On March 8, we celebrate trailblazers from across the world who have impacted all of our lives. In honor of today, we share 10 women who are breaking records, boundaries, and biases in the world of fitness, athletics, sport, and wellness.
AMY PURDY
At 19 years old, Amy Purdy faced numerous health trials after contracting bacterial meningitis and undergoing a kidney transplant and double leg amputation.
Despite her health battles, Amy followed her dream to become a professional snowboarder and in 2014 won bronze in the Paralympics. Today, Amy is an author, motivational speaker, actress, model, and co-founder of Adaptive Action Sports; a non-profit on a mission to provide action sports programs for those with physical disabilities.
ALISON DÉSIR
A mother, athlete, mental health coach, entrepreneur, activist, and best selling author, Alison Désir does it all. Alison founded Harlem Run and Run 4 All Women, two movements harnessing the power of running for social change.
In 2021, Women’s Running Magazine recognized Alison on their “Powerful Women of 2021” list. Outside of running, Alison is a passionate activist for social equality and mental health.
CECE TELFER
Cece Telfer is a Jamaican-American track + field athlete and made history as the first openly transgender person to win an NCAA title. Cece has helped transform the world of sports into a more accepting and open-minded place, especially as it pertains to trans athletes.
Despite not being able to compete in the US Olympics Trials because of her identity, Telfer continues to train and advocate for trans rights.
JESSAMYN STANLEY
Jessamyn Stanley is an internationally acclaimed leading voice in wellness. She gained recognition on Instagram from posting photos of herself, a self-identified queer-femme + fat femme person, practicing yoga.
With a growing following on Instagram, Jessamyn became a leading advocate for inclusivity and body positivity. Today, she is a yoga teacher, advocate, author, and founder of The Underbelly, which offers virtual yoga classes.
LIA THOMAS
Lia Thomas is a top ranked swimmer on the women’s University of Pennsylvania team. As a transgender athlete, Lia has faced many challenges specifically in the women’s sport world.
Lia’s fight for transgender rights helped lead the NCAA and National Swimming League to change their eligibility policies for transgender athletes.
MEGAN RAPINOE
Megan Rapinoe is an American professional soccer player, gold medalist, and 2x Women’s World Cup winner.
Megan has made great strides towards women’s rights and equal pay in professional sports and she is also a strong advocate and community leader in the LGBTQ+ community.
NAOMI OSAKA
Naomi Osaka is a Japanese professional tennis player. She is ranked #1 by the Women’s Tennis Association and is the first Asian player to hold the top ranking in singles.
Naomi speaks transparently about her long-time battle with anxiety and depression and actively speaks out against racial and gender inequalities.
SAHARA ROSE
Sahara Rose is a 3x best-selling author, podcast host, and Ayurvedic expert. Deepak Chopra called Sahara, “a leading voice for the millennial generation into the new paradigm shift,” as she has helped bring exploring spirituality and learning about ancient Ayurvedic wisdom to the modern millennial world. With over 25 million downloads, her podcast, “The Highest Self,” is the #1 spirituality podcast on iTunes.
SIMONE BILES
Arguably the best gymnast of all time, Simone Biles is a 32x Olympic and World Championship medalist, tying her as the most decorated gymnast to date.
Simone very publicly speaks out about mental health and is one of the first athletes to put their career on pause and prioritize mental health, forcing the sport world to reevaluate their principles. Simone is also the Chief Impact Officer of the mental health app, Cerebral.
TIFFANY IMA
Tiffany Ima is a body confidence coach and content creator. After years of struggling with an eating disorder and body dysmorphia, Tiffany embarked on a new path of self-acceptance and began looking at fitness, health, wellness, and her body in a new light.
She uses her platform to share her journey, inspire others to love themselves fully, and create a community founded on inclusivity.
