We're all for celebrating girl power, so we wanted to share some of the ladies we admire most in time for International Women's Day on March 8th. Of course, we believe that the world should pay attention to how amazing women are every day, but we love that this holiday is dedicated to recognising women's achievements. Perhaps most importantly, International Women's Day is a time to highlight the gender inequality and oppression that's still going on all over the world and raise awareness against bias. The global campaign runs all year long to encourage action.

Here, we're shining a spotlight on some fantastic females who are transforming other women's lives one way or another.

9 women who make us proud

Olivia Colman

This incredible woman had us simultaneously sobbing and laughing with her now iconic Oscars acceptance speech. From playing Sophie in British comedy Peep Show to her award-winning performance in The Favourite, she’s progressed to a Hollywood superstar and downright national treasure thanks to her hilarity and humbleness. Her versatility makes her an amazing actress and we can’t wait to see what she stars in next.

Michelle Obama

The former First Lady is a powerhouse in her own right. During her time at the White House, she and Barack donated over $1 million and Michelle launched Let’s Move!, an initiative to tackle childhood obesity. She also made school lunches available for more than 21 million low-income kids. She was the first black First Lady and the first to hold two Ivy league degrees. We admire that Michelle isn’t afraid to tackle controversial issues. The woman is a force to be reckoned with!

Meghan Markle

Always so poised and elegant, Meghan is a refreshing addition to the royal family. She was a talented actress before she married everyone’s favourite Prince and was also an ambassador for World Vision, a children’s charity. When she announced that she was leaving her acting career to focus on philanthropy, the world applauded.

Laverne Cox

Two-time Emmy-nominated transgender actress Laverne Cox uses her fame to highlight issues that the LGBTQ+ community face and to campaign for equal rights.  In 2015, she helped "Broadway Bares" raise $1.6 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BCEFA), an HIV/AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations.

Rihanna

Ri Ri founded the Clara Lionel Foundation Global Scholarship Program to help students from Caribbean countries get educated in the US and she received the 2017 Harvard University Humanitarian of the Year Award for her efforts. Who can forget that “So I made it to Harvard…” hair flick!? She’s one of the world’s most influential female performers and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. Obsessed.

Amal Clooney

Never refer to this lady as just ‘George Clooney’s wife’. Amal, a renowned human rights lawyer, spent her career advocating for refugees and other marginalized people. She and her husband co-founded the Clooney Foundation For Justice to fight for the rights of individuals unfairly targeted by oppressive governments through the courts. She’s just as unstoppable in the courtroom as she is on the red carpet!

Chloe Delevinge

Chloe saved lives by having a smear test on live morning television recently. There were 854 deaths from cervical cancer in the UK in 2016 but early detection can increase the chance of survival, so Chloe did an amazing thing by showing other young women that the test isn’t as scary as they might think. We admire her so much!

Ariana Grande

After the devastating Manchester attack in 2017 at her concert, Ariana bravely staged a benefit concert to support and pay tribute to those affected. One Love Manchester raised about $3 million (£2.35 million) in three hours. Ariana’s love and gratitude for her fans, even while the singer is going through personal issues, is powerful.

Gina Martin

You might never have seen her before, but Gina Martin is the woman behind the recent ‘upskirting’ ban. Can you believe it wasn’t illegal before? After finding herself a victim, Gina worked tirelessly to get the bill passed in UK parliament. Thanks to Gina, taking a photo up a woman’s skirt could now land people in jail for two years. A job well done!

Join us in wearing purple on 8th March to celebrate International Women's Day and share your #BalanceforBetter pics. If you don't have any purple in your wardrobe, why not show your support by rocking a mauve blush shade? Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram!