women slaying around the world (and instagram)

Today is International Women’s Day, and it’s important to remember women and their power in the context of history but also recognizing the woman making history today, at this moment. Around the world there are women making history and influencing culture and are still doing the work today. This is hardly an encyclopedia of all of them, but rather something to motivate you to seek, follow, and support women around the world doing fantastic and powerful work around the world.

Kimberly Drew

 

View this post on Instagram

 

As we transition from black history month to black history year, I am so glad that I got a chance to talk to @blackvoices for their #webuilthis series, edited and executed by @_tarynitup and photographed by @kgprojects.

A post shared by kimberly not kim (@museummammy) on Feb 28, 2019 at 5:09pm PST

Kimberly Drew came into our consciousness as a the social media manager for The Met, but she has evolved past just a job title and is now one of the most fascinating and influential tastemakers of the millennial generation.

Shaniqwa Jarvis

 

View this post on Instagram

 

this is me in LDN after a very amazing night. super special thank you to @kate.brindley @zzaynss for making the welcome home party smash. thank you to all my djs @radi_dadi @iammartelo @judahlos_ @rajdebah @_benjib @claraamfo for keeping the night rolling.

A post shared by shaniqwa jarvis (@sheekswinsalways) on Jul 17, 2018 at 9:06am PDT

Jarvis is a photographer that combines fine art and heavy emotions, and has captured the images of the likes of Janelle Monae and Taraji P. Henson.

Thandiswa Mazwai

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Gunzah Blaze (@thandiswamazwai) on Feb 25, 2019 at 10:41am PST

The captivating work of Thandiswa Mazwai electrifies, challenges, and keeps us rooted. In her bio it reads, “She is the leader of the past which is now the future.” We couldn’t agree more.

Raquel Willis

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Happy #InternationalWomensDay⁠ ! I’m so grateful for the powerful Black feminists like Barbara Smith and Barbara Ransby who paved the way for so many of us to live boldly and speak truth to power. They shared so much at the @schomburgcenter last night and though I’ve heard both speak multiple times, I feel the magic more and more. . “It’s important for BW to formulate our politics on our own and figure out the issues that were relevant to our various intersections. It did not mean we felt our views were superior to others. We were saying we have a right to describe it, analyze it, and figure out solutions.” – Smith . “We all have identities and social locations that matter. The conditions we exist in shape our lives. We also have to have an aerial view…and acknowledge the [systemic] structures that transcend the individual. – Ransby . I have nothing but love for my aunties! ✊🏽

A post shared by Raquel Willis (@raquel_willis) on Mar 8, 2019 at 6:33am PST

As the first Black trans executive editor of Out magazine, Willis is paving the way for to make media more a space for more Black queer folks while creating stunning selfies.

Kat Blaque

 

View this post on Instagram

 

I made this top out of a pair of old leggings. I’ve never loved my clothes as much as I do now. I love making my own stuff. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The aesthetic I was going for here was… like… Taxi…you know, the movie? Like Taxi meets Natalie Portman in Leon The Professional ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I wore this outfit to an industrial/goth afterhours warehouse party. It ended up getting shut down by the cops. Ended up going to another afterhours instead. I won’t tell you how my night went but I will say it was…interesting. 😈 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🎵 Skinny Puppy – Addiction #Gothgirls #blackgoth #blackgoths #style #altgirls #altgirl #blackaltgirls #blackchicks #naturalhair #braids

A post shared by Kathryn (@kat_blaque) on Feb 7, 2019 at 1:51pm PST

YouTube — and the internet really — wouldn’t be the same without Kat Blaque’s influence and bold stance on culture, social justice, and feminism.