Bella Dyosa

It’s been at least 30 years since we officially started celebrating women for the amazing, strong, and independent beings they are, from Women’s History Month to International Women’s Day, and more.

Prominent figures around the globe have shown that gender does not define one’s path or destiny. No matter who you are or where you are in life, you are in charge of your journey. And if you have to break barriers and stigmas, then so be fucking it. In the name of equity for all and the greater good.

So, here are some inspiring and empowering quotes from incredible women. I hope that they ignite a spark in you to be the badass that you are in your own way just as they have for me.

“Be brave and fearless to know that even if you do make a wrong decision, you’re making it for good reason.”

– Adele

“You don’t need to be a slave on the conditions that surrounds you. You just need to live the kind of life that you want.”

– Sara Black

“Different is good. When someone tells you that you are different, smile and hold your head up and be proud.”

– Angelina Jolie

“If you are determined and want it, you can just go for it.”

– Melanie Perkins

“You just have to focus your attention on the things that really matter. The people who love you, the people who know you, the people who believe in you. That should really be your focus. You can’t control what other people will say, what other people are going to think about you, but you can control how they make you feel. What you can control is how you react to it.”

– Pia Wurtzbach

“Everything has been hard for me, you know, because of the beauty standard. But I decided to don’t give a fuck anymore. I make my own standard.”

– Jessi

“Embrace your fear. Imagine what you’re most afraid of, touch it and hold it so that you rob it of its power.”

– Maria Ressa

“Something I wish I can tell my younger self is appreciate the face and the body that you have. May not look like everyone else, but you are who you are and be proud of that.”

– Selena Gomez

“Struggles? I think it’s natural if you want to do something extraordinary.”

– Hidilyn Diaz

“Girls in Asia are very obedient, shy, timid, quiet, but I can tell that it’s changing, and I want them to be stronger and tell them that it’s OK to be different.”

– CL

“Didn’t we want women to be confident, independent, and strong? But why do a lot of people get mad at me for speaking my truth? For being honest? Baka nga [Maybe] they’re not used to it—but isn’t that the point?”

– Nadine Lustre

“I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.”

– Maya Angelou

“I think transwomen, and transpeople in general, show everyone that you can define what it means to be a man or woman on your own terms. A lot of what feminism is about is moving outside of roles and moving outside of expectations of who and what you’re supposed to be to live a more authentic life.”

– Laverne Cox

“When women help other women, they become unbreakable.”

– Leni Robredo

“I share the conviction that you don’t need a title to be a leader. You don’t need to be a ‘Miss’ or ‘Mr’ because it is really about the passion and conviction that you can do more and achieve more – that you can find ways to make things better. Most importantly, whether you are a woman or a man, you can initiate change.”

– Maria Fe Perez-Agudo

“Women will be hidden no more. We will not remain hidden figures. We have names. It was woman that gave you Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was woman that gave you Malcolm X. And according to the Bible, it was a woman that gave you Jesus. Don’t you ever forget it.”

– Janelle Monae