SALUTE!
From World Cup winners to history makers – all hail the women who made a difference in 2022.
The Queen
She united the nation to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee in June – who could forget Her Majesty sharing a marmalade sandwich with Paddington Bear?
Sadly, just three months later, the country fell into mourning when Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8 at the age of 96, just 17 months after the loss of her beloved husband Prince Philip.
Author Gyles Brandreth recently claimed that the Queen had been living with bone marrow cancer for several months.
She vowed in a speech on her 21st birthday to devote her life to the service of her people – and this was a promise Her Majesty kept right up to her death.
The longest-reigning monarch in British history, her death marked the end of an incredible era for the royal family.
She lived through so many historical events – from WWII and women securing more rights, to the pandemic and Brexit – but throughout it all, she was a constant for the people of the UK and beyond.
Your Majesty, thank you for your service.
The Lionesses
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This summer, England won its first major tournament since 1966 – and it was the girls who brought it home at long last, with their phenomenal 2-1 victory over Germany in the final of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022.
The entire team captured the nation’s hearts with their determination, attitude and skill, as goal scorers Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly secured victory in front of a record-breaking crowd of 87,192 fans at Wembley Stadium – and millions more watching on TV in Britain and around the world.
The fearsome Lionesses have inspired a whole generation of girls by proving that women’s football has well and truly arrived, with a recent survey suggesting that watching the Lionesses in action inspired more than half of girls aged 11-17 to take up a new sport.
Off the pitch, midfielder Jill Scott hung up her England boots then wowed us with her mental strength and down-to-earth demeanour to be crowned Queen of the Jungle on I’m A Celebrity!.
The Lionesses’ popularity has even triggered a wave of baby girls being named after the squad, with Leah, Millie, Lauren and Chloe all climbing the top 100 baby names list.
All eyes will be back on them for the Women’s FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next summer – and we have total confidence it’s coming home again.
Dame Kelly Holmes, 52
Olympian
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The Olympic legend made the courageous decision to publicly come out as gay at 52 years old, saying she had lived with the secret for 34 years.
Choosing to reveal the truth in an interview during Pride month in June, the star said: “I’m finally free.”
Realising she was a lesbian in 1988 while serving as an HGV driver in the Women’s Royal Army Corps before becoming a physical training instructor in the army, Kelly admitted that she had lived in fear of being found out because homosexuality in the armed forces was still banned at the time.
She admitted she had been living a “secret life” for decades and that it had led to breakdowns, self-harm and even suicidal thoughts.
But after coming out, Kelly, who is in a relationship that she keeps private, says she could: “Cry with relief and explode with excitement.”
Davina McCall, 55
TV presenter & menopause campaigner
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She’s shone the spotlight on the menopause with her activism, candidly sharing her own experiences of night sweats and memory loss.
Davina also helped successfully lobby the government to reduce the cost of HRT, and fronted Channel 4 documentary Sex, Mind And The Menopause earlier this year.
Thanks to the mum of three – who inspired our own Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign – women feel able to talk about this time in their life without shame or stigma.
Dame Deborah James
Columnist & campaigner
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Hailed an inspiration for documenting her experience of bowel cancer, from which she died in June, aged 40, Deborah never stopped living life to the full.
After a stage 4 diagnosis in 2016, the former teacher rose to prominence with her frank column in The Sun and the You, Me & The Big C podcast.
She shared her experience to “raise awareness, break down barriers, challenge taboos and change the conversation around cancer.”
She raised millions for her Bowelbabe Fund and before her death, Debs – mum to Hugo, 15, and Eloise, 13, with husband Sebastien – was awarded a damehood.
Last month, she posthumously received The Christina Newbury gong at The Sun’s Who Cares Wins Awards.
Eilish McColgan, 32
Athlete
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What a year it’s been for this Scottish distance runner.
The daughter of track legend Liz McColgan, Eilish won her first major title at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, bagging gold in the 10,000m – and beating her mum’s record time to boot – as well as getting silver in the 5,000m.
She went on to win a silver and bronze at the European Championships just a few weeks later.
The Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year has also spoken out against trolls who have slammed her body for being “too skinny”.
She said: “I’m never going to look like someone on Love Island, but I want young runners to see that I am confident in my body… If I can get that sort of voice across, I’ll continue to do so.”
Soma Sara, 23
Activist
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Soma is the founder of Everyone’s Invited, a website that shares women and girls’ anonymous stories of harassment, sexual violence and misogyny.
In the past two years, 50,000 people have posted to the site, and it has become an unstoppable movement, changing the way universities across the country handle sexual misconduct.
It also prompted the creation of an NSPCC helpline for survivors of abuse in education.
Her recently released first book, named after the website, has continued this important work.
Susanna Reid, 52
TV presenter
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She may be one of TV’s most famous faces, but Susanna proved that she expected no special treatment when she waited for seven hours with her mum Sue, 81, in line to see the Queen lying in state in September.
Opening up about the experience, the Good Morning Britain presenter said: “Whether you are religious or not, a royalist or not, it feels like a sort of pilgrimage and a historic moment, a historic opportunity.
“When I was in the queue, young children patiently and uncomplainingly stood for hours. I was so proud of my mum at 81 queuing with me.”
Dame Olivia Newton-John
Singer, actress & campaigner
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Her glittering showbiz career included the iconic role of Sandy in Grease, four Grammys and sales of more than 100 million records.
But it is her activism for cancer patients around the world that will be Olivia’s lasting legacy. She became a symbol of triumph and hope to many after sharing her journey with cancer for 30 years.
In 2017, she revealed that the breast cancer she’d first suffered in 1992 had returned and spread to her spine.
Launching the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, she dedicated much of her life to raising money to help research plant medicine and better treatments for cancer.
She passed away in August this year, aged 73.
Daisy May Cooper, 36
Actress & writer
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Her latest BBC1 series Am I Being Unreasonable? – inspired by the ending of her marriage last year – firmly ensconced the brilliant DMC in the comedy big league.
The This Country star, who has bravely spoken out about her mental health struggles, is now a single mum of two and bossing it.
She recently revealed on Alan Carr’s Life’s A Beach podcast how she tried to drunkenly seduce a Greek waiter on her first solo holiday with the kids. We’ve all been there…
Lashana Lynch, 35
Actress
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As if becoming the first female 007 – in 2021’s No Time To Die – wasn’t enough of a career highlight, the London-born actress has knocked it out of the park this year with two very different roles: as a kick-ass 19th-century African warrior in The Woman King, and as sweet Miss Honey in the Matilda The Musical film adaptation.
Not to mention appearing in Marvel’s Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.
No wonder she won the EE Rising Star Award at the BAFTAs back in March.
Jennifer Lopez, 53
Singer & actress
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Proving that there’s no need to go low-key, even if it’s your fourth wedding, J.Lo went to town for her big day with Ben Affleck in August.
After reigniting their romance 17 years on from their initial split, Bennifer announced their engagement in April when the actor presented Jen with a £4.5million green diamond ring.
Following a secret legal ceremony in Vegas in July, Ben, 50, and Jennifer enjoyed a lavish three-day celebration a month later at his estate in Georgia – and reportedly splashed out more than £300,000 on the event.
Loved-up with the one that got away and looking hotter than ever, too – J.Lo’s got it sussed.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 43
Campaigner
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In March, Nazanin was released from the notorious Evin prison in Iran, six years after being imprisoned on spying charges.
The Iranian-British citizen was detained in 2016 after visiting family with her baby daughter.
No formal charges were ever brought and her husband Richard campaigned tirelessly for her release, which was secured after months of diplomatic talks.
Now reunited with her family, Nazanin is fighting for those still oppressed by the Iranian regime.
Florence Pugh, 26
Actress
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British star Florence found herself swept up in a Hollywood love triangle this year, when it emerged she’d shared a kiss with her Don’t Worry Darling co-star Harry Styles, who went on to have a relationship with the film’s director, Olivia Wilde.
Despite the endless gossip about the trio, which only ramped up after Harry and Olivia parted ways last month, Florence emerged with her dignity intact, the very model of rising above tittle-tattle.
And, as if we couldn’t admire her any more, she also blasted the body-shamers who trolled her when she wore a sheer Valentino gown to the designer’s couture show this summer.
Props to you, Flo.
Tasha Ghouri, 24
Love Islander
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She made history as the first deaf contestant on Love Island during the summer – and was praised by fans for her positive representation of the community.
The model and dancer, who uses a cochlear implant in her right ear, said: “I have a superpower. I was born deaf. It doesn’t define me – it’s part of who I am that makes me special and unique.”
After finishing fourth on the show with boyfriend Andrew Le Page, Tasha has gone on to use her platform for good, recently partnering with Cadbury and the National Deaf Children’s Society for their Sign With Fingers campaign to raise awareness of British Sign Language.
Paloma Elsesser, 30
Model
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Discovered on Insta by Sex And The City stylist Pat McGrath, London-born Paloma has walked for everyone from Fendi to Lanvin, graced the cover of Vogue and been in ads for Coach and H&M.
She uses her visibility for the greater good, saying: “When a size-14 person like myself says no to a show… that sample doesn’t go into the editorial season, other girls my size don’t get shot… there’s a whole cycle. My participation isn’t just about me.”
Ellie Simmonds OBE, 28
Paralympian swimmer & Strictly star
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Having won five Paralympic gold medals in her swimming career, Ellie Simmonds took on a different kind of physical challenge this year when she joined Strictly Come Dancing.
Paired with Nikita Kuzmin, the swimmer faced down cruel trolling over her appearance on the show.
Responding to the negativity, she explained: “Some people have said: ‘How’s the dwarf going to dance?’ It’s sad and it does get to you.
“It means so, so much, and especially doing it together [with Nikita] in this journey – and not just together, but for everyone out there watching who is in the dwarfism community, disability community or anyone different.”
Julia Bradbury, 52
TV presenter
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Diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2021, the former Countryfile presenter bravely made a documentary following her journey through treatment and a mastectomy.
When ITV’s Julia Bradbury: Breast Cancer And Me aired in April, the number of calls to Breast Cancer Now’s helpline increased by 21%, while there was a 78% increase in hits on the charity’s website.
“I hoped that by giving an open and honest account of my experiences, I could help others to feel less alone,” the mother of three said.
Mel B MBE, 47
Singer
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Following her own experience of domestic violence, Mel became patron of Women’s Aid in 2018, and last month attended a reception hosted by Camilla at Buckingham Palace to raise awareness of violence against women.
In May, the Spice Girl was awarded her MBE for services to charitable causes and vulnerable women.
“It’s amazing to have, but it’s not just for me – it’s for all those other women… I’m their voice, because we’ve all been through exactly the same story,” said Mel, who has appealed for more support for victims of domestic abuse.
Now that’s girl power 2022-style.
Self Esteem, 36
Singer
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The award-winning singer, AKA Rebecca Lucy Taylor, is raising two fingers to expectations placed on women.
Her catchy lyrics on breakthrough album Prioritise Pleasure – her mantra for life – inspire fans not to follow conventions but to forge their own path.
Plus, when the Mercury Prize ceremony was cancelled at the last minute, due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the singer and nominee arranged for food from the event to be donated to homeless people in London.
Sue Barker CBE, 66
Former TV presenter & tennis player
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There wasn’t a dry eye in SW19 when Sue bade farewell to Wimbledon this summer, after 30 years of presenting the BBC’s tennis coverage.
A standing ovation from the crowd and an emotional tribute from colleague John McEnroe moved the presenter – a Grand Slam winner herself – to tears, following her decision to retire from a glittering broadcasting career.
She paved the way for other women to break into the male-dominated world of sports coverage.
Kate Middleton, 40
Princess of Wales
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The newly appointed Princess of Wales is now one step away from being Queen.
With her trademark style and a cool head, she’s hosted dignitaries at state banquets, become patron of the Welsh FA and used her platform to raise awareness of maternal mental health issues and early years.
We’ve no doubt Her Maj would be so proud of her granddaughter-in-law, who juggles it all with a hands-on approach to motherhood that includes doing the school run.
Charlene White, 42
Newsreader & Loose Women panellist
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From becoming the first black woman to present ITV News At 10 to being Loose Women’s first black anchor, Charlene is a true trailblazer.
The mum of two is honest about how hard she has had to work because of her race to get ahead and never forgets her humble Lewisham roots.
She might have been the first person voted out of I’m A Celeb! this year, but holding on to her journalistic integrity and challenging campmate Matt Hancock means, to us, she’s a Queen of the Jungle.
Jayde Adams, 38
Comedian & Strictly star
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It wasn’t just dancing in a same-sex couple with Karen Hauer that sent a strong message of inclusivity on this year’s Strictly – Jayde showed you can enjoy, and love, yourself at any size when she performed Flashdance in a leotard.
Earlier this year, she told Fabulous: “I’ve had a lot of women online say disparaging things about my weight.
“This is because women have been taught being fat is a terrible thing, and there I am on TV with my big, fat thighs, dancing to Flashdance and not giving a f**k.” Bravo!
Alex Scott MBE, 38
TV presenter, football pundit & former player
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Our fave pundit – and frequent Fabulous cover star – proved she has more balls than the men when she stood in solidarity with LGBTQ+ people by wearing a One Love armband while presenting at the World Cup in Qatar.
Due to homosexuality being illegal in the country, FIFA had threatened to sanction players who wore them, causing the England team to choose not to.
But that didn’t stop Alex, who earlier this year revealed in her autobiography How (Not) To Be Strong that she had been in a relationship with fellow Lioness Kelly Smith when she was a young player.