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None of us live in a vacuum; the events and people around us will always influence the way we live, for better or for worse. We do, however, have the opportunity to surround ourselves with inspirational role models and positive communities now more than ever thanks to social media. Our circle of influence has broadened to see through the eyes of people all over the world; their struggles, their achievements, their strengths and, occasionally, their weaknesses. Today is International Women’s Day and I had a few thoughts about how young artists affect my view on the world.
It’s an exciting time for women. It’s exciting to hear their stories. It’s exciting to know they are living their truths. It’s exciting to know that they are being heard. And most of all, it’s exciting to see how they are lifting up their sisters, inspiring them and creating change in their communities, locally and globally. So, on this International Women’s Day, I’d like to share with you some women who I feel are using their platforms to inspire women young and old, with their art and their words, to make our world more loving, bright and creative.
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In no particular order, here are the woman artists that have been inspiring me these days.
1. Janelle Monae @JanelleMonae
Getting bigger and bigger everyday, this singer/actress/record producer/model/activist is just about as hardworking as you can get, in my eyes. I’ve been a fan of her’s since 2015 when I first discovered her discography. Her music at once both funky and soulful, has been on my music rotation for years. Her first two shots at acting? Lead and supporting roles in critically acclaimed movies Hidden Figures and Moonlight, respectively. Modelling, you say? She’s been the face of Gap and Covergirl. All this with style, grace, and an outspoken voice for women’s rights and black representation. If you don’t know her already, you will soon.
2. Lido Pimienta @LidoPimienta
Currently, my home town hero. Originally from Colombia, Lido Pimienta is a singer currently based out of Toronto but had her starts here in London, Ontario. She sings of the power imbalances she’s experienced in her life through love and life as an Afro-Latina. She sings primarily in Spanish and pulls from indigenous and Afro-Colombian musical styles. This Polaris prize winner has been so inspiring to me with her unapologetic self-expression and intolerance for hate. I had the pleasure of seeing her in concert only just last night and I know her energy will stay with me for a long time.
3. Princess Nokia @princessnokia_
The last musical artist on my list, Princess Nokia is New York based rapper of Puerto-Rican descent. Another unapologetic artist, I’m sure you’re starting to notice a pattern here… She raps about her culture, her tomboyish style, growing up in foster care and queer culture, as she identifies as a bisexual. She’s consistently active on social media and uses it to share messages of encouragement and positivity to her large online following. Her style of music may not be of everyone’s taste but there’s no denying that’s she’s made a place for herself in the hip-hop community.
4. Rupi Kaur @rupikaur_
Now this woman you may already know, the author of the immensely popular poetry collections Milk and Honey and The Sun and Her Flowers, Rupi Kaur is an Indian-Canadian poet, writer and illustrator that has made her mark on the literary world at only age 25. She tackles hard subjects in her writing from loss and trauma to femininity and heartache. Though her poems are often shorter than a page each, she has a talent for expressing the complex feelings that women feel in a variety of situations. Vulnerability is power and Rupi Kaur has certainly shown that through her works.
5. Lena Waithe @LenaWaithe
This actress/producer/screenwriter has been on everyone’s radar since her Emmy Award win for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the Netflix series Master of None and there is good reason for that! Waithe is the first black woman to win the award and it speaks volumes that the episode that won her the prize was based on her own experiences of coming to terms with being gay throughout her childhood. She puts herself into her work and she’s proud of it. She knows the importance of representation in the black and LGBT community and uses her resources to portray that.
Who are your inspirations this International Women’s Day?
Lauren Ibbott is a University of Ottawa student, blogger and freelance writer. She frequently writes for DownshiftingPRO. Please follow her on Instagram @Lauren_Patii or @lpitravels . All opinions are her own. You can read more of her post below:
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