The BBC has released it's 'BBC 100 Women' list for 2022 to celebrate inspirational and influential women, with selections including singer Billie Eilish and First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska. This year's list's theme focuses on progress as it honours activists, politicians, entertainment figures and healthcare workers.
Eilish became the first artist born in the 21st century to get a number on in the charts with 'Bad Guy' in 2019, which was the lead single from her US album chart topping 'When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?'. She added another number one album with 'Happier Than Ever' in 2021, before continuing her stride in 2022 by winning an Oscar with James Bond theme 'No Time To Die' for best original song and headlining Glastonbury.
She is also renowned for her activism, which includes campaigns on issues such as the environment and women's equality, using her Glastonbury set to oppose the Supreme Court decision to overturn the 1973 Roe v Wade case that legalised abortion across the US. Alongside her brother Finneas O'Connell she also joined WaterAid's call for climate action.
Women from the world of entertainment such as Indian actress and producer Priyanka Chopra, actress and disability activist Selma Blair and Puerto Rican West Side Story actress Rita Moreno join Eilish on the list. While in politics, the first female president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the first female prime minister of Barbados Mia Mottley and Ukraine’s First Lady Zelenska, are named.
Zelenska, who is married to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, visited the UK in November to create awareness of the alleged sexual violence and rape by Russian forces in their attempted invasion of the country. She informed MPs that the youngest known victim of such crimes was a girl of just four-years-old.
Director-general of the BBC Tim Davie called all the women on list “remarkable” for “what they have achieved and contributed to their communities and society”.
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