Honoring Amazing Female Explorers Who Changed the World

In honor of International Women’s Day, this blog is dedicated to female pioneers who were the ultimate explorers!  Although some of these women never gained international fame or recognition, their legacy lives on propelling all of us to pursue our ultimate dreams. 

Here is the list of my top 5 game-changing explorers: 

Amelia Earhart | Born in Kansas in 1897, Amelia was one of the most decorated female aviators and explorers.  She was the 16th woman to receive a pilot’s license, and the first woman to cross both the Atlantic in 1928, gaining more notoriety by flying solo across the Atlantic in 1932.  Her tragic and mysterious death remains unsolved as she disappeared in air space in 1937, and legally proclaimed dead in 1939.  Yet her bravery, courage remain and unbridled determination to circumnavigate the globe still inspires us today.

Nelly Bly | I loved learning about her story- hearing how she fought against  the “boy’s club” that dominated investigative reporting and the newspaper industry in the 1880’s. ( I also felt that I had to fight to make my stance in OB/Gyn. I came up against  the “ good ole boy’s club” in many hospital settings.)  In order to gain access as an undercover reporter, in 1887, she feigned mental illness to gain access into an insane asylum.  There she lived for 10 days, documenting the horrible conditions at New York City mental hospital, resulting in the publication of the critically acclaimed article, “ Ten Days in a Mad-House.”

Bessie Coleman | Due to her race and gender, she was banned from taking flying lessons in the U.S. and traveled to France to receive her pilot’s license in 1921, being the first African- American woman in the world to do so.  She was a fierce supporter for both black Americans and women’s rights and encouraged them to reach for their dreams.

Jeanne Baret | Wow, this 18th century French woman really wanted to explore the earth - dressing as a man in order to allow her on ship to circumnavigate the world.  She bound her breasts, went by the name Jean, and acted as the valet and assistant for Admiral Louis-Antoine de Bougainville in 1766 - 1769, masking her gender for 3 years on this maritime journey with over 300 men before finally being discovered as a woman..  

Dian Fossey | As many of you know, I love animals and prior to making the decision to attend medical school, I had my sights on becoming a veterinarian.  Dian Fossey is one of my favorite female scientists and explorers, renowned for her incredible work with Mountain Gorillas in Africa.  Her groundbreaking work with primates led to her acclaimed book,  Gorillas in the Mist.  She fought vigorously for the conservation efforts to protect these incredible creatures and was brutally murdered by poachers in her cabin at her research site in  Rwanda at the age of 53.  The final entry in her journal was a hopeful one:

 “When you realize the value of all life, you learn to dwell less on what is past and concentrate more on the preservation of the future.” 

How better to end this amazing tribute to female explorers but on the wise words of Dian Fossey.  I hope that we all can dwell less on the past and look to preserve our world’s future while courageously reaching our dreams! Hit replay and let me know which one of these amazing women inspires you the most.

- In health and happiness

If you're feeling like you are ready for some adventure and exploration, please join me as I lead a highly curated experience across one of the world’s most famous Blue Zone, the island of Sardinia. Click here for more info!