March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the efforts and advancements of female-identifying individuals in society and how they’ve shaped the world we live in today. Here are several young women worth knowing about, who are all changing the world by using their passions, strengths, and stories to benefit the lives of both present and future generations.
- Kendall Strampel
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Kendall Strampel is revolutionizing the way society teaches young women to view their minds, bodies and spirits. A pioneer in the online fitness coaching industry, Strampel used her experience recovering from both Anorexia Nervosa and Orthorexia Nervosa to turn her struggles into her strengths.
During her recovery, Strampel fell in love with fitness and all of the incredible things her healthy physical body allowed her to do. She quickly realized that her love for fitness had little to do with the way it shaped her physical body, and more to do with the mental and emotional strength it helped her gain.
With many personal trainers at the time focusing on aesthetics and weight-loss, Kendall recognized a need for coaches who helped educate women how to use fitness to gain life, rather than lose it.
After growing a thriving business as an individual coach, Strampel banded with other influential women in the industry to create the Fears to Fit Community. Her team now includes coaches Erica Nangle, Amanda Nicole Kalamvokis, Taylor Monkman, and Jess Roversi. Together, they’ve shaped the lives of nearly 2,000 clients and continue to create a positive impact on social media. Strampel serves her followers with confidence, goofiness, and grace, alongside a healthy dose of badass boundaries.
- ARANYA JOHAR
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22-year-old Aranya Johar uses poetry to advocate for societal change on culturally relevant issues. Her work touches on subjects from gender equality to mental health to body positivity. Her YouTube videos, including “A Brown Girl’s Guide To Gender” and “A Brown Girl’s Guide to Beauty,” have impacted young women globally. Born in Mumbai, India, Johar first performed her poetry as a 12-year-old girl.
In 2019, Johar became the youngest member of the Gender Equality Advisory Council for the G7. She was also nominated as one of BBC’s top 100 women of 2019, and is the youngest Indian woman to have made the list to date.
Johar continues to use her words to empower women across her social media accounts. She runs a 3,500+ member Discord group in which she fosters a sense of community centered around the authentic sharing of the human experience. Johar’s Instagram is filled with empowering messages and reflective prompts for self-discovery that will leave you feeling confident, inspired, and powerful AF.
- Miana Bryant
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As a high school student, Miana Bryant struggled with the all too common (but rarely talked about) experiences of adolescent depression and bullying. Bryant later went on to study at East Carolina University, where she was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. Although the services and medications she received from her student health center helped her depression, Bryant struggled with feeling alone in her diagnosis.
“Talking about mental illness can be extremely difficult in the African-American community,” Bryant shares in a post for Mashable.com. “A lot of black people have been raised on strength and being able to handle things… it’s difficult to handle, to wake up every day as an African American and see everything in the news.”
Instead of letting her feelings of isolation feed her depression, Bryant chose to use her experiences to connect with other young adults who were facing similar issues. In 2016, Bryant started a support group for fellow college students, which later set the foundation for her organization, The Mental Elephant.
The Mental Elephant helps to decrease the stigma associated with prioritizing mental health needs in a positive manner. They provide career development resources, mental health support groups, interactive tools, and a variety of other resources that help young adults with their holistic health both on and offline. Bryant hopes to continue to grow her organization across college campuses, particularly historically black colleges.
With the help of over 200 organization members, Bryant is a name changing the game of mental health. She uses her voice to empower young women. Taking care of our minds, bodies, and spirits is not only necessary for us as individuals, but it is vital for the health of our families, communities, and the world at large.
- Camila Cabello
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You probably know singer-songwriter Camila Cabello for her hit songs “Crying in the Club” and “Havana,” and from 2018’s “Señorita” with Shawn Mendes. The star recently broadened her horizons in founding the Healing Justice Project in January of 2021, a partnership with nonprofit organization Movement Voter Fund.
The Healing Justice Project funds mental health care costs for frontline activist workers from a variety of social-justice organizations. They’re dedicated to giving culturally relevant healthcare for organizations “working at the intersection of racial and economic justice, electoral organizing, and other movements that propel this country forward.”
The first round of grants went to 10 different organizations, including The Black Leaders Organizing Communities, Muslin Women For, QLatinx, and Student Advocacy Center of Michigan. Grants went directly to communities that were disproportionally affected by acts of racial injustice in 2020.
Cabello herself donated the seed money to help start the project, matched initial contributions, and continues to raise money for future grants. Not only is the star using her voice to advocate for change, but she’s committed to continuing to reflect on her areas of privilege and how she can best serve the world.
“I’ve spent a lot of time over the last couple of years, and especially this past year home during the pandemic, in constant reflection, learning and exploring the ways I have contributed to systems and beliefs that actively oppress others,” the star shared with The Hollywood Reporter.
Cabello is an inspiration for all of us to continue to reflect on how we can continue to fight systemic oppression long after the news coverage stops.
- You!
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As we celebrate Women’s History Month, remember that you are an important and irreplaceable piece of the puzzle. Your natural gifts, talents, and strengths have the ability to impact the world in more ways than you realize today. The experiences you’ve grown through help pave the way for future generations of leaders. No one else can tell your story — and it is one that the world desperately needs to hear.
For inspiration on how to best use your story to serve the world, here are some ideas for discovering your natural strengths. Spend time journaling, practicing gratitude, and gaining clarity on what your personal values are.
Share your dreams with me on Instagram or my website.