Historical Badasses


The Winchester Mansion is a Queen Anne/Victorian styled mansion, with yellow walls and red shingles, located in San Jose, California.
The Winchester Mansion is a Queen Anne/Victorian styled mansion, with yellow walls and red shingles, located in San Jose, California.

Here’s why Silicon Valley is haunted

Helena Ong

Hurrem Sultan was the Ottoman empire’s femme fatale

Safa Shoaib
[Image descriptions: Pirate Zheng Yi Sao fights off her enemies.] Via Wikimedia Commons.
[Image descriptions: Pirate Zheng Yi Sao fights off her enemies.] Via Wikimedia Commons.

The greatest pirate of all time was a widow from China

Supreeta Balasubramanian

On the left, a photo of Phillipa Soo in her role as Eliza. She wears a simple white dress, and she has an intense look on her face. On the left, is a portrait of Eliza. She is also wearing a white dress, and her hair is grey and curled.
On the left, a photo of Phillipa Soo in her role as Eliza. She wears a simple white dress, and she has an intense look on her face. On the left, is a portrait of Eliza. She is also wearing a white dress, and her hair is grey and curled.

Eliza Hamilton, America’s forgotten founding mother

Jenin Al Shalabi
[Image description: A statue of the Trung sisters.] Via beyondword.com
[Image description: A statue of the Trung sisters.] Via beyondword.com

The Trung sisters are Vietnam’s legendary freedom fighters

Laurie Melchionne
[Image description: Mary Shelley, Emily Bronte, and Jane Austen.] Via singers.com, discoverbritainmag.com, and Wikimedia Commons
[Image description: Mary Shelley, Emily Bronte, and Jane Austen.] Via singers.com, discoverbritainmag.com, and Wikimedia Commons

Anonymous was always a woman in the literary world

Zara Khan

[Image description: Nellie Bly, in 1890, stands for a portrait photo, holding a bag and hat.] Via Library of Congress
[Image description: Nellie Bly, in 1890, stands for a portrait photo, holding a bag and hat.] Via Library of Congress

Here’s how the real Lois Lane invented gonzo journalism

Helena Ong
[Image description: A black and white photograph of Pandita Ramabai.] Via Wikipedia.org
[Image description: A black and white photograph of Pandita Ramabai.] Via Wikipedia.org

Pandita Ramabai is India’s original feminist badass

Hannah Rachel Abraham
A collage of a few of India's political activists and freedom fighters; Jhansi ki Rani (left), Sarojini Naidu (middle), and Kasturba Gandhi (right).
A collage of a few of India's political activists and freedom fighters; Jhansi ki Rani (left), Sarojini Naidu (middle), and Kasturba Gandhi (right).

The Indian Independence movement was possible thanks to these women

Natalia Ahmed

[Image Description: Illustration of Queen Arawelo by Rachel Idzerda. No known portraits of Queen Arawelo exist, artwork was inspired by contemporary imagery and descriptions.] Via The Washington Post
[Image Description: Illustration of Queen Arawelo by Rachel Idzerda. No known portraits of Queen Arawelo exist, artwork was inspired by contemporary imagery and descriptions.] Via The Washington Post

This Somalian queen took girl power to a whole new level

Rebecca Azad
[Image description: Wilma Rudolph running in the Olympics.] Via folks.pillpack.com
[Image description: Wilma Rudolph running in the Olympics.] Via folks.pillpack.com

How my great-aunt Wilma Rudolph changed the world

Tori B. Powell
[Image description: Dr. Gisella Perl on the cover of her book, “I Was A Doctor in Auschwitz”.] Via Wikipedia
[Image description: Dr. Gisella Perl on the cover of her book, “I Was A Doctor in Auschwitz”.] Via Wikipedia

This gynecologist was Auschwitz’s only salvation

Advaita Chaudhari