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Women’s History Month: Frisky Friday Edition

Women from all over the world (and the men who love them) marked International Women’s Day last Friday with songs, demonstrations, and even self-defense classes. But don’t worry if you missed it—the entire month of March is dedicated to celebrating the awesomeness of women in the past (and present). So in honor of Women’s History Month and Frisky Friday, here’s some fascinating facts about a few of our favorite women ever. If the teasers whet your appetite, go to the Frisky Friday archives for the full story about each of these amazing ladies.

From forever ago…

• Cleopatra. This Egyptian beauty gained power at the age of 17, and her love affairs with both Julius Caesar and Marc Antony were the stuff of legends. She stopped at nothing to keep her power—and even killed her own family members to keep control.
• Lady K’abel. This Mayan warrior queen was referred to as Kaloomte, or Supreme Warrior, a title that was usually only given to dudes. She was so revered by her people that they buried her with 1,600 different artifacts.

From not so many moons ago…

• Mata Hari. This legendary exotic dancer picked up her moves in Indonesia and is still one of the most famous dancers in history. Unfortunately, she was later accused of (and executed for) espionage by the French during World War I.

• Josephine Baker. You might remember her as the beauty dancing in her iconic and daring banana skirt, but she was also a Red Cross nurse and an underground courier for the French Resistance during WWII. For more juicy tidbits (and to find out which famous artist she hooked up with), check out our full Frisky Friday about Josephine.

• Eva Perón. Known as Evita and la dama de la esperanza , the lady of hope, she served as Argentina’s first lady from 1946-1952. Eva worked for women’s suffrage and worker’s rights, and was forever immortalized by Madonna herself in the 1996 movie Evita.

And now for some modern ladies…

•   Elizabeth Taylor. Our Frisky Friday archives would not be complete without this legend of Hollywood’s Golden Age, who was one of the most beautiful women to have ever graced the planet. Although married eight times to seven different men, Elizabeth’s greatest legacy may be the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

• Stevie Nicks. Stevie rounds out our list because of her killer musical talent and fascinating career with Fleetwood Mac. Since her years with the group, she has worked with wounded soldiers and sold millions of copies of her solo records.

There are so many more incredible women to recognize during this month, so comment and let us know your favorite lady who changed the world.

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