8 Inspiring Stories of Female Empowerment and Success – Get Ready to Be Motivated! (3 of 5)

4. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: The First Elected Female Head of State in Africa

When Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected president of Liberia in 2006, she made history by becoming the first female head of state of an African nation. Throughout her 12 years as president, she did a lot to help rebuild civil war-torn Liberia’s economy and infrastructure, and was even the 2011 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. She is proof that when you put women in power, the world is a safer, more constructive place.

5. Jessica Cox: The World’s First Armless Pilot

The fact that Jessica Cox was born without arms didn’t stop her from achieving things that most people with arms are incapable of doing: namely, learning to fly an airplane. She does this by using her feet, which is how she performs other everyday tasks such as driving, typing, and – get this – playing the piano! In becoming the world’s first licensed pilot without arms, she serves as a powerful advocate for people with physical disabilities.