger, after the whites-only section was filled. She became an international icon of resistance to racial segregation.

Katharine Jefferts Schori

Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori is the first woman to be the head of an Episcopal Church in the United States. Her appointment is a mile stone for the Episcopal Church who started to train women for priesthood only in 1976.

Rita Moreno

Moreno is a Puerto Rican actress, dancer and singer. She was the first Latina to win the EGOT: an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony.

The WASPs

This group was the first group of female pilots in American military history. They flew difficult - and often perilous - missions for the United States Air Force during World War II.

Simone de Beauvoir

The French author and philosopher is best known for her metaphysical novels, and for her 1949 treatise The Second Sex, a detailed analysis of women's oppression and a foundational tract of contemporary feminism.

Oprah Winfrey

First woman to own and produce her own talk show.

Women's League Roller Derby

It wasn't easy for female athletes to maintain a career back in the 1950s. The event shown in the photo occurred in New York and had lots of audience.

Margaret Bourke-White

Margaret Bourke-White was an American photographer and was the first foreign photographer permitted to take pictures of the Soviet Union during the five-year plan, and the first American female war photojournalist. The photo was taken in 1934 on the edge of the Chrysler Building.

Ellen DeGeneres

First person to star as an openly gay character on prime-time TV.

The Hell’s Angels

Hell’s Angels is a motorcycle Club formed in 1948. These are the female members of the club in 1973.

Anna Fisher

Anna Lee Fisher is an American chemist, emergency physician, and a former NASA astronaut. In 1984 she became the first mother in space.

Michelle Phan

First woman to build a $500 million company from a web series.

The Firefighters

Back in the ‘40s, some professions were designated only for men. But in times of need, these women firefighters proved to be just as efficient as the men.

Eileen Collins

First woman to command a space shuttle.

Aretha Franklin

First woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Mae Jemison

In 1992, Jamison became the first woman of color in space.

Gabby Douglas

Douglas is the first African American, and first of African descent of any nationality in Olympic history, to become the individual all-around champion, and the first U.S. gymnast to win gold in both the individual all-around and team competitions at the same Olympics.

Ava DuVernay

First black woman to direct a film nominated for an Oscar award for Best Picture.

Mazie Hirono

First Asian-American woman to be elected to the US Senate.

Cindy Sherman

First woman to pass $1 million in a photography sale.

Madeleine Albright

First woman to become US Secretary of State.

Geisha Williams

First Latina CEO of a Fortune 500 company.

Jennifer Yuh Nelson

First woman to solo-direct a major Hollywood animated feature.

Melinda Gates

Gates is a co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and she is the first woman to give away more than $40 billion to charity.

Ursula Burns

First black woman to run a Fortune 500 company.

Madonna

She’s known as the Queen of Pop - Madonna has pushed the boundaries with her music many times, remaining on the top for more than 40 years.

Barbara Walters

First woman to co-anchor a network evening news program.

Sheryl Sandberg

First woman to become a social-media billionaire.

Issa Rae

First black woman to create and star in a premium cable series.

Meghan Markle

The Duchess of Sussex will be the first royal to openly embrace a mixed-race heritage and potentially change the way the traditional British institution works. At the royal wedding, Rev. Michael Curry quoted Martin Luther King Jr., the US bishop’s cry of “We’re going to sit down, we gotta get y’all married,” a traditional blessing in black churches all over the US. Even the choice of musicians in the ceremony: a young black cellist (Sheku Kanneh-Mason) and a Gospel choir, makes Maghan's royal wedding very different from the ones we have seen before.

Maud Allen

Allen was an interpretive dancer who changed the face of modern dance in the early twentieth century. Born in Toronto, Canada in 1873, Allen was an iconic figure in the European dance halls, combining barefoot dancing with a liberated body image. She introduced a set of codes for female bodily expression that were revolutionary at the time of Victorian conventions.

Emma Gonzalez

Emma survived the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Highschool (Parkland, Florida) shooting and is now a gun control activist who demands stricter laws and proactive change.

Emma Watson

While most people know Emma Watson from the Harry Potter movies, she's also a UN Women Goodwill ambassador and activist within the sustainable fashion industry.

Ashley Graham

Ashley is a plus-size model born in a small town in Nebraska. She's an ambassador for body positivity with a successful modeling career and was the first plus-size model to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

Tarana Burke

Civil rights activist Tarana Burke is the founder of the famous #MeToo movement against sexual assault and harassment.

Mia Hamm

Mia is a soccer champion who has inspired millions of young girls to become more interested in sports.

Wendy Kopp

Wendy Kopp is the CEO and co-founder of a global network Teach For All that helps nonprofit organizations expand the opportunities for education in their local areas.

J.K. Rowling

The author of the Harry Potter book series is responsible for getting millions of kids to love reading again.

Diana, Princess of Wales

Princess Diana was a beloved royal and humanitarian before she tragically passed away at a hospital in Paris after a car accident in 1997.

Maya Lin

Maya Lin designed the famous Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. when she was only 21 and studying at Yale University.

Winona LaDuke

Native American activist Winona LaDuke fought to recover Native American communities’ lands.

Katie Couric

Katie Couric was the first person to have a colonoscopy on TV, back in 2000. She did it to raise awareness of necessary screenings and she potentially saved many lives with this act.

Dorothy Hamill

Hamill is a figure skater who won gold medal at the 1976 Olympics, which lead to her becoming one of the first ladies in the sport to land a million-dollar contract.

Susan Solomon

While working as a senior scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Solomon contributed to the discoveries of ozone holes. Thanks to her and her co-workers, many harmful chemicals are now globally banned.

Eve Ensler

Ensler wrote The Vagina Monologues, raising awareness to violence against women.

Kathryn Bigelow

In 2010 Biglow became the First female director to win an Oscar for Best Director award.

Sally Ride

In 1983, she was the first American woman to fly to space. Not only that, she was only 32 when she did it, which makes her the youngest American astronaut in space.

Diane Von Furstenberg

Diane Von Furstenberg is among the most powerful women in fashion today. She never fails to use her status and position for good, whether it’s by acting as a conscious role model or advocating for a specific cause, such as women’s rights.

Beyoncé

Beyoncé is a superstar musician and a synonym for femininity. She uses her stardom for good causes, contributing to various philanthropies.

Malala keeps fighting for girls' schooling

Malala Yousafzai remains a driving voice for girls' education around the world. She survived an attempt on her life as a teenager for speaking out, and went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize as a very young laureate. She runs the Malala Fund, which pushes for every girl to have the chance to go to school. Her story is both personal and political, and it keeps pushing this issue into the spotlight.

CRISPR rewrites the rules of genetics

Jennifer Doudna helped turn CRISPR-Cas9 from a science idea into a tool the world uses. She shared a major science prize for that work and has been a visible voice on the ethics and uses of gene editing. Her lab and institutes work on practical applications, from medical research to public health testing. The discovery changed how scientists think about editing DNA.

Kamala Harris broke a major political barrier

Kamala Harris became the first woman to hold the vice presidency of the United States, and also the first Black American woman and first South Asian woman to do so. Her rise reflects years of work in law and politics, from local roles to national office. She even temporarily assumed presidential powers during a routine medical moment, another procedural first. Her presence shifted expectations about who can occupy the highest posts.

A new face leading a major bank

Hana al Rostamani now leads one of the largest banks in her region as Group CEO, the first woman to hold that role at the institution. Her appointment is a sign of change in global finance and highlights the growing presence of women in top corporate roles. She also sits on a number of influential boards and works across borders. Her career is often pointed to when people talk about women reaching the top in business.

Ndebele art moves from walls to world stages

Esther Mahlangu turned traditional Ndebele painting into a global contemporary art form. She brought geometric, bold patterns onto canvases and even onto cars, introducing her heritage to museums and brands around the world. Her work bridges cultural tradition and modern design, and she keeps working to keep Ndebele art visible. The result is art that looks forward while honoring the past.

A New Chapter for Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris moved from the vice presidency into a new national campaign role, becoming the Democratic Party's presidential nominee after the sitting president withdrew. That bid ended in defeat in the general election, but it extended the long arc of firsts she represents. Her rise keeps shifting expectations about who can hold the highest offices and what path a political career can take.

Malala Keeps Pushing for Schools

Malala Yousafzai continues to lead the Malala Fund and press for universal access to education for girls. She has added personal milestones while keeping global schooling at the center of her work. Her steady focus keeps the issue visible and gives younger advocates a clear model to follow.

CRISPR Moves Toward Practical Use

Jennifer Doudna has kept CRISPR in the headlines by steering it from lab idea into practical testing and medical projects. She also remains a visible voice on the ethics of gene editing, asking tough questions as the science advances. The work shows how a technical first can turn into sustained effort with real-world results.

Beyoncé's Cultural and Business Moves

Beyoncé has kept releasing major projects that spotlight overlooked Black musical pioneers and cultural contributions. At the same time she has expanded into business ventures tied to beauty and culture, mixing artistry with entrepreneurship. Those moves show how a cultural first can be sustained and broadened into new fields.

What These Updates Add Up To

Taken together, these developments show firsts are not single moments but ongoing journeys. Some firsts lead to campaigns, some to lasting advocacy, some to scaled scientific or business efforts. That continuity matters because it turns extraordinary milestones into possible career paths for the people who come next.

Malala Keeps Schooling Front and Center

Malala Yousafzai has kept pushing for girls to get a full education while also finishing her own university studies. She still runs the Malala Fund and brings the same clear focus to funding local activists and teachers. Her path shows the mix of personal achievement and steady organizing that keeps the issue alive. The story of her activism keeps drawing attention to schooling as an everyday right, not a one-off headline.

CRISPR Moves from Lab to Patients

Jennifer Doudna has pushed CRISPR beyond an idea and into practical testing and early medical projects. She stays publicly involved in debates about ethics and how far gene editing should go. Her labs are focused on turning a technical first into treatments and public-health tools. That steady follow-through shows how a discovery can become a long-term effort with real-world consequences.

Beyoncé Expands Culture Into Business

Beyoncé has kept building projects that highlight overlooked Black artists while also growing business ventures tied to beauty and culture. She mixes creative releases with entrepreneurship, turning cultural firsts into broader platforms. That combination keeps her work relevant across music, media and commerce. It also shows how a cultural milestone can be extended into new arenas over time.

Kamala Harris, From Firsts to New Roles

Kamala Harris has continued to reshape expectations about who reaches the highest offices by moving from the vice presidency into a new national campaign role. That shift extended the string of firsts she represents and kept conversations going about leadership pathways. Even when a bid ends, the fact of her rise changes what people picture when they think about top jobs. The attention on her career underlines how symbolic firsts can become lasting influences.

Why These Follow-Ups Matter

These updates show that firsts rarely stop at a single moment. People like Malala, Doudna, Beyoncé and Kamala keep working, advocating and building after the headlines fade. That continuity turns milestones into examples others can follow and helps turn one-time breakthroughs into new norms. The big idea is simple: firsts open doors, but the follow-through keeps them open.

A Courtroom First

Ketanji Brown Jackson made history when she was sworn in as the first Black woman to serve as a justice on the United States Supreme Court. Her arrival marks a clear institutional milestone, one that shifts what people imagine when they picture the highest bench. The moment matters not just for one seat, but for the long view of who can reach the top of the legal system.

Gymnastics Rewritten

Simone Biles keeps rewriting the record books and the rules of her sport. She is now the most decorated American gymnast across Olympic and World Championship competition and the first woman to land the Yurchenko double pike in international competition. Her athletic breakthroughs push the technical bar higher for everyone who follows.

A Breakthrough on Screen

Lily Gladstone achieved a historic breakthrough for Indigenous representation in film. She became the first Native American person to win a Golden Globe for Best Actress and followed that with a major Academy Award nomination for a leading performance. That recognition opens new doors for stories and performers who have been overlooked.

Vaccine Science Leadership

Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett stood at the center of vaccine development work as a key scientific lead on the NIH team that helped develop the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Her role pushed laboratory science into real-world tools that affected public health. For young scientists, that kind of visible leadership expands what a career in science can look like.

What These Firsts Add Up To

Taken together, these updates show firsts spreading across courts, sports, screens and labs. Each milestone is a doorway, and the follow-up work turns that doorway into a path. The real change comes when more people can picture themselves walking that path.