Womanica

Maria Getrudis Barceló (c. 1800-1852) was a card-dealer and renowned business woman who amassed a fortune through her gambling house in New Mexico. This month, we’re talking about Mischief Makers:  oddballs, chameleons, and nonconformists. Queens of quick wit. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the l...

Theda Bara (1885-1955) was one of film’s first sex symbols and creator of the ‘vamp’ – a dark-haired, sultry woman who sucked the life out of the men unlucky enough to fall into her orbit. This month, we’re talking about Mischief Makers:  oddballs, chameleons, and nonconformists. Queens of quick wit. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn...

Ellen Armstrong (1914-1979) was a famous stage magician, and the only African American woman of her time to have a touring magic show. This month, we’re talking about Mischief Makers:  oddballs, chameleons, and nonconformists. Queens of quick wit. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why...

Sophie Blanchard (1778-1819) was the first woman balloonist, who lived – and died – with her head in the clouds. This week of Womanica is guest hosted by Lauren Iannotti! Lauren is the Editor in Chief of Real Simple, one of the premier brands in the women’s lifestyle space with 151 million annual readers. Real Simple’s Game Changers issue celebrates the people, inventions, and ideas that are chang...

Rukmini Devi Arundale (1904-1986) used her love of movement to revitalize an Indian classical dance. This week of Womanica is guest hosted by Lauren Iannotti! Lauren is the Editor in Chief of Real Simple, one of the premier brands in the women’s lifestyle space with 151 million annual readers. Real Simple’s Game Changers issue celebrates the people, inventions, and ideas that are changing our worl...

Rossa Matilda Richter (c. 1860-1937) defied expectations — and gravity — to become one of the first ever people to fly through the air as a  human cannonball. This week of Womanica is guest hosted by Lauren Iannotti! Lauren is the Editor in Chief of Real Simple, one of the premier brands in the women’s lifestyle space with 151 million annual readers. Real Simple’s Game Changers issue celebrates th...

Pearl Primus (1919-1994) was a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and anthropologist who used dance to unify and uplift the African American identity and experience. This week of Womanica is guest hosted by Lauren Iannotti! Lauren is the Editor in Chief of Real Simple, one of the premier brands in the women’s lifestyle space with 151 million annual readers. Real Simple’s Game Changers issue celebrate...

Florence Lowe "Pancho" Barnes (1901-1975) was a famous aviator, horseback rider, and adventurer. This week of Womanica is guest hosted by Lauren Iannotti! Lauren is the Editor in Chief of Real Simple, one of the premier brands in the women’s lifestyle space with 151 million annual readers. Real Simple’s Game Changers issue celebrates the people, inventions, and ideas that are changing our world fo...

Marie Taglioni (1804-1884) was the dancer whose career created the Cult of the Ballerina. She was so beloved, some of her fans once bought, seasoned and ate a pair of her ballet slippers. This month, we're talking about movers and shakers: dancers, stuntwomen, martial artists, and other pioneering women who've used their physical prowess to shake things up. History classes can get a bad rap, and s...

Maria Spelterini (1853-1912) was a legendary tightrope walker known for being the first and only woman to cross Niagara Gorge on a wire. This month, we're talking about movers and shakers: dancers, stuntwomen, martial artists, and other pioneering women who've used their physical prowess to shake things up. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we...

Mae Young (1923-2014) was a tough-as-nails trailblazer in women's wrestling. After making her debut during the golden age of wrestling, she had a second act – and became the first person to wrestle in eight different decades. This month, we're talking about movers and shakers: dancers, stuntwomen, martial artists, and other pioneering women who've used their physical prowess to shake things up. Hi...

Lola Montez (1821-1861) was a dancer and actress who performed across Europe and the United States. Her dancing supported her independent lifestyle, catapulted her to celebrity, and even influenced German geo-politics. This month, we're talking about movers and shakers: dancers, stuntwomen, martial artists, and other pioneering women who've used their physical prowess to shake things up. History c...

Lis Hartel (1921-2009) overcame almost total paralysis to pursue her dream of Olympic horseback riding. This month, we're talking about movers and shakers: dancers, stuntwomen, martial artists, and other pioneering women who've used their physical prowess to shake things up. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where...

Kitty O'Neil (1946-2018) had an insatiable need for speed. She pushed her body to the limit to break land, sea, and air records. This month, we're talking about movers and shakers: dancers, stuntwomen, martial artists, and other pioneering women who've used their physical prowess to shake things up. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’...

Keiko Fukuda (1913-2013) was the first–and as of now, the only –woman to achieve the highest rank in the art of judo. She lived her life by the motto she used on the mat: “Be strong. Be gentle. Be beautiful.” This month, we're talking about movers and shakers: dancers, stuntwomen, martial artists, and other pioneering women who've used their physical prowess to shake things up. History classes can...

Katie Sandwina (1884-1952) was a circus performer who shocked audiences with both her formidable strength and classic femininity. She was commonly known as “Lady Hercules” and “The Strongest Woman in the World.” This month, we're talking about movers and shakers: dancers, stuntwomen, martial artists, and other pioneering women who've used their physical prowess to shake things up. History classes...

Junko Tabei (1939-2016) was the first woman to summit Mount Everest. This month, we're talking about movers and shakers: dancers, stuntwomen, martial artists, and other pioneering women who've used their physical prowess to shake things up. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were s...

Helen Gibson (1892-1977) was Hollywood’s very first professional stuntwoman. Over the course of her career, she appeared in hundreds of movies, jumping onto moving trains, and  hanging off of galloping horses. This month, we're talking about movers and shakers: dancers, stuntwomen, martial artists, and other pioneering women who've used their physical prowess to shake things up. History classes ca...

Gwen Verdon (1925-2000) was a true Broadway icon. Her status as a triple threat dancer, actor and singer earned her four Tony awards during her career.  This month, we're talking about movers and shakers: dancers, stuntwomen, martial artists, and other pioneering women who've used their physical prowess to shake things up. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we w...

Ginger Rogers (1911-1995) was a classic American performer who dazzled the world with her talents for 65 years. From the vaudeville circuit to Broadway to the big screen, she graced every type of stage imaginable. This month, we're talking about movers and shakers: dancers, stuntwomen, martial artists, and other pioneering women who've used their physical prowess to shake things up. History classe...

Esther Williams (1921-2013) brought her prowess in the pool to the silver screen. She was a star athlete and Olympic hopeful in her teenage years before becoming one of the biggest movie stars of her day. This month, we're talking about movers and shakers: dancers, stuntwomen, martial artists, and other pioneering women who've used their physical prowess to shake things up. History classes can get...

Debbie Allen (1950-present) has had a long and eclectic career as a dancer, actress, choreographer and director. This month, we're talking about movers and shakers: dancers, stuntwomen, martial artists, and other pioneering women who've used their physical prowess to shake things up. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering...

Cyd Charisse (c. 1922-2008) was Hollywood royalty, and a dancer of mythic proportions. Though her screentime was fleeting, her dreamlike dance numbers wowed audiences– and still do today. This month, we're talking about movers and shakers: dancers, stuntwomen, martial artists, and other pioneering women who've used their physical prowess to shake things up. History classes can get a bad rap, and s...

Bessie Stringfield (1911-1993) was the Motorcycle Queen of Miami, a woman who criss-crossed the US eight times over in her Harley-Davidson motorcycles. This month, we're talking about movers and shakers: dancers, stuntwomen, martial artists, and other pioneering women who've used their physical prowess to shake things up. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we we...

Aloha Wanderwell (1906-1996) was a globetrotting explorer and filmmaker who traveled around the world–literally. Her escapades earned her the title of the world’s most widely traveled woman. This month, we're talking about movers and shakers: dancers, stuntwomen, martial artists, and other pioneering women who've used their physical prowess to shake things up. History classes can get a bad rap, an...