5 Women I Look Up To

I love the saying “Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.” I can’t find the original source, and there seems to be a discrepancy in what order the words go in, but regardless of word order, it’s still a pretty powerful statement.

I like to think all women have strong female role models they look up to. I’ve noticed the women I admire change as I grow and change myself. As a kid, I wanted to be Topanga from Boy Meets World. Not Danielle Fishel who played her, but Topanga. I had a “I love Britney!” moment, a pretty intense love of Jessica Simpson (I still love Jessica Simpson…), and in college, I looked up to women in the music industry in high level positions. I wanted to emulate their success, follow in their footsteps.

These days, the women I admire include the strong women in my family, as well as in the barre studio and The Gym. There are also a few “celebrity” women I look up to, some of which may not be the most popular or well-known, but who lead their lives in a way that I admire.

Here are 5 women I look up to:

Katrín Davíðsdóttir

Katrín Davíðsdóttir is a badass. She won the CrossFit games in 2015 AND 2016, earning her the title “Fittest Woman on Earth.” She’s from Iceland, dedicated to leading a healthy lifestyle and keeping to her training schedule, and seems pretty down to earth on Instagram. While I’m not planning to compete in anything CrossFit-related anytime soon, I admire Katrin for being a positive, strong role model for women and especially young girls. She embodies the “strong is beautiful” statement.

Reese Witherspoon

Who doesn’t love Reese Witherspoon? She stars in some of favorite movies, sure, but she’s also a savvy businesswoman. I’ve followed her Draper James line since its launch, and while I haven’t bought a piece yet (somehow…), I’m enjoying watching her brand grow and expand.  I also adore her as a true Southern girl. She understands the art of the monogram, how to throw a party, and her y’all is authentic. I want to be her when I grow up.

Carrie Underwood

I joke that one of my gym goals is “Carrie Underwood legs.” While I’ll take her legs (and her closet…) any day, Carrie is genuine, kind, and understands her position as a role model. I met her as an intern in Nashville several years ago and was blown away by how warmly she treated everyone. She’s a strong Christian and despite her fame, totally relatable. I’ve also followed her CALIA by Carrie brand since launch – and bought quite a few pieces as its some of the best quality I’ve found. Who knows? Maybe one of these days I’ll use her model to launch my own athletic clothing line! (Dream big!)

Ivanka Trump

I know Ivanka Trump may not be the most popular person in America, based simply on who her father is, but regardless, she is an impressive woman. Sure, she was born into a life of privilege, but privilege doesn’t help you graduate cum laude from Wharton. I admire her entrepreneurial mindset, her passion and support of women in business, and her balancing of motherhood with a high profile job. What’s so wrong with looking up to a successful woman who just so happens to be the daughter of an unpopular president?

Jenna Bush Hager

I don’t know what it is about the daughters of presidents, but I do love Jenna Bush Hager. I always enjoy her segments on Today. I admire that she can both make me cry laughing at some of her adventures, and full on ugly cry at some of the stories she tells as a journalist. I feel like she and I would be good friends if we met in real life.Plus, she’s precious with her grandpa! 

There are so many strong, successful women to admire these days. In my opinion, it’s a great time to be a woman. We have a long ways to go, but we can’t forget how far we’ve come.

What women do you admire?