As a women-owned and operated small business, we are celebrating Women’s History Month by highlighting some of the women who inspire us. Read below to see our staff’s selection of influential women.

Liza admires fashion icon Iris Apfel for her flamboyance and quick wit. Apfel confidently sports bold colors while layering on a pile of jewelry, proving that one can mix pieces despite price points or trendiness. When she was ninety-seven, Apfel secured a modeling contract and is currently working on a project with H&M to celebrate her 100th birthday.

Tatiana draws inspiration from Maya Angelou and Michelle Obama. Angelou’s wide repertoire of influence spanned across civil rights activism, acting, poetry, and more. Her famous poems, “Still I Rise” and “Phenomenal Woman” give Tatiana strength while making her feel beautiful and proud to be a woman of color.

Obama served as the first African American First Lady of the United States. Tatiana recognizes her as the epitome of grace and fearlessness, as she consistently advocates for women and people of color. Obama inspires Tatiana to be the best version of herself and to never dim her light for anyone else. 

Gabe feels energized by both Sacagawea and Quannah Chasinghorse. Sacagawea is a prominent Native American figure for the display of leadership in helping Lewis and Clark on their exploration of the Louisiana Purchase in the early 1800s. At the age of sixteen, Sacagawea exhibited strength by leaving her home and tribe behind.

Chasinghorse is a Native American land protector and model who uses her platform to bring awareness to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge that is part of the Alaska Wilderness League. As a participant in climate rallies and an advocate for sustainable brands, Gabe sees her as a role model because she uses her voice to spark change in the community. 

Paola feels encouraged by tennis player Billie Jean King, who pioneered the fight for gender equality in professional sports. As a founder of the Women’s Tennis Association and Women’s Sports Foundation, she paved the way for equal pay in the sport through the 1973 US Open by refusing to play unless prize funds were the same between men and women.

Who are some of the women that inspire you? Join our discussion over on Instagram @shopazil! We’d love to hear from you. 

Works Cited 

Adams, Dwight. “Michelle Obama Quotes and Moments We Can't Forget.” The Indianapolis Star, IndyStar, 10 Jan. 2018, https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2018/01/10/here-7-ways-michelle-obama-made-us-stop-and-notice/1020390001/.

Angelou, Maya. “Phenomenal Woman” Poetry Foundation. Web. 11 March 2022. 

Deutsch, Lindsay, and Robert Deutsch. “13 Of Maya Angelou's Best Quotes.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 28 May 2014, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/05/28/maya-angelou-quotes/9663257/.

Hanan Hadad, and Shermin Ng. “12 Female-Empowering Instagram Accounts to Follow for Daily Inspiration.” Harper's Bazaar Singapore, 4 Sept. 2020, https://www.harpersbazaar.com.sg/life/culture/empowering-instagram-accounts-daily-inspiration-international-womens-day/.

Kilian, Peter. “Paintings: Sacagawea above Fort Manuel, 1812 by Peter Kilian Fine Art.” Artspan Art Marketplace, https://www.artspan.com/painting/2491928/sacagawea-above-fort-manuel-1812.

Oberly, Keri. “Quannah Chasinghorse Is Fighting to Save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.” Grist, 7 Apr. 2021, https://grist.org/climate/quannah-chasinghorse-is-fighting-to-save-the-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge/.

Staff, Editorial. “Quannah Chasinghorse Fronts New Campaign.” Windobi, 11 Mar. 2022, https://windobi.com/quannah-chasinghorse-fronts-new-campaign/.

Swerling, Hannah, and Nadia Lee Cohen . “Billie Jean King on Her Lifetime of Battles on and off the Court.” The Sunday Times Magazine | The Sunday Times, The Sunday Times, 19 Aug. 2021, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/billie-jean-king-tennis-battle-of-the-sexes-t0lp0p7jg.