100 Women Change Makers

Whether internationally acclaimed or locally admired, these 100 women are shattering glass ceilings, campaigning, creating, changing minds, and winning our hearts. Nominated by the teams behind all 45 editions of ELLE International, this list of incredible change-makers, in no particular order, is a timely reminder of the soft power and seismic influence women hold in all fields. Prepare to be 100% inspired!

- Lotte Jeffs

SOCIETY

They have fought tirelessly for our rights, battling prejudice at every turn. These women are using their voice to change the world

Angelina Jolie

American, 47 years old

WHY HER? Do you really need to ask?! Actor, filmmaker, humanitarian, Cambodian American goodwill ambassador…She is known for her work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and is a committed conservationist and animal rights activist.

DEFINING MOMENT: In June 2020, Jolie donated $200,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd.

POWERFUL QUOTE: “Nothing would mean anything if I didn’t live a life of use to others.”

WHAT’S NEXT? She is starring in the movie Every Note Played as the ex-wife of a piano virtuoso who cares for him when he’s diagnosed with ALCS. Jolie continues to oversee UNESCO’s second “Women for Bees” programme, recently launched in Cambodia, to train women in beekeeping.

Marta Lempart

Polish, 43-years old

WHY HER? Because of her social and political activism Lempart has been targeted by the government with arrests and legal charges and faced death threats from opponents. This hasn’t stopped her from initiating and leading the Women’s Strike, which demands the right to abortion. Her work has also included advocating for equal rights for members of Poland’s LGBTQ+ community and for people with disabilities.