Independent Women 2026 – The Influence List | EUROtoday

Extraordinary ladies form the world and encourage these round us. That’s why The Independent is as soon as once more marking International Women’s Day with our annual affect record, celebrating 50 ladies who’ve had a robust affect on British society over the past 12 months.

Excelling throughout sport, the humanities, public service, and advocacy, these ladies are boldly utilizing their voice and expertise to vary the world.

For the fourth 12 months operating, The Independent is publishing its affect record on 8 March. Compiled by employees, the record shines a highlight on the 50 ladies whose affect has had a big affect throughout the nation over the past 12 months.

This 12 months, the record is concentrated on the theme “give to gain”, in recognition of the extraordinary sacrifices many of those ladies have needed to make to succeed.

Topping the record is England’s super-sub Chloe Kelly, who made a outstanding comeback from probably the most troublesome interval of her profession to cement her standing as a nationwide legend, scoring the profitable penalty on the Euros in 2025.

Also featured are Hillsborough campaigner Margaret Aspinall, who has been on the forefront of the tireless marketing campaign for justice over the Hillsborough catastrophe for 37 years, and Amy Hunt, who has bravely spoken out about on-line radicalisation following the homicide of her mom and two sisters, Carol, Louise, and Hannah Hunt.

As common, The Independent has made the deliberate determination to not exclude ladies who some readers could disagree with politically, and neither does the record endorse any specific standpoint.

Below, we observe a number of the outstanding achievements of those 50 impartial ladies.

1. Chloe Kelly

There was just one girl who might have taken England’s profitable penalty on the Euros. Stepping as much as the spot, Chloe Kelly appeared cool and picked up because the nation held its breath. But it was by no means in query. The squad’s super-sub fired dwelling a staggering 68mph shot – quicker than any aim within the earlier Premier League season – and with it, England’s Lionesses claimed their second successive Euros title.

Kelly has develop into one thing of a nationwide hero for her knack for pulling her group out of sticky conditions, and it’s this high quality that has earned her the highest spot on The Independent’s record of probably the most influential ladies of 2026. But her success got here after what the ahead described as a “dark place” in her profession. Frozen out by her former membership, Manchester City, she took issues into her personal palms, posting a press release to Instagram asking to be launched because of the affect on her profession and psychological well being. She finally joined Arsenal on mortgage and went on to win the Champions League with the Gunners on the finish of the season.

“Sometimes it’s the dark moments that get you to those winning moments, so for me speaking up and taking control of my own destiny, writing your own script, was really important,” Kelly instructed The Independent in an interview for International Women’s Day. “I don’t think I’d be in the position I am in without doing that, so I think it shows to women and young girls that sometimes what has seemed the toughest [thing to do] is probably the best.”

She additionally is aware of her affect goes far past soccer. “I feel like now we’re not just inspiring young girls, we’re changing the game,” Kelly stated. “We’re changing the mindset and young boys are inspired by us too, which is so special.”

2. Lily Allen

It was a mix of heartbreak and rage that drove British pop star Lily Allen again into the studio for the primary time in seven years. Reeling from her cut up from Stranger Things star David Harbour, Allen poured all of her efforts into West End Girl, an unflinchingly sincere portrayal of the breakdown of a wedding that includes her signature acerbic, witty songwriting. Songs reminiscent of “Pussy Palace”, “Madeline” and “4chan Stan” have been about shock revelations transpiring within the relationship, whereas “Nonmonogamummy” and “Beg for Me” targeted on the heartache of attempting to please your associate on the expense of your individual identification and self-worth.

Raved about by critics, West End Girl shot to quantity two on the UK’s official albums chart, whereas Allen’s theatre tour bought out immediately, fuelling demand for an area run going down later this 12 months. Yet the album’s affect goes far past mere business success.

Allen’s candid discussions of intercourse, infidelity, marriage and trendy relationships sparked widespread dialog, with The Independent’s Helen Coffey noting that she had “broken the last break-up taboo” for girls who’re anticipated to remain quiet concerning the ins and outs of a failed relationship. Allen herself has stated ladies have reached out to her with intimate particulars of their very own relationship struggles. By rediscovering her voice, Allen has helped numerous ladies discover their very own.

3. Jessie Buckley

Jessie Buckley, the frontrunner for this 12 months’s Best Actress prize on the Oscars for her devastating work in Hamnet, feels a bit like an outdated good friend – maybe as a result of many people first noticed her in an Andrew Lloyd Webber expertise present on BBC One, or maybe as a result of her large British Vogue cowl story in January opened together with her apologising to journalist Hayley Maitland for her mucky automotive, then expressing how determined she was to speak concerning the Celebrity Traitors finale.

The 36-year-old Irish actor plumbs the depths of her soul in Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet, taking part in the largely ambiguous spouse of William Shakespeare, who’s gripped by despair following the loss of life of the couple’s son, Hamnet. For her efficiency, she has – as of writing – received the Bafta and the Golden Globe, with (most likely) the Oscar subsequent on the docket. But Hamnet is simply the newest in a run of gorgeous work by Buckley, which has ranged from the hardscrabble ambition of her working-class country-and-western singer in Wild Rose, to the damaging younger mom she performed to an Oscar nod in The Lost Daughter. “My job is to be human,” she instructed British Vogue in January. “To make people feel rather than becoming disembodied, disconnected, disengaged.”

It has been a big 12 months for Buckley personally in addition to professionally: she had her first youngster, a child woman whose title she has not publicly disclosed, together with her psychological well being employee husband. Speaking to The New York Times’ Modern Love podcast after turning into a mom, she stated: “Everything’s new. This little human’s new. You’re new. Your relationship’s new. Your whole relationship to the world is new. It’s intense, but it’s just – I just love it. I love it so much.”

4. Princess of Wales

The Princess of Wales has continued to embody energy, willpower, and hope as she step by step returned to royal duties final 12 months following most cancers remedy. Now in remission, her honesty and openness in talking about her personal expertise will undoubtedly have helped lots of dealing with related challenges really feel much less alone. Speaking on World Cancer Day final month, Kate stated a most cancers journey is just not a linear expertise and that “there are moments of fear and exhaustion” but in addition “moments of strength, kindness and profound connection”.

Despite her private challenges, her mission to shine a lightweight on early childhood growth has gone from energy to energy. Working with the Royal Foundation, she has pioneered a number of initiatives exploring the hyperlinks between formative years and large social challenges reminiscent of dependancy and psychological well being issues in maturity. In December 2025, she hosted her fifth annual “Together at Christmas” carol service, becoming a member of neighborhood inspirations and younger leaders to concentrate on the facility of connection and neighborhood.

Amid a troublesome 12 months for the royal household, Kate’s stoicism and dedication to her values function a robust reminder of responsibility and accountability.

5. Shabana Mahmood

Shabana Mahmood is redefining the standard picture of a house secretary. A Muslim with Pakistani mother and father, she grew up in Birmingham, the place her father owned a nook store and was chair of the native Labour Party. She attended a women’ grammar faculty earlier than learning legislation at Oxford.

Mahmood was a practising barrister till 2010, when she was elected MP for her dwelling constituency of Birmingham Ladywood. A parliamentary constituency with one of many highest unemployment charges within the West Midlands and the place most constituents are non-white, she remains to be the world’s MP right this moment.

She served within the Labour Party’s Treasury group earlier than rising shortly via ministerial ranks, and is famend at Westminster for her no-nonsense strategy and dealing 16-hour days. Her hardline views on immigration have left her a controversial determine among the many extra left-wing celebration trustworthy, together with her insisting “illegal immigration is tearing the country apart”. But many look to her as a possible successor to Sir Keir Starmer, and her affect places her within the prime 5 on our record.

6. Claudia Winkleman

Queen of TV Claudia Winkleman lights up each display she graces. The presenter, famed for her signature fringe and faux tan mixture, ended final 12 months by leaving the very present that helped make her title, Strictly Come Dancing, after 22 years related to the BBC hit. It was an enormous determination for the star – however whereas she could also be hanging up her dancing sneakers, she stays one of many largest names within the enterprise. She is launching her personal prime-time BBC chat present subsequent week, an honour Winkleman stated had left her “over the moon”. It will comply with her internet hosting of the stratospherically profitable actuality present The Traitors, which owes a lot of its success to her dry quips, camp set-pieces and inimitable sense of favor.

Last summer season, Winkleman was recognised for her providers to broadcasting at Windsor Castle, the place she was made an MBE by King Charles III. Her heat, wit, and charisma have earned her nationwide treasure standing and a excessive rating for the third 12 months operating in our affect record.

7. Blaise Metreweli

Blaise Metreweli is the primary girl to function chief of the UK’s overseas spy service, MI6. The company’s 18th “C”, she has labored her manner up via the intelligence providers as a profession officer. Because of the character of her work, a lot of her background is shrouded in secrecy – however it’s recognized that she spent most of her profession working within the Middle East and Europe.

She later held roles because the director common of MI6’s Q part, answerable for know-how and innovation, and in addition in MI5.

Her appointment, dubbed “historic” by the prime minister, comes at a time when Britain faces new and unprecedented safety challenges from the world over. Her affect in work that retains Britons protected every single day sees her named at quantity seven on this 12 months’s affect record.

8. Indhu Rubasingham

Indhu Rubasingham made historical past final 12 months by turning into the primary girl and the primary individual of color to guide the National Theatre. Having taken north London’s Kiln Theatre from energy to energy after a decade in cost, from a controversial title change and much-needed constructing improve to a blinding creative programme that included convincing Zadie Smith to jot down her first play, she was the plain candidate for the most important job in British theatre. Rubasingham has at all times had a particular means to pinpoint and champion work that’s alive to political points whereas sustaining a joyful creativity.

The path has been removed from simple – she beforehand revealed that, in her early days, she was instructed one of the simplest ways for her to have a profession in theatre was for her to begin an Asian firm. But Rubasingham – endorsed by former colleagues as courageous and fearless – has proven her mettle, and the good and good of the performing world are flocking to work together with her. Her first season is nothing if not a mirrored image of this, bringing A-list star casting like Paul Mescal and Cate Blanchett, in addition to a musical from British grime legend Stormzy.

Speaking to The Independent for International Women’s Day, Rubasingham spoke of the contributions ladies have made to assist her all through her profession. “No one does anything on their own, no matter what the narrative, what the news report, what the headline, we all need to help and support each other,” she stated.

“So many opportunities, kindness… women just going, ‘We see you, we know what you’re going through and don’t worry,’ just that reassurance that we need to give each other is just really crucial and I’ve had that peppered throughout my whole career.”

9. Margaret Aspinall

Margaret Aspinall has been on the forefront of a tireless 37-year marketing campaign for justice after the Hillsborough catastrophe. It has been a marketing campaign met with hurdle after hurdle, however she has refused to provide in – demanding the reality, accountability and a change within the legislation. That lengthy combat reached a significant landmark in September 2025, with the introduction of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, referred to as the Hillsborough Law.

Her son James was solely 18 when he was certainly one of 97 Liverpool followers who have been unlawfully killed on the FA Cup semi-final in 1989. The new legislation will legally compel public officers to behave with candour and transparency, and goals to stop cover-ups.

The identical month the invoice was dropped at parliament, Aspinall launched the prime minister earlier than his keynote deal with to the Labour Party convention in her dwelling metropolis. In her personal speech, which was met with a rapturous spherical of applause, Aspinall warned the federal government in opposition to “watering down” a legislation that might imply no person has to endure what she has battled for 4 many years.

Speaking to The Independent for International Women’s Day, Aspinall mirrored on her years of campaigning: “What kept me going obviously was the love of my child, but also, when you looked at the families, the love that they had for their children and their husbands, their fathers, or no matter who they were.

“They all suffered… but it always takes a woman to try and change things for the good.”

10. Sarah Mullally

Dame Sarah Mullally made historical past when she was named as the primary feminine archbishop of Canterbury at the beginning of this 12 months. If her presence on the prime of the Church of England wasn’t groundbreaking sufficient, she has additionally vowed to speak brazenly about misogyny in a sphere that has lengthy been seen as completely a male area. The former chief nursing officer is decided to vary that.

Speaking as she was confirmed in January, she stated: “I’m conscious that being in this role, it’s important for me to speak of it [misogyny], because there are some that don’t necessarily have the status or power of this role, and feel more hesitant to do it. I commit myself to making an environment where all people can flourish and which is safer for all.”

She has faced backlash from her appointment, both from those who do not believe a woman is suitable for the archbishop role and from critics of her decisions during her time as bishop of London. But the gravity of her historic appointment earns her a place in the top 10 on this year’s list.

11. Kemi Badenoch

In a challenging year for the Conservative Party, leader Kemi Badenoch has shown resilience. As senior politicians and trusted shadow cabinet members turned their backs on her in favour of Reform UK, Badenoch held her nerve, painting her party as the one of “serious people” over “drama queens”.

In October, she made headlines with her controversial announcement that she would withdraw the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if the Conservative Party won the next general election. Criticised by many as trying to ape Reform UK – the party many of her own politicians have defected to – she has insisted that what sets her party apart is her rejection of identity politics.

As the first Black leader of a major UK political party, her ascension is extraordinary – but she won’t make much noise about that. Instead, she prefers to focus on her job of challenging the government and championing what she calls “anti-woke” values. Speaking about what separates her Tories from Reform and Labour, she said: “Both deal in grievance, both divide our country into tribes and labels. Both practice identity politics, which will destroy our country. And I am saying no. No to division and no to identity politics.

“What Britain needs is national unity. I am Black, I am a woman, I am a Conservative.”

12. Lucy Bronze

Shortly after the Lionesses lifted their second consecutive European Championship trophy, Lucy Bronze made a shock announcement. She had played the entire tournament with a fractured tibia and in “immense pain”. Not that anyone would have known. She started every game, and produced an iconic England moment in the quarter-final against Sweden as she first wrapped up her own hamstring injury, only to rip off the bandages while marching forward to score in the penalty shootout.

“What defines her is that resilience, that fight,” England manager Sarina Wiegman said. But Bronze has made a habit of powering through challenges to achieve her goals. Over the last year, she has also spoken openly about her experiences with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – something she discovered she had during a Lionesses training camp.

“I just learned more about myself, understood why in certain situations I saw things differently to other people or acted in a different way to other people,” the 34-year-old said. She has spoken about how her diagnosis has allowed her to achieve on her own terms. “All the things I have because of autism have worked in my advantage,” she said, at a time when women’s experiences with neurodiversity are still rarely heard.

13. Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla has been a lifelong advocate for women facing domestic and sexual abuse. But last year she opened up about her own experience of indecent assault for the first time, speaking candidly about how she had been attacked on a train to Paddington station when she was 16 or 17 years old. Camilla said she had been able to fight the man off by hitting him with the heel of her shoe after he touched her, and had managed to get him arrested once the train pulled into the station.

She has used this personal experience to advocate for education and a focus on young men to ensure they do not become perpetrators of abuse. In a conversation with John and Amy Hunt, whose family were killed in a crossbow attack carried out by Louise’s ex-boyfriend, she said: “If you can get them early enough and teach them respect for women, I think that’s so important to get into schools … and the more I look at it, it is the most important thing we can do now.”

The Queen’s continued commitment to highlighting the evils of domestic abuse and her bravery in speaking out over her own experience has earned her a place on the influence list for the fourth consecutive year.

14. Olivia Dean

Olivia Dean’s star is firmly in the ascendant. Having broken through in 2025 with hit singles “Man I Need” and “Nice to Each Other”, she became the first British woman to debut at number one on the UK albums chart since Adele (who did so in 2021) with her second album, The Art of Loving. She launched a charm offensive of the US – performing on late-night shows including Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon – that helped push the record from number 82 on the US charts to number three by mid-January of 2026. She was honoured with the Grammy for best new artist that same month, before reigning over the Brit Awards by winning in all four of the categories she was nominated in.

Dean’s soulful pop sound plays a huge role in her appeal – there’s a lightness to it that serves as a balm in our fractured world – as does her favoured theme of contemporary romance. Songs such as “Nice to Each Other” urge her partner to live in the moment and enjoy one another’s company, while “Loud” chastises a lover for pursuing her, then going quiet once he gets what he wanted. She’s a truly modern artist making music that feels wonderfully timeless.

She has also used her powerful platform to openly criticise Ticketmaster and other ticketing platforms for allowing tickets to her upcoming tour to be resold by scalpers at huge mark-ups, labelling the market “exploitative and unregulated”. The outcry saw Ticketmaster and AXS cap resale ticket prices for Dean’s tour and provide refunds for fans who paid above face value. The result showed Dean’s determination to secure meaningful artistic agency over her own performances and treatment of her fans.

15. Ellie Kildunne

Ellie Kildunne is the face of England women’s rugby. Aged 26, she emerged as the brightest star from a supremely talented Red Roses squad who ruthlessly played their way to the very top last summer, lifting the World Cup on home soil.

The fullback has magic in her boots and dazzled with two tries in the semi-finals, followed by another individual score to light up the historic final against Canada at Twickenham. But she is also a clear leader both on and off the pitch, a charismatic force who has come to encompass so much of the confidence and flair England is known for.

She has a magnetic quality that has attracted her own legion of fans and it is that appeal that helped Kildunne finish second at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2025, as the first-ever female rugby player to be nominated for the prestigious accolade. Her achievements have also been recognised by Barbie-maker Mattel, who chose Kildunne as one of four female professional rugby players to honour with a doll of their own.

16. Amy Hunt

In the most painful of circumstances, Amy Hunt has bravely spoken out about women’s safety. In 2025, along with her father, BBC racing commentator John Hunt, she launched the Hunt Family Fund in memory of her mother Carol and sisters, Hannah and Louise. The fund raised more than £250,000 for nationwide charities combating violence against women, and gave a platform to a vital conversation about domestic abuse.

She has spoken publicly about the “rampant” online radicalisation of young men, including in conversation with Queen Camilla, advocating for educating against misogyny in schools alongside the Queen.

The Hunt family’s lives were shattered in July 2024 after Amy’s mother, Carol, and sisters Louise and Hannah were killed in their Hertfordshire home by Louise’s ex-boyfriend, Kyle Clifford.

Amy told the BBC that the minute Clifford left their home on the day of the incident, “my mum, Hannah and Louise became a statistic. They became victims of Kyle Clifford.

“I want to breathe life back into my mum, Hannah and Louise as fully-rounded people.”

17. Sarina Wiegman

Sarina Wiegman may be Dutch, but with two consecutive Euros titles secured for the Lionesses under her calm leadership, she has earned her status as a legend of English football. So much so, she was given an honorary damehood in last year’s New Year Honours list.

The first-ever men’s or women’s manager to reach five consecutive major international tournament finals, Wiegman has smashed records throughout her five years at the helm. At Euro 2025, she empowered her players, helping them stay together in difficult moments, and brought an important clarity to help decide the frantic final stages of England’s knockout games.

Her success at the Euros saw her named women’s coach of the year at the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards and BBC sports personality coach of the year for a second time. Picking up the award, she had one message: “I would like to say that every coach – especially every female coach – enjoy yourself, have fun. You can absolutely make a difference.”

18. Karen Carney

When Karen Carney announced her retirement from football in 2019, she had already cemented her place in Lionesses history as the third-most capped England player of all time, a fitting legacy for one of the greatest players of her generation and an electric winger known as “the wizard” for her technical skill.

But Carney wowed crowds on a different stage in 2025, lifting Strictly Come Dancing’s coveted glitterball alongside professional dancer Carlos Gu. The first footballer to lift the trophy, she won the nation’s hearts through her impressive dancing and honesty over online abuse she had received as a leading female pundit covering the men’s game.

Speaking to The Independent about the importance of female relationships in her life for International Women’s Day, Carney said: “I think I’m really lucky to have amazing teammates that actually are my friends and it goes beyond the football pitch.

“I just think friendship is just beyond what you think it initially is when you join.”

19. Dame Esther Rantzen

Dame Esther Rantzen has been a vocal and passionate champion of the assisted dying bill following her own diagnosis of stage four lung cancer in 2023. The controversial bill, which passed the Commons in a historic vote in June 2025, now looks set to fail after deliberation in the Lords. She has used her voice to speak candidly about her experiences living with a terminal illness, standing up for those suffering in unimaginable pain and their families.

Dame Esther is among the high-profile critics of the law as it stands, branding it “cruel”. Alongside Kim Leadbeater MP, who introduced the bill to parliament, she has campaigned tirelessly for its passage, continuing to lobby the Lords as it approaches its day of reckoning in May.

She also backed The Independent’s recent SafeCall campaign, which helped charity Missing People launch a national lifeline designed to support the 72,000 children who go missing in the UK every year. Dame Esther said: “So many young people who suffer exploitation don’t feel they can ask for help and be listened to, at a time when they are scared, alone and vulnerable.

“This new service means at last there is a way to enable them to seek help with confidence and hope.”

20. Lucy Powell

Lucy Powell has soared through the Labour ranks over the last year, winning a hard-fought deputy leadership contest that propelled her into the heart of government. Her comeback came less than two months after she was shuffled out of Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet following the resignation of her predecessor, Angela Rayner. But Powell demonstrated remarkable determination, restoring her place in the cabinet by beating rival Bridget Phillipson to be Sir Keir’s second in command.

Powell is known for her commitment to “progressive Labour values”. She notably used her campaign platform to criticise the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s guidance on transgender issues, which was issued in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling on biological sex and has been criticised by trans campaigners.

She previously told The Independent that she has always fought for women’s rights, but sees “absolutely no contradiction in fighting for those things, whilst also at the same time being really clear that I support the trans community and people who are trans, who are some of the most marginalised, ostracised people in society, who suffer greatly with mental health and homelessness.”

21. Tracey Emin

“Britain’s greatest living female artist? Definitely,” declared The Independent’s review of Tracey Emin’s new show at the Tate, a major retrospective set to be one of the blockbuster art shows of the year. A Second Life, so-called because of how Emin sees the cancer she was diagnosed with in 2020 as a moment of artistic rebirth, is the crowning moment of one of the most talked-about careers in art.

From her Turner-nominated work “My Bed”, which made her a leading figure in not just the Young British Artists movement but the 1990s Cool Britannia era as a whole, to her personal, expressionistic paintings, Emin has been a magnet for viewers and critics alike since she burst onto the scene. For her, the raw, unfiltered female body is a vessel for expression and confession, and nothing is off the table.

In 2025 she exhibited “Sex and Solitude” at the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, Italy, and had a second show at Yale University in the US. Tate Modern’s A Second Life, curated by outgoing Tate boss Maria Balshaw, showcases some of her most famous works alongside others that have never been shown before.

Her status as the art world’s great survivor was confirmed by the fearless way she overcame recent health issues, after being diagnosed with bladder cancer during the pandemic – something she discussed with total frankness. “I thought, ‘Oh, this is so difficult,’ after I was told I may not be around at Christmas,” she told The Independent’s editor-in-chief Geordie Greig in 2024. “My tactic was, ‘I’ll just let death take care of itself, because if you’re going to die, you’re going to die; I’ll get on with the living.’”

It is this journey that her Tate show will centre around: her near-death experience with cancer, and her joy emerging from it. Speaking to Greig once again ahead of her Tate show, she said: “I put all my energy into art, always have done, always will – against death or illness or pain, art wins. I feel lucky, and I feel happy.”

22. Sally Wainwright

Sally Wainwright is behind some of the country’s most beloved TV shows, including Gentleman Jack and Happy Valley. She is famed for her funny, heartfelt, and authentic stories, which never shy away from showcasing complex women, and her 2025 drama Riot Women was no exception.

Telling the tale of a group of menopausal women who form a rock band to let rip on their inner rage, the show received glowing reviews and is tipped for numerous Bafta TV nominations later this month. Even today, writing about middle-aged women who are more than just mothers or background figures remains a defiant act, and nobody does it better than Wainwright.

Independent, flawed, and complicated, Wainwright’s women are much-needed trailblazers in a TV world where they are often ignored, earning her a place on our influence list this year.

23. Megan Jones

Charismatic centre Megan Jones was the emotional heartbeat of England’s Rugby World Cup triumph on home soil, starring throughout the tournament to earn a nomination for world rugby player of the year.

Jones went into the tournament without both of her parents, who she lost within four months of each other at the end of 2024. She has spoken eloquently about the impact of the devastating losses both on her game and her life outside it.

“I think women’s rugby is very unique,” she said, speaking to The Independent for International Women’s Day. “It celebrates all shapes and sizes, all weird and wonderful people. I think that’s what makes this game so beautiful and it allows everyone to be celebrated and really feel themselves.”

Born in Cardiff, Jones pursued her professional dream across the border and is a two-time Olympian in sevens, alongside her Red Roses exploits.

24. Erin Doherty

Erin Doherty gave one of the most memorable performances of 2025 as she came face-to-face with Owen Cooper’s Jamie Miller in the groundbreaking Netflix hit Adolescence, which told the story of a schoolboy who kills his female classmate. Her magnetic portrayal of child psychologist Briony Ariston, in what is arguably the most tense and electric episode of the four-part series, earned her an Emmy for best supporting actress as well as a Golden Globe nomination. Equally significantly, it helped launch a powerful national conversation over masculinity and online radicalisation.

“For me, the real tidal wave was just social media,” she told The Independent of the rise of misogyny among schoolboys. “I took a step back from it quite early on because I was able, luckily, to recognise how addictive and how all-consuming that world can be. And so, it does terrify me.”

The series represented a career breakthrough for the 33-year-old, who previously played Princess Anne in The Crown. In 2026, she is set to continue her extraordinary trajectory, starring next in Hugo Blick’s BBC drama California Avenue, alongside Bill Nighy and Helena Bonham Carter.

25. Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham hasn’t had the easiest last few months, with her son Brooklyn’s scorched-earth statement on his estrangement from his family – which included a cruelly ambiguous reference to an “inappropriate” dance his mother performed at his wedding – leaving the biggest mark on Brand Beckham since Rebecca Loos. But Beckham herself has continued to flourish, responding to the saga with a dignified silence and continuing to prove her bona fides as a fashion designer and cultural icon.

In January, mere days after Brooklyn published a series of Instagram posts announcing his intention to no longer speak with his family, Beckham was honoured with France’s Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for her work in fashion and entrepreneurship. And that “inappropriate dancing” reference speedily became a meme, social media ablaze with old clips of Beckham cavorting around Top of the Pops miming to her post-Spice Girls solo singles – many of which, in further testament to the immortal and very camp reverence for Posh Spice, then shot up the official singles sales and official download charts.

Throw in Beckham’s Netflix docuseries last October, which saw her discuss her historic struggles with disordered eating for the first time, and the Victoria Beckham train continues to roll on, the public enraptured and always eager to find out where it’ll go next.

26. Sadia Kabeya

It has been a big 12 months for women’s rugby, and perhaps an even bigger one for Sadia Kabeya. Aged just 23, she played a vital role in the formidable England side that lifted the women’s World Cup on home soil last summer – a particularly memorable moment for Kabeya, who was named player of the match in the 33-13 victory over Canada.

Her contributions off the pitch are equally impressive. Kabeya is determined to use her platform to promote Black women in rugby, speaking openly about how she felt she needed to change parts of herself to fit in when she started playing. Her work with Gilbert Rugby to produce a satin scrum cap to help prevent rubbing, dryness and breakage for people in the Black hair community is an example of how the 23-year-old flanker is using her influence to make sport more inclusive.

27. Maggie O’Farrell

Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet has been making us cry since the novel won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2020. Since then, it has had a major stage adaptation with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and this year it became a star-studded film which has attracted awards left, right and centre, including an Oscar nod for the author for best adapted screenplay alongside director Chloe Zhao.

Telling the imagined story of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes, the film depicts how the pair’s loss of their son may have influenced the seminal tragedy Hamlet. Starring a host of British talent, including Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley, the production represents the best of British on a global stage. Her book has had its critics who have questioned the truth of the story, but O’Farrell has argued it is unlikely Shakespeare was not inspired by his family in his work.

There’s yet more to come from the novelist, known for her tender writing about grief, families and secrets. In June, she will release her 10th novel, Land, which will tell the story of Ireland through a father and son.

O’Farrell, who started her career as an arts journalist at The Independent on Sunday, doesn’t let critics get in her way. As she told The Independent in an interview: “Sometimes I meet other writers who want to put me down, but it doesn’t bother me. I have a thick skin. If somebody is going to be sexist, it’s their problem and their anger belongs to them, and it doesn’t belong to me.”

28. Emerald Fennell

Across three movies – the prickly revenge tale Promising Young Woman, the country house psycho-thriller Saltburn, and last month’s lurid adaptation of Wuthering Heights – Emerald Fennell has cemented herself as a very English provocateur. The 40-year-old’s work is loud, hyper-stylised and bewitching, undeniably commercial in ethos, and built to be loved and loathed in equal measure.

And it arguably reached its peak with Wuthering Heights, which chopped and screwed Emily Brontë’s sumptuous source material until it resembled a salacious pop-video erotic thriller, with starring roles for Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi and soundtracked by Charli xcx. Many critics scoffed, Brontë fans rebelled, but others saw something charged, magnetic and enjoyably ludicrous about it. And that fit Fennell’s vision for the film, which was inspired by her initial takeaways from Brontë’s book when she first read it aged 14. “It cracked me open,” she has said. “It’s completely singular. It’s so sexy. It’s so horrible. It’s so devastating.”

The film has made nearly $200m at the global box office so far, proving our collective appetite for glamour, grandeur and shots of tortured couples going at it in the rain. In essence, Fennell understands us – the things we desire, the things we reject, and the things we love to hate. Few filmmakers are as wedded to the modern cultural id.

29. Rachel Reeves

Rachel Reeves has battled through a challenging year at the top of the Treasury. While economic growth remains sluggish and questions over her approach linger, she has continued to stick to her strong “fiscal rules”, presenting a steely front in the face of criticism.

She insists her plan is working, using her recent spring statement to cite the fastest growth of any G7 country in Europe and defending her “moral choice” to reverse the two-child benefit cap. But her time in office has not been without controversy. She was accused of misleading the public on the state of the country’s finances to justify her tax increases, and has been the face of several U-turns over initially unpopular policies such as a proposed cut to disability benefits.

Addressing parliament as she delivered her first Budget in 2024, she said in a powerful message: “This is the first Budget in this country’s history to be delivered by a woman. I am deeply proud. Girls and young women everywhere, I say, let there be no ceiling on your ambitions, your hopes and your dreams.”

Writing in The Independent this International Women’s Day, she said: “International Women’s Day is about celebration, but it is also a reminder that history does not change by itself. It changes when people decide that what seemed ‘normal’ is no longer acceptable, and then do the hard, practical work of building something better.”

30. Aimee Lou Wood

Aimee Lou Wood showed she is unafraid to hit back at cheap shots over her appearance this year when she publicly shamed Saturday Night Live for a distasteful joke about her teeth.

The 32-year-old condemned the sketch that impersonated her with exaggerated prosthetic teeth as “mean and unfunny”, and showed that women need not sit back and take sexist and cruel criticism – not least because her teeth are the last thing we should be focusing on when it comes to Wood. As Aimee in Netflix’s Sex Education, she stole every scene she was in, and received huge praise for her depiction of a sexual assault storyline. Then, she stole hearts around the world with her role as the ever-cheerful Chelsea in The White Lotus, Mike White’s dark satire on the super-rich. Her widely lauded performance earned her Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

Wood is also an outspoken ally for the trans community, who notably spoke out following the UK Supreme Court’s ruling on the legal definition of a woman in April last year. Posting on Instagram, she said she had been left with “pure rage” following the decision.

31. Hannah Hampton

Before the Euros, the focus on England’s new No 1 was intense. Hampton would not just be starting for the Lionesses, but would be stepping into the shoes left behind by Mary Earps, who had become an England fan favourite and the world’s best goalkeeper before suddenly retiring from international football before the tournament.

Hampton, though, stepped up when her country needed her. She impressed with her brilliant distribution and command of her box, before her fantastic saves kept the Lionesses alive as they teetered on the brink of an early exit. It helped set England up for a second successive title victory, helped in no small part by two memorable saves from the spot against Spain in the final. It earned her the Yashin Trophy at the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, presented to the world’s best female goalkeeper.

These accomplishments are made all the more remarkable when considering Hampton’s personal challenges. Born with strabismus – commonly known as a squint – she was once told she might never compete in elite-level sport. Later, she discovered she also had impaired depth perception, leaving her a uniquely difficult path to navigate as an athlete.

“I was told from a young age that I couldn’t play football, that it wouldn’t be a profession I could pursue,” she said. “But here I am.”

32. Ellie Goldstein

Ellie Goldstein was a joy to watch on Strictly Come Dancing last year – an opportunity the actor and model told the BBC was a “dream come true”. But she has had to fight harder than most to get there.

In a recent interview, Goldstein’s mother Yvonne revealed that when her daughter was born, a nurse told her she had Down syndrome and asked if she wanted to leave her at the hospital. But her baby came home with her, and Yvonne raised Goldstein to feel confident that she could do anything she set her mind to.

Goldstein never looked back. She became the first model with Down syndrome to feature on the cover of Vogue and appear in a campaign for Gucci. The 24-year-old has also clocked up an Emmy nomination for her role in a BBC adaptation of Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers, and has been named in the Business of Fashion 500, a list of people influencing the global fashion industry.

Speaking to Vogue for her cover story in 2023, Goldstein revealed that having Down syndrome has taught her to be herself and not be afraid “to do things louder in the world”.

She said: “I want to show you can achieve anything if you really want to – never give up on your hopes, dreams and aspirations. My disability never stops me.”

33. Leah Williamson

A European champion with both Arsenal and the Lionesses, Williamson was immense in both the finals of the Champions League and Euro 2025, marshalling the defensive line to defy the attacking talents of Barcelona and Spain. It’s fair to say the Lionesses captain has cemented her place as both an England and Arsenal legend over the last 12 months, and burnished her trophy cabinet along the way.

Williamson’s influence is felt both on and off the pitch. During games, she is a commanding leader and a clear voice of authority for her team. Away from matches, she has advocated passionately for access to football for girls in school and LGBT+ rights.

Speaking to The Independent for International Women’s Day last year, she warned that the fight for gender equality in football is at a “dangerous point” where actions aren’t matching words.

“What you hope is that the people in power are the ones who do what’s right in those circumstances and push in the direction that we think we’ve been travelling in, because any progress, regardless of how slow it is, is a win,” she said. “We cannot go backwards.”

34. Jess Phillips

Jess Phillips has continued to use her voice as a fierce advocate for women and girls at the heart of the government. At the start of the year, she confronted Elon Musk’s Grok over its ability to digitally “strip” victims in a move that she said invited a “deluge of hate” against her on social media. She led efforts to criminalise deepfake intimate images following the furore, bringing forward new laws to act on the urgency of the situation.

She has also been at the forefront of the government’s new violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy. Launched in December, the strategy has the ambitious target of halving violence against women and girls within a decade, and includes a crackdown on deepfake abuse online.

“We all have to recognise everywhere that it happens that we tell girls that they are lesser, that they are sexual objects, that they are owned,” Phillips, who was also named on last year’s influence list, told The Independent at the time.

“And we have to do everything possible – my responsibility is to make sure that our laws do that.”

35. Gabby Logan

A force of broadcasting excellence, Gabby Logan has helped break barriers for female sports presenters for more than 25 years. After regularly deputising for Gary Lineker on Match of the Day, in 2025 she was announced as one of three new permanent presenters on the BBC’s flagship football show – something she called a “career goal”.

Throughout her career, Logan has used her influence to advocate for the advancement of visibility of women’s sports. Speaking after receiving her MBE for services to sports broadcasting and the promotion of women in sport in 2020, she said: “For me, women’s sport and the increase in the coverage of women’s sport is not just about little girls watching television and thinking I could be a footballer – it is about everybody thinking, ‘I can do things that I did not think were possible before.’

“This is for me one of the great powers of sport in that it opens your mind to lots of different possibilities.”

36. Dame Victoria Sharp

Dame Victoria Sharp will retire this year after an impressive and dedicated career at the top of the courts. She became the first woman to lead the High Court’s largest division in 2019 when she took on the role as president of the King’s Bench Division, and has used her position to champion transparency in our courtrooms.

Perhaps her most notable change has been the introduction of livestreaming in the Court of Appeal and the broadcasting of sentencing in the crown courts. During her time at the helm, she has also overseen the work of judges across the country trying the most serious criminal cases, including through the unprecedented challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Under her leadership, England and Wales was one of the only jurisdictions in the world to keep sitting at the time.

First called to the bar in 1979, Dame Victoria was named a QC in 2001 and was later appointed as a justice of the High Court in 2009.

37. Zarah Sultana

Zara Sultana has been a leading voice in a radical call for change in British politics. The former Labour politician, who co-founded the socialist Your Party alongside Jeremy Corbyn, recently lost out on a bid to be its parliamentary leader. The party has been marred by months of internal spats, but has still drummed up around 50,000 members thanks to its left-wing ideals and charismatic leadership.

Sultana has made a name for herself in Britain’s left-wing political landscape by refusing to relent on her personal values. First elected to parliament as a member of the Labour Party representing Coventry South in 2019, Sultana made headlines for her fierce stances on the conflict in Gaza, the climate, and her own personal experiences of Islamophobia.

Sultana, along with six other Labour MPs, had the whip withdrawn for voting against the government in July 2024 and in favour of ending the two-child benefit cap. She resigned from the party a year later.

“I’m in politics because of a desire to change people’s lives for the better, and that means winning state power, that means actually running government,” she told the BBC last year. “We’re building a party of the left that can win power and deliver justice.”

38. RAYE

By now, many know RAYE’s story of how she fought back against her record label – claiming they were refusing to let her release her album – and went on to establish herself as one of the biggest independent success stories the UK has seen in years. Her debut album, My 21st Century Blues, charted at No 2 and was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize. Now she’s preparing to release the follow-up, This Music May Contain Hope, which will include her No 1 single “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” and be supported by a string of sold-out arena shows.

RAYE has also proven herself to be a champion of her fellow artists. She has consistently campaigned to improve pay, recognition and rights for those in the industry, and helped influence a landmark agreement where major labels like Universal, Sony and Warner agreed to pay a £75 per diem fee for songwriters attending studio sessions. She was handed the inaugural songwriter advocate award, an Ivors Academy Honour, last summer in recognition of her efforts in driving positive change within the music industry.

She was also awarded a Grammy in January for the Harry Belafonte best song for social change for her song “Ice Cream Man”, a poignant anthem that turned her own personal trauma into an anthem for survivors of sexual assault.

39. Dame Debbie Crosbie

Nationwide chief Dame Debbie Crosbie was appointed by the chancellor as the new women in finance champion at the start of the year, helping to inspire more women to pursue leadership roles in UK financial services.

She became Nationwide’s first female chief executive in its 175-year history in June 2022, and is the only woman to lead a ‘big six’ bank in the UK. She was also appointed a Dame Commander of the British Empire in June 2025 for services to the financial sector, including Nationwide’s £2.8bn acquisition of Virgin Money in 2024.

Speaking to The Independent for International Women’s Day, she said she had faced challenges in her career balancing motherhood and work in a male-dominated sphere.

“That’s tough, you want to be there for your family, you want to balance all the things that are important in your life,” she explained. “I’d say that things are definitely getting a lot better with a lot of men taking paternity leave as well as maternity leave, but it’s not just when you have the child, it’s also when you’re trying to be there, be present, not just for work, but also for family.”

40. Myleene Klass

Myleene Klass has had a milestone year. She was awarded an MBE from King Charles in July in recognition of her tireless campaigning for legal reform to miscarriage care. Her work resulted in meaningful change for women across England, ending the “three miscarriage rule”, meaning women no longer have to wait until they have had three consecutive pregnancy losses for specialised care.

The musician and presenter has been remarkably candid about her own experiences with miscarriage and motherhood. After having four, in 2024 she made a Bafta-nominated documentary about the subject, Myleene: Miscarriage and Me, in which she powerfully said, “I’ve got three children, but I’m a mother of seven.”

Klass also celebrated 20 years at Classic FM in February, and continues to be a unique and refreshing voice in the world of classical music.

“I grew up from a generation where they said that we could have it all,” she told The Independent for International Women’s Day. “Now I get asked how do you balance your life as a mother and a career woman, and the truth is nobody showed us how to do it because we were told we could have it all.

“Now we’re just realising it’s impossible. I think it’s just important to acknowledge that actually, we got it wrong.”

41. Marian Keyes

Despite selling 35 million books in a career that has spanned three decades and 16 bestselling novels, it took a while for Marian Keyes to be given the respect she deserves as a literary force. From her 1995 debut Watermelon to the beloved Rachel’s Holiday, her books have tackled serious issues, from alcoholism to depression, domestic violence and abortion, but never compromise on warmth, humour or readability. Her most recent novel, My Favourite Mistake, a follow-up to 2006’s Anybody Out There?, saw heroine Anna Walsh in her forties grappling with the menopause.

Finally, this year her books have got the attention of TV producers, with two major adaptations arriving on our screens: The Walsh Sisters on the BBC and Grown Ups on Netflix.

“It has been gorgeous to have – I don’t know – become respectable,” she told The Independent in an interview in 2024. “I keep using the word lucky. I’m lucky and grateful that this was what I was given.”

42. JADE

JADE has enjoyed a triumphant 12 months as the breakout star of one of the UK’s biggest girl groups, Little Mix. Since going solo in 2022, JADE has established herself as a bold new voice in pop, releasing ambitious singles such as “Angel of My Dreams” and “It Girl” from her debut album, That’s Showbiz Baby, released last year to critical acclaim. JADE’s sharp, witty songwriting taps into both the hypocrisies and allure of fame, while also delving into themes of identity, love and self-worth.

But JADE’s voice isn’t just used to sing. A prominent defender of LGBTQ+ rights and other world issues, she has previously said: “I don’t think you can be a pop artist and cover your eyes.”

JADE has deservedly become one of the UK’s biggest pop stars while remaining authentically and unapologetically herself.

43. Victoria Siddall

Victoria Siddall became the first woman to be named director of the National Portrait Gallery in its 168-year history, picking up the mantle in August 2024.

Her career began with a three-year stint at Christie’s auction house before joining London’s Frieze Art Fair in 2004. There, she launched the popular art fair Frieze Masters, focusing on art pre-dating the year 2000 alongside its contemporary sister fair, and later became the global director of the Frieze fairs in New York and London.

Siddall’s appointment at the top of one of the nation’s most prestigious galleries was praised by culture secretary Lisa Nandy, who said her leadership would take the gallery “from strength to strength” and added she was delighted that “the National Portrait Gallery is making history by appointing its first female director”.

She is also a fierce environmental campaigner, co-founding the Gallery Climate Coalition and Murmur, two charities that pioneer environmental responsibility in the art and music sectors.

“It’s my dream job,” Siddall stated of her appointment in an interview with Country and Townhouse. “The gallery is filled with unbelievable folks and tells their tales in such a robust manner that actually resonates.”

44. Michelle Agyemang

Who can neglect the scenes of pure, unbridled ecstasy after England ahead Michelle Agyemang equalised within the last minutes to ship her group to further time in opposition to Italy of their Euro 2025 semi-final victory?

The Lionesses went on to win their second successive Euros title, and Agyemang emerged a nationwide hero aged simply 19. Her breakout match was adopted by a powerful record of accolades, together with being named younger participant of the match and scooping the BBC younger sports activities character of the 12 months.

It hasn’t all been easy crusing, although. Agyemang was dealt a troublesome blow after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) whereas taking part in for the Lionesses in October, leaving her out of motion for the remainder of the 2025-2026 season.

45. Paris Lees

A pioneering and influential voice for transgender illustration within the UK media, Paris Lees’ personal story leapt onto our screens final 12 months within the BBC’s What It Feels Like For a Girl. Adapted from Lees’ memoir of the identical title, the highly effective and critically acclaimed coming-of-age story was described as “urgent” by The Independent’s critic Nick Hilton and earned reward from all corners of the British media – an instance of Lees’ uncommon means to chop via tradition wars and discover frequent floor with anybody.

Lees has spent years utilizing her voice to advocate for her neighborhood. She topped The Independent on Sunday’s Pink List of influential LGBTQ+ people in 2013, and greater than a decade later, her significance hasn’t wavered. Both via outspoken activism and behind-the-scenes consulting, her affect has touched protection of trans points in standard tradition throughout TV, radio, and information protection.

At a time when the UK’s trans neighborhood are on the centre of a painful and troubling debate over their identification, the optimism and authenticity of What It Feels Like For a Girl felt extremely poignant. “I could have been written off, and I could’ve ended up killing myself or having an overdose as a teenager, [like] so many people who fall through the cracks but I didn’t,” she instructed The Independent following the drama’s launch.

“Even when it feels like there’s no hope, life is not set in stone. We don’t have to continue down the route we’re going – we don’t have to do it as individuals, we don’t have to do it as a country. I feel like I’ve rediscovered hope.”

46. Lola Young

Lola Young shot to fame in 2024 after her hit music ‘Messy’ went viral on TikTook, later topping a number of singles charts world wide. It was the beginning of an unstoppable rise that noticed the pop singer listed on Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2025 and win the Grammy for finest pop solo efficiency in February 2026.

Aside from the catchiness of her rock and grunge-influenced pop, Young has grown her fanbase via songwriting that faucets into deeply private points, from bisexuality and drug dependancy to her diagnoses with schizoaffective dysfunction and ADHD. She has additionally raised consciousness of the significance of asserting boundaries within the music trade.

After collapsing at a pageant in New York, she cancelled her remaining exhibits to relaxation and recuperate, returning with a particular one-off gig on the London Palladium in March to have fun her triumphant comeback.

47. Sarah Wynn-Williams

Sarah Wynn-Williams used her place as a former exec at Facebook to publish an explosive exposé, making allegations concerning the social media firm’s dealings with China and its remedy of youngsters.

Published in March 2025, the ex-global public coverage director’s memoir Careless People soared to the highest of bestseller lists regardless of Meta securing a ruling that prevented her from publicising it.

In the ebook, the previous New Zealand diplomat, now based mostly within the UK, alleges the corporate ignored inside warnings about potential hurt to human rights and democracy. She additionally accused the tech big of firing her in 2017 after she filed a sexual harassment grievance in opposition to her boss Joel Kaplan, who was then-vice president for international public coverage. Meta denies all of the allegations and beforehand instructed The Independent in a press release she was fired for “poor performance and toxic behaviour” and famous an investigation into the incident decided that she made “deceptive and unfounded allegations of harassment”.

Wynn-Williams said it was important she speak out now to inform the public what was going on at the company behind closed doors. “We’re in a moment now where technology CEOs and political leaders around the world are joining forces and compounding their influence, compounding their power, and that’s got consequences for everybody,” she told NBC News. “People need to understand what has actually gone on.”

48. Rose Wylie

This year, Rose Wylie made history as the first female British painter to have a solo exhibition in the main galleries of the Royal Academy.

She told The Independent in an interview for International Women’s Day: “I think it’s high time. Obviously, it’s a very poor situation that that’s happened. I don’t know, I can’t… I can’t believe that there’s been no woman painter in the main gallery since it started. It’s quite unbelievable and quite, quite obscene, don’t you think? I’m glad it’s broken.”

Wylie, known for her bold and striking artworks which often mix together her wartime childhood memories with an interest in cinema and celebrity culture, began her career in her fifties after initially giving up painting to raise a family with fellow artist Roy Oxlade. Now 91, there is no stopping the Kent-based artist, whose show ‘The Picture Comes First’, featuring new and previously unseen works, is being met with high praise in a year of blockbuster exhibitions showcasing female artists.

Primarily painting women – both real and fictional – Wylie’s art draws upon her own experiences in the world with wit, colour, and a singular style.

49. Cat Burns

Musician Cat Burns has had a phenomenal year. She won acclaim for her strategic and stealthy gameplay on the first-ever season of Celebrity Traitors, making it all the way to the final with fellow Traitor Alan Carr before she was ultimately banished. Yet her steely determination and quiet confidence saw her emerge as a national favourite; she has gone from strength to strength ever since.

It was later revealed that Burns’ chosen charity for her prize money, should she have won, was the National Autistic Society, following her own experience of being diagnosed with autism and ADHD in adulthood.

Her second studio album How To Be Human, released in October 2025, received critical acclaim for its incisive lyrics – on songs that explore Burns’ experiences both as a queer Black woman and as someone with neurodivergence. Others, such as ‘All This Love’, reconcile with the fact that there is no one way to grieve someone we have lost. Through her music and her TV appearances, Burns has shown how we can navigate the world without feeling pressured into conforming to make others feel more comfortable.

50. Elizabeth Day

Elizabeth Day has made a smash hit out of failure. Despite its material, since launching in 2018, her chart-topping podcast How to Fail has introduced scores of high-profile company (Kate Winslet and Andrew Scott to call a number of) and hundreds of thousands of listeners collectively to discover how we will develop from issues that go mistaken.

Not solely a podcast supremo, Day can also be a Sunday Times bestselling creator whose work spans each fiction and non-fiction. At the tip of 2025, she introduced a brand new addition to her growing feminine media empire, launching her personal publishing imprint Big Day, which is “dedicated to publishing extraordinary stories that illuminate what it means to be human”. The inaugural ebook is Inconceivable by Rebecca Coxon, a memoir detailing her expertise as a donor-conceived IVF triplet, which is scheduled for launch in March 2026.

Over the years Day has additionally helped lead essential conversations about infertility and miscarriage, talking candidly about her personal experiences and, extra not too long ago, about her acceptance that she is not going to have kids.

“When I started out on that journey, I felt a great deal of shame around it,” she instructed The Independent for International Women’s Day. “I didn’t feel that I could share what I was going through.

“The moment that I decided to take the risk of sharing… I felt less alone because connection is forged through vulnerability. I now feel part of a community of women and men who have walked similar paths, and there’s so much strength and power that comes from that.”

Reporting for The Independent’s 2026 affect record by: Nicole Wootton-Cane, Sian Elvin, Lucy Leeson, Dan Haygarth, Jessie Thompson, Jamie Braidwood, Ellie Harrison, Harry Latham-Coyle, Adam White, Roisin O’Connor, Kate Devlin, Camille Chorley, Luke Reevey and Caspar Barnes.