Inspirational women from Time's list of most influential people

Reese Witherspoon, Emma Watson and Hillary Clinton are just a few of the names on this inspirational list...

By Emma-Louise PritchardPublished: 17 April 2015

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Misty Copeland - Ballerina

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Misty Copeland is an author, entertainer and one of the most influential ballet dancers in America. She is the first African-American solo ballerina to dance with leading company, the American Ballet Theatre. Misty has endured cultural pressures throughout her career but has always come out on top.

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Emma Watson - Actress and activist

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From all of her recent successes, Emma Watson’s most inspirational act is the launch of her HeForShe campaign. Emma takes a fresh approach to feminism in inviting men to join the fight.

Her inspiring campaign speech at the UN in September last year and her participation in the recent International Women’s Day has captured the hearts of millions.

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Pardis Sabeti - Doctor

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Pardis Sabeti played a vitally important role during the recent outbreak of Ebola. When the epidemic started, Dr.Sabeti led the team that sequenced virus samples from infected patients as soon as the outbreak began.

This was the first in-depth use of real-time DNA sequencing and allowed Dr.Pardis and her team to confirm that the virus was being spread from human to human.

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Reese Witherspoon - Actress

Mum of three, Reese Witherspoon, was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of Cheryl Strayed in Wild earlier this year. Her successful acting career, during which she has played a number of iconic figures, has now made an icon out of her.

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Laverne Cox - Actress & transgender icon

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Laverne Cox is a transgender icon and acts as an inspirational role model through her acting career in hit US series Orange is the New Black. Laverne is said to be a pioneer, sharing her story with transgender communities all over the world.

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Sarah Koenig - Journalist

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American journalist and radio personality, Sarah Koenig, revolutionised radio with her series Serial which documented, in detail, an unsolved American murder case.

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Julianne Moore - Actress

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In the Time’s list, Julianne Moore was described as ‘fearless’ and commended for her performance in A Single Man. She is loved by colleagues for her presence on and off screen.

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Angela Merkel - Politician

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Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, has changed the face of German politics. Her efforts have been recognised worldwide.

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Rula Ghani - Activist

Activist and First Lady of Afghanistan, Rula Ghani, has vowed to improve the living standards of women in Afghanistan. She is known not to hide behind her husband and uses her status to make a difference.

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Obiageli Ezekwesili - Activist and politician

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Former Minister of Education in Nigeria, Obiageli Ezekwesili, used her status as a platform to champion the #BringBackOurGirls campaign and reach millions.

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Hillary Clinton - Politician

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Hillary Clinton has recently announced her Presidential campaign. If she is successful, she will be the first female President of America in history.

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Taylor Swift - Musician

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Multi-award-winning musician, Taylor Swift, is celebrated for writing her own songs, creating popular music and for achieving so much at just the start of her career.

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Björk - Musician

Bjork is commended for creating experimental music using the latest in technology, sound, images and fashion.

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Malala Yousafzai - Activist

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Malala Yousafzai is a champion for girl’s education in Pakistan and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in December last year.

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