Tessera

Admirable Women

@admirablewomen.bsky.social

Celebrating admirable women and girls (historical & contemporary). Their courage, resilience, perseverance, triumphs. Highlighting "firsts." Raising awareness of injustices and our struggles, obstacles, erasure, and more. #WomenInSTEM & in everything else!

2717 Posts16120 Follower 1968 Folgt

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 48m ago

Dr. Mae Jemison was born #OTD in 1956. In 1992, she launched into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour making her the first Black woman to travel into space. 🚀 An incredible life: + Physician (M.D., Cornell 1981) + Peace Corps Area Medical Officer in Sierra Leone & Liberia #WomenInSTEM

A color portrait of Dr. Mae Carol Jemison, the first Black woman to travel into space and a pioneering engineer, physician, and advocate for science education. In this warm, studio-lit photograph from 2013, she appears as a confident woman with short, stylishly layered dark hair, smiling directly at the camera with a bright, engaging expression that radiates warmth, intelligence, and approachability. She wears a soft blue V-neck top, large silver hoop earrings, and a striking black cord necklace featuring a prominent circular turquoise pendant that rests at her collarbone. The background is a smooth, neutral gradient, keeping the focus entirely on her poised and professional presence. The overall composition is intimate and celebratory, conveying quiet strength and accomplishment while highlighting her enduring role as an inspirational figure in STEM and in women’s history.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 17h ago

OTD in 1992, Rigoberta Menchú won the #Nobel Peace Prize for "her work for social justice & ethno-cultural reconciliation based on respect for the rights of #indigenous peoples." She used the prize money to establish her foundation to champion Indigenous rights in #Guatemala & across the globe.

Color photograph of Rigoberta Menchú Tum, the Indigenous Guatemalan human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, smiling warmly. She wears traditional Mayan clothing: a vibrant, multicolored huipil richly embroidered with intricate floral, bird, and geometric patterns in shades of green, red, blue, yellow, and purple. A matching red-and-green striped twisted scarf adorns her head, and she accessorizes with long earrings and a bold red beaded necklace featuring a large circular silver pendant. The background shows lush, dense green foliage and mountainous terrain, suggesting a rural setting in Guatemala. Her joyful expression radiates strength, pride, and resilience.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 23h ago

#OTD in 1847, Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre was first published. It was published under the pen name "Currer Bell" and is one of the most remarkable coming-of-age books ever written on the conflict between love and independence. #LitSky #BookSky

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · yesterday

Investigative journalist Daphne Galizia reported on government corruption, allegations of money laundering & more in #Malta. A "one-woman WikiLeaks." Known internationally for her investigation of the Panama Papers, she was assassinated by a car bomb in #OTD in 2017. 🧵 #Journalism #PressFreedom

A black-and-white portrait of the prominent Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia (1964–2017), who gained international acclaim for exposing political corruption and money laundering tied to the Panama Papers before her tragic assassination. She faces the camera directly with a subtle, composed, and knowing smile, her warm eyes conveying intelligence and resilience. Her dark, straight hair is parted down the middle, framing her face and cascading over her shoulders. She wears prominent, ornate, drop-style dangling earrings that feature concentric circular designs, catching the light. Her blouse is light-colored and adorned with delicate, patterned floral embroidery along the neckline. The background is softly blurred and indistinct, focusing all attention on her powerful presence. The overall mood is dignified and reflective, serving as an impactful historical testament to press freedom and courage.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 2d ago

English explorer, writer, photographer & naturalist Isabella Bird is one of history's most prolific #travel authors. On her doctors' advice to seek "fresh air" at sea, she set sail for America in 1854, turning her letters home into her first bestseller, "The Englishwoman in America."🧵 #BookSky

A black-and-white engraved portrait shows a close-up, front-facing view of Isabella Bird (1831–1904), the celebrated British explorer, naturalist, and the first female Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. The historic engraving, composed of intricate hatched and cross-hatched lines, captures her from the shoulders up with a composed, solemn, and determined facial expression. Her steady, dark eyes look directly forward. She is outfitted for cold-weather travel, wearing a high-domed, textured winter hat featuring a thick, dark fur trim band across the forehead. A voluminous, dark ruffled collar or scarf is wrapped securely around her neck, tied into a large, prominent bow under her chin, with the fabric draping over her dark winter coat. The background consists of stark, diagonal hatching lines that create a radiating, dramatic aura behind her head, emphasizing a stark, adventurous, and dignified nineteenth-century mood.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 2d ago

Marthe Wandou is a lawyer, gender-equality advocate & peace activist. In 2021, she was awarded the prestigious Right Livelihood Award (the “Alternative Nobel Prize”) for her work protecting women & children in conflict zones and promoting #WomensRights. Born #OTD in 1963. #Cameroon #HumanRights

A charmiing color photograph of Marthe Wandou, a prominent Cameroonian lawyer, gender-equality advocate, and peace activist. Born October 15, 1963, she is the founder of ALDEPA and the first Cameroonian to receive the Right Livelihood Award for protecting women and children from extremist violence (2021). She sits slightly turned toward the right, a warm, soft smile gracing her face. Her gaze is just slightly past the camera to the right. She wears a vibrant, traditional African dress featuring rich purple, orange, brown, and cream tie-dye batik patterns, adorned with an intricately detailed, semi-circular embroidered neckline of red and violet teardrop motifs. A matching silk headwrap is tied in a stylized knot over her dark braided hair, complementing her large, chunky gold hoop earrings and a delicate gold chain necklace. A small black lapel microphone is clipped to her collar. The background is softly out of focus, suggesting a spacious indoor or courtyard setting with faint, neutral gray-toned stone walls and a dark sculptural element obscured to the left, focusing all attention on her serene, dignified, and hopeful expression.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 2d ago

#OTD in 2018, French pastry chef Christelle Brua became the first woman awarded World's Best Restaurant Pastry Chef. Her winning dish? A gorgeous blown sugar apple 🍏 packed with cider mousse, speculoos, caramel ice cream, and popping candy that crackles with every bite. 😮

A delicious photograph of renowned French pastry chef Christelle Brua (born 1977) inside a professional kitchen, presenting her iconic blown sugar apple dessert. Holding a black ceramic plate in both hands directly toward the camera, she showcases the flawless, vibrant metallic-green sphere that secured her place in culinary history. Brua is dressed in a crisp white chef's jacket with rolled-up sleeves, her blonde hair parted to the side and tied back, with loose strands framing her face. She looks forward with a soft, confident smile and a steady, proud gaze. The composition places her centrally against a softly blurred, industrial kitchen backdrop filled with stainless steel surfaces, metal pots, and professional cooking stations. The lighting focuses sharply on Brua and the iridescent sheen of the lime-green sugar apple, casting a warm glow that enhances the celebratory yet focused mood. This image captures the milestone era of her career when she was named the world's best restaurant pastry chef by Les Grandes Tables du Monde.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 3d ago

World-renowned entomologist Dr. Pamela Marrone is a pioneer in biological pest control. In her 40+ year career, she transformed global agriculture by developing nature-based biopesticides as alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides.🧵 She was born #OTD in 1956. #WomenInSTEM #Entomology #AgTech

A professional studio portrait of Dr. Pamela Marrone (born 1956), the world-renowned entomologist and pioneering AgTech entrepreneur who revolutionized sustainable agriculture through biological pest control. Positioned centrally against a neutral, light gray studio background, Dr. Marrone is captured from the chest up, facing forward with a warm, confident smile. Her eyes are bright and engaging, framed by a short, neatly styled crop of curly, dark hair. She is dressed in a professional ensemble consisting of a light beige or peach-toned blouse layered under a structured black open blazer or cardigan. Around her neck hangs a thin silver chain necklace with a unique, vintage-style oval pendant featuring a distinct dark insect motif in the center, subtly nodding to her lifetime of entomological achievements. The soft, even lighting enhances the bright, welcoming, and authoritative mood of the portrait.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 3d ago

British physiologist Dr. Hilda Tracy co-isolated and sequenced gastrin, the first gastrointestinal hormone fully sequenced. Her research at the University of Liverpool transformed our understanding of gastric acid and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. She was born #OTD in 1927. #WomenInSTEM #MedSky

A close-up, black-and-white studio portrait of pioneering British physiologist Dr. Hilda Tracy (1927–2010), co-discoverer of the molecular structure of the gastrointestinal hormone gastrin. Positioned in the center of the frame against a completely dark, minimalist background, she faces forward with her head slightly angled to the right. Her expressive light eyes look just past the camera with an intelligent, direct, and slightly serious gaze, complemented by a soft, subtle smile. Her light-colored hair is styled in a voluminous, brushed-back coiffure typical of the mid-20th century, with soft bangs gently framing her forehead. She wears a dark, solid-colored under-shirt paired with a heavy, textured tweed or houndstooth patterned blazer featuring prominent lapels. The composition uses dramatic, high-contrast studio lighting from the upper left, casting gentle shadows across her face and highlighting her features. The overall mood is dignified, professional, and intellectually focused, reflecting her significant historical contributions to medical science.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 3d ago

#OTD in 2019, Dr. Esther Duflo was awarded the Nobel Prize in economics (along with two colleagues) for their "experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.” She is the youngest person and the second woman to win the award. #WomenInSTEM #economics

Nobel laureate Dr. Esther Duflo (born 1972) standing outdoors with a confident and serene demeanor. The French-American economist, celebrated for her historic 2019 Nobel Prize win in Economic Sciences for her experimental approach to alleviating global poverty, stands in the foreground just off center to the left. She is composed with her arms folded across her chest, looking directly into the camera with a gentle, assured smile. Her short, dark brown hair is styled in a neat bob that frames her face. She wears a simple, long-sleeved blue tunic shirt featuring an unstructured mandarin collar with subtle grey-and-white striped detailing along the trim. The setting appears to be a courtyard or walkway adjacent to a multi-story red brick building, visible on the left. In the soft-focused background, lush green trees and a dark metal railing line the pathway, casting a natural, warm light over the scene.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 4d ago

Gorgeous historic photograph: Eleanor Roosevelt & Edith Sampson at the UN in NY, 1950. Roosevelt chaired the Human Rights Commissions effort to draft the Declaration of Human Rights & Sampson was the first Black US delegate appointed to the UN. Sampson was born #OTD in 1901.

A black-and-white historic photograph of Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962), former First Lady and human rights champion, and Edith Sampson (1901–1979), a trailblazing lawyer and the first Black U.S. delegate to the United Nations. Seated closely at a table during a United Nations General Assembly event in September 1950, the two women share an intimate, joyful conversation, radiating warmth, mutual respect, and historic significance. On the left, Roosevelt leans forward with a bright, wide-mouthed smile, her eyes crinkling with genuine delight. She wears a structured, textured blazer featuring intricate decorative embroidery along the collar, lapels, and cuffs, with a large, pale orchid corsage pinned to her left lapel. To her right, Sampson leans in attentively, resting her arm over the back of a chair while holding a pair of dark eyeglasses. She looks directly at Roosevelt with a warm, engaged expression, her lips slightly parted as if speaking. Sampson is elegantly dressed in a dark, structured blazer accented with subtle white piping along the seams, a structured, tilted fabric hat, and prominent oval drop earrings. The background is softly blurred, showing a dark, formal event setting with the indistinct face of a man in a suit and tie sitting behind them. The lighting is soft yet focused, highlighting the expressive faces and detailed textures of the women's clothing. The composition tightly frames the pair, emphasizing their close connection and the groundbreaking nature of their diplomatic partnership during a pivotal era for international civil and human rights.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 4d ago

American poet & essayist Louise Glück died #OTD in 2023. She won the 2020 Nobel Prize in #Literature for "her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal." US Poet Laureate, 2003-04. #poetry #LitSky #BookSky

Nobel Prize-winning poet Louise Glück (1943–2023) is captured in this contemplative portrait, set against a rich, saturated forest-green background. A master of the "austere beauty" that made her one of America's most celebrated literary figures, Glück is shown in a three-quarter view, seated on a wooden chair. Her expression is one of quiet, penetrating observation—a look that mirrors the candid, often stark nature of her Pulitzer Prize-winning work like The Wild Iris. She is dressed simply in a black tank top paired with a matching black cardigan. Her silver-grey bob is neatly styled, framing a face that conveys a lifetime of intellectual rigor and creative reinvention. Her pose is thoughtful: her right arm rests on the chair's back, while her left hand is tucked under her chin. The composition is asymmetrical, with Glück positioned on the right, leaving a wide expanse of deep green to the left that heightens the image's sense of stillness and interiority. The mood is intimate and dignified, fitting for a woman who served as the U.S. Poet Laureate and whose legacy remains a cornerstone of contemporary literature.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 4d ago

Physicist & educator Eugénie Cotton was born #OTD in 1881. A student of Marie Curie, she was the top female physics scholar in France in 1904 & ran the elite École de Sèvres, transforming scientific education for women. Her research focused on the magnetic properties of matter. 🧵 #WomenInSTEM

A black-and-white photograph of French physicist and globally influential women's rights activist Eugénie Cotton (1881–1967). Captured from the chest up, she stands in a three-quarter turn facing left, and her intense, thoughtful gaze looks slightly past the camera. Her silver-gray hair is smoothed tightly across her head, and gathered into a low bun at the back. Her face shows deep lines of experience and determination, with dark, prominent eyes and a firm, closed mouth. She wears a crisp, bright white collared button-down shirt fastened tightly at the neck with a decorative, round metallic brooch. Over the blouse, she wears a structured, dark blazer or jacket, with a small rectangular pin visible on her left lapel. The background is softly out of focus, showing textured fabric drapery and a hint of an indistinct white object. The composition feels intimate and serious, emphasizing her commanding presence, intellectual focus, and late-career dignity as a leading voice for global peace.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 5d ago

British nurse Edith Cavell was a #WWI resistance leader. She ran escape lines from German-occupied Belgium saving ~200 Allied soldiers. Betrayed by a collaborator, she was arrested, tried, and shot by a German firing squad #OTD in 1915. Quote from the eve of her execution. #WomenInHistory #HistSky

Black-and-white graphic honoring Edith Cavell: a formal portrait of the British nurse, wearing a high-collared lace blouse and upswept hair. Beside her, in bold red quotation marks, her famous words: “Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness for anyone.” The quote is attributed beneath in white text: Edith Cavell. The background fades to black with a thin red border on the left.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 5d ago

#OTD in 2009, economist Elinor Ostrom became the first woman to be awarded the #Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences "for her analysis of economic governance, especially the commons." 🧵 www.nobelprize.org/prizes/econo... #WomeninSTEM #economics

A delightful portrait of political economist Elinor Ostrom (1933–2012), the first woman to win the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, posing with a joyful expression. Leaning slightly against a muted grey wall on the right, Ostrom is positioned in the right foreground of the composition. She wears an open, vibrant purple patterned jacket with geometric and textured bands over a black turtleneck sweater, accented by a long gold pendant necklace and rings on her crossed hands. She looks directly at the camera with an open, bright smile and crinkled eyes behind her thin-framed glasses, her white hair neatly styled. The background features the soft-focused, bright white architecture of an elegant courtyard with classic arches, columns, and an upper balustrade under a blue ceiling structure, casting a bright, luminous atmosphere. The image captures a warm, triumphant, and dignified mood, celebrating her monumental historical impact on economic governance.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 5d ago

German photojournalist Anja Niedringhaus was born #OTD in 1965. The only woman on a team of 11 AP photographers that won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for coverage of the Iraq War. She was killed in Afghanistan, 2014. theatln.tc/2pZHcET #journalism

Close-up portrait of German photojournalist Anja Niedringhaus smiling warmly at the camera while holding a large white Canon EOS-1 DSLR with a massive telephoto lens in her right hand. She has light brown hair with gray streaks pulled back, sunglasses resting on top of her head, and wears a blue vest over a black-and-white striped shirt; the out-of-focus background is dark, drawing all attention to her face and the professional camera gear she carries, capturing her as the Pulitzer Prize-winning war photographer known for her powerful images from conflict zones in Iraq, Afghanistan, and beyond.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 6d ago

🔭 Astronomer, astrophysicist & explorer Dr. Merieme Chadid: one of the world's first scientists to establish a major astronomical observatory in Antarctica. She set up the specialized automated telescopes & tested the optical turbulence of the atmosphere.🧵 She was born #OTD in 1969. #WomenInSTEM

A color photograph of Moroccan-French astronomer and astrophysicist Dr. Merieme Chadid (born 1969), celebrated as a pioneering explorer who established early automated telescopes in Antarctica. Caught in a candid and joyful moment, she is positioned slightly off-center, facing toward the right side of the frame with a radiant, wide smile that showcases her bright eyes. Her dark hair is pulled back neatly into a ponytail, emphasizing her facial expression. She wears a structured, textured charcoal-gray blazer over a white blouse featuring a vibrant, multicolored floral or abstract print along the neckline. Adorning her neck is a distinctive statement necklace consisting of a large, circular, engraved silver pendant suspended from a thin red cord. The background is a soft, out-of-focus interior wall with neutral, warm beige tones, creating a shallow depth of field that keeps the focus entirely on her. The overall mood is warm, intellectual, and proud, embodying the triumphant spirit of a groundbreaking scientist who shattered cultural and geographic barriers in the global astrophysics community.

An historic, on-site photograph of Dr. Merieme Chadid conducting polar research during her groundbreaking 2005–2006 astronomical expedition at the Concordia Research Station in Antarctica. Positioned in the center of the frame, Dr. Chadid smiles warmly at the camera, bundled in specialized extreme-cold gear including a heavy royal blue parka with a high collar, black insulated gloves, and a plush black fur hat framing her dark, curly hair. In the immediate foreground on the left stands a large, white, high-precision automated telescope mount labeled "Astro-Physics," which she touches gently with her gloved hand. In the background, a second telescope sits mounted on a sturdy wooden tripod behind a safety netting enclosure, set against a vast, flat expanse of blinding white Antarctic ice that stretches to a crisp, cloudless blue horizon. The crisp daytime composition uses natural polar sunlight to highlight the stark, freezing conditions. The mood is adventurous and triumphant, capturing a historic milestone for women in STEM as the first astronomer to install a major dark-sky observatory in the extreme heart of the Antarctic plateau.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 6d ago

11 October is International Day of the Girl Child. A global moment to celebrate girls everywhere, amplifying their voices, actions, and leadership. The 2026 theme is: End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights! 🧵 Learn more:

International Day of the Girl Child | United Nations

The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

un.org

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 6d ago

Medical physicist Edith Quimby was one of the founders of nuclear medicine. Discovering how to use radiation to diagnose/treat diseases like cancer safely, her research transformed radiology from a dangerous, experimental guessing game into a precise clinical science. Died #OTD 1982. #WomenInSTEM

A black-and-white portrait of medical physicist Edith Quimby (1891–1982), one of the foundational figures of nuclear medicine who revolutionized safe radiation dosing for cancer treatment. She sits facing slightly to the right and her gaze is slightly off being directly toward the camera. Her expression is calm, dignified, and approachable, with a subtle, knowing smile. Her light-colored hair is styled in structured, elegant curls characteristic of the mid-20th century. She wears a pinstriped blazer over a light-colored blouse featuring a prominent, lace-trimmed collar. The background is softly blurred. The composition uses classic studio lighting to highlight her features, creating a professional, historically significant mood that honors her legacy as a pioneering woman in STEM.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 7d ago

Chemist Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi is widely celebrated for founding & pioneering the field of bioorthogonal chemistry. She shared the 2022 #Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for the development of click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry." 🧵 She was born #OTD in 1966. #WomenInSTEM #Chemistry 🧪

A portrait of American chemist Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi (born 1966), Nobel laureate celebrated for founding bioorthogonal chemistry. Taken by Christopher Michel in 2022, the composition captures Bertozzi seated behind a polished wood table, leaning her chin thoughtfully on her left palm. She wears a sharp black blazer over a white top, with four visible buttons on her sleeve cuff. Her short, wavy brown hair frames an expression of calm confidence, looking directly at the camera with a gentle, intelligent smile and striking blue eyes. The soft, cinematic side-lighting accentuates the contours of her face and hand against a shallow depth-of-field background, which subtly reveals a modern office or university hallway with neutral gray walls and distant doorway outlines. The mood is dignified, intellectual, and intimate, visually honoring a pioneering scientist whose historic achievements in developing click chemistry have fundamentally revolutionized biological research and targeted cancer medicine.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 7d ago

Mary Golda Ross is the first-known #NativeAmerican female engineer & a key pioneer of the US Space Race. #WorldSpaceWeek🚀 A citizen of the Cherokee Nation, she spent >3 decades performing aerospace design & engineering work laying the groundwork for modern interplanetary exploration. #WomenInSTEM 🧵

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · last wk.

Engineer & cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman to fly in space in Vostok 6. She was just 26. #WorldSpaceWeek🚀 The only woman to ever fly a solo space mission. She spent 3 days alone in space & orbited the Earth 48 times...inside the little pod in the pic. Extraordinary. #WomenInSTEM

A classic color portrait of Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to fly in space, taken in her mid-20s shortly after her 1963 Vostok 6 mission. She is in full Soviet Air Force uniform, wearing a brown military jacket with blue and red shoulder boards, a tie, and a chest covered in numerous medals and orders (including the Hero of the Soviet Union star, Lenin Order, and others). Her short dark hair is neatly styled, and she gazes to the right of the camera with a calm, resolute, and dignified expression against a plain blue-gray background. The image highlights her pioneering role as the first female cosmonaut and her decorated status as a national hero of the Soviet Union.

A color photograph taken at the Science Museum's Cosmonauts exhibition, showing Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova standing beside a full-scale replica or original Vostok 6 spacecraft capsule. The spherical, dark metallic capsule with a circular window and visible hatch is displayed on a stand under dramatic red lighting. Tereshkova, an older woman with short gray hair, wears a dark patterned jacket over a light blouse, and looks toward the camera with a composed, proud expression. The image captures her as the first woman in space (June 16, 1963), standing next to the very vehicle she piloted during her historic solo Vostok 6 mission.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · last wk.

Astronaut Eileen Collins was the first female Space Shuttle pilot. #WorldSpaceWeek🚀 She piloted the Space Shuttle Discovery during mission STS-63 (1995), a mission that included the first-ever rendezvous between a US Space Shuttle and the Russian space station Mir. #WomenInSTEM

An official NASA portrait of a smiling Eileen Collins (born 1956), the first female Space Shuttle pilot and commander, posing in front of a studio backdrop. Positioned left of center, she is captured from the waist up, turned slightly right while facing forward with a warm, confident expression. Her short, light brown hair is neatly styled in a voluminous, feathered cut. She wears a vibrant orange Advanced Crew Escape Suit (ACES) complete with a bulky metallic neck ring, black collar fabric underneath, and an intricate harness. A circular mission patch for STS-93 is prominently affixed to the right side of her chest, reading the names Collins, Ashby, Coleman, Hawley, and Tognini, while a blue-and-white NASA name tag on her left side reads "EILEEN M. COLLINS". Her right hand gently rest on a glossy black-and-white astronaut helmet held in her lap. The backdrop features the United States flag draped on the far left, while a detailed desktop model of the Space Shuttle stacked with its solid rocket boosters and external tank stands on a pedestal to the right. The overall composition balances a professional, historic mood with Collins' approachable demeanor, celebrating her groundbreaking milestones as a trailblazing woman in STEM and space exploration.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · last wk.

Jody Williams & International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) shared the 1997 #Nobel Peace Prize for their work for the banning & clearing of anti-personnel mines. She was born #OTD in 1950. Williams was the founding coordinator & key organizer of the ICBL, launched in 1992 with six NGOs.🧵

A studio portrait of political activist Jody Williams (born October 9, 1950), the core organizer of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines who shared the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for her historic disarmament efforts. The subject is framed from the chest up against a plain, neutral grey-beige background. Tilted slightly to her right, she faces the camera with a bright, genuine, open-mouthed smile that creases the corners of her expressive eyes. Her light blonde hair is cut into a short, textured style with soft bangs framing her forehead. She wears a simple, solid black V-neck top, which beautifully contrasts with her fair complexion. She wears a thin metallic necklace holding a small, intricate pendant featuring a dark red or purple gemstone. The lighting is soft and directional, illuminating her face and casting subtle shadows that highlight her features. The composition focuses entirely on her approachable demeanor, evoking a warm, hopeful, and deeply human mood that balances her status as an influential global diplomat with her grassroots origin.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · last wk.

Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe died #OTD in 1973. The original #soul sister & "Godmother of Rock & Roll" influenced many including Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley & Jerry Lee Lewis. 😮 Great balls of fire! #MusicHistory #Music

A classic black-and-white photograph of Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915–1973), the pioneering gospel singer, guitarist, and "Godmother of Rock 'n' Roll." Captured mid-performance in a nightclub or studio setting (likely 1940s–1950s), she leans into a vintage microphone with a radiant, joyful smile—eyes sparkling upward in ecstasy, mouth open wide in song or laughter, conveying pure passion and energy. Her dark hair is styled in elegant curls with a small decorative bow or flower accent. She wears a light-colored dress with voluminous, sheer puffed sleeves, a high neckline, and a large bow at the neck, giving her an elegant yet exuberant stage presence. In her hands she cradles a white guitar, fingers poised on the fretboard as she plays. The background shows a draped curtain and soft stage lighting, emphasizing her dynamic pose and the fusion of sacred gospel with secular rhythm that defined her groundbreaking career. This iconic image captures Tharpe's revolutionary influence—blending gospel with early rock 'n' roll guitar techniques, influencing artists like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard, and becoming one of the first major Black female stars to cross over into mainstream popularity while remaining rooted in her faith.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · last wk.

Congratulations to Navi Pillay! She was awarded the #Nobel Peace Prize this morning. The South African #HumanRights rights lawyer & jurist won "for her efforts to promote peace & international law." A life-long dedication to ensuring war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide are prosecuted.

Nobel Peace Prize goes to South African human rights pioneer Navi Pillay | CNN

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Navi Pillay led the UN commission that concluded Israel committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed he deserves to win. Fo...

cnn.com

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · last wk.

Engineer, physicist & NASA astronaut Sally Ride was the first American woman in space, 1983. #WorldSpaceWeek 🚀 + Wrote/co-wrote 7 books to help encourage children to study #science + Co-founded Sally Ride Science to inspire young people in STEM & promote STEM literacy #WomenInSTEM

A historical photograph of Dr. Sally Kristen Ride (May 26, 1951 – July 23, 2012)—the first American woman in space—inside the flight deck of the Space Shuttle Challenger during the STS-7 mission in June 1983. Dr. Ride is positioned in the center of the frame from the chest up with a warm, engaged smile. She wears a light-blue NASA flight jumpsuit adorned with an American flag patch on her left shoulder, a NASA insignia on her chest, and a name tag that reads "SALLY." A lightweight communications headset rests on her curly, dark brown hair, with a thin microphone curving toward her mouth. Her right hand adjusts a component of the headset wire near her ear. The background is filled with the dense, intricate instrumentation of the shuttle's overhead and aft control panels, packed with gray switches, dials, and circuit breakers. The tight framing, soft interior lighting, and candid composition emphasize a focused yet calm atmosphere, documenting a milestone moment for women in STEM and space exploration.

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · last wk.

In 2022, planetary geologist & NASA astronaut Dr. Jessica Watkins became the first Black woman to serve on a long-duration International Space Station mission. She spent 170 days in orbit executing vital medical, biological, and physical sciences experiments. #WorldSpaceWeek🚀 #WomenInSTEM

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · last wk.

Ophthalmologist Dr. Agatha Aboe led the medical campaign in Ghana to eliminate trachoma (leading infectious cause of preventable blindness globally). It worked. Ghana became the 1st country in sub-Saharan Africa to eliminate the disease, 2018. #WorldSightDay #WomenInSTEM

A low-angle, close-up portrait of renowned Ghanaian ophthalmologist and public health pioneer Dr. Agatha Aboe. Celebrated for leading the historic medical campaign that made Ghana the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to eliminate trachoma in 2018, she is captured looking upward and to the left with an optimistic, serene smile. Her black hair is neatly styled with shaved, patterned sides. She wears distinctive semi-translucent, light-blue-framed glasses and bright orange, teardrop-shaped beaded earrings that offer a vibrant color contrast. Her top is a simple, high-collared bright blue shirt. The background features a soft-focus, minimalist golden-yellow architectural column under warm, natural sunlight. The tight composition and uplifting lighting establish an empowering, visionary mood, symbolizing her historical significance as a leading global voice for Women in STEM who now exports eye-health roadmaps to other endemic nations

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · last wk.

Bacteriological chemist & refrigeration engineer Dr. Mary Engle Pennington, the "Ice Woman," revolutionized food safety by inventing the "cold chain." Her groundbreaking work on continuous refrigeration kept perishable food fresh from harvest to consumer. She was born #OTD in 1872. 🧵 #WomenInSTEM

A black-and-white photograph of Dr. Mary Engle Pennington (1872–1952), the pioneering American bacteriological chemist and refrigeration engineer known as the "Ice Woman." Shown from the chest up, she poses at a three-quarter angle, facing left while turning her gaze calmly toward the camera. Her expression is serene, intellectual, and confident, marked by a slight, knowing smile. Her wavy, light-colored hair is parted down the middle and neatly pinned back, framing her face and her thin, round wire-rimmed spectacles. She is elegantly dressed in a textured, small-checked pattern blazer over a collared blouse with a delicate, ornate pendant hanging from her neckline. Pinched to her left lapel is a prominent corsage featuring two light-colored, lifelike fabric flower blossoms complete with subtle leaves. The overall composition uses classic soft studio lighting that creates a gentle gradient across her face against a dark, featureless backdrop, capturing a dignified and scholarly mood that honors her monumental contributions to global food safety.