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My friend Sharon inspires me. We have known each other for over 23 years, having met through our husbands. A true Geordie lass—always laughing.

Her husband, Steve, died on 1 April 2024, after an unexpected cancer diagnosis (he would have laughed at it being April Fools’ Day). Despite the shock and grief, Sharon displayed incredible strength. She took on new caregiving responsibilities at home, managed all the household affairs—something Steve had always overseen—and arranged his ‘Celebration of Life,’ complete with Church Bangers (not hymns!) in honour of their shared love of music. Fulfilling his final wish, she even embarked on a trip abroad after the funeral—because traveling had been their passion. Through it all, Sharon has shown me that there is life after losing your husband of 40 years. I am in awe of her resilience.

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My lovely Mum inspires me daily. She is 89, has had six children and has 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, all of whom love her dearly. She never moans, always has a smile and has time for everyone. She lost her beloved Johnnie (my dad), back in 1999 and misses him so much still. Her health is failing now, and she is being looked after in hospital, but she is still pleasant with all the staff, and grateful that she is still around. Here's a photo of her two years ago in Galway, drinking some of the black stuff!

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I'm inspired every day by my beautiful daughter Rosie, the ultimate girls girl.

At just 6 years old, she is the perfect mix of kindness, empathy and attitude. She inspires me every day to be proud to be a girl, to be bold and to always lead with kindness.

The way she questions fairness, looks out for others, and moves through life with such sass and determination reminds me why my work matters, I don't want the world to ever dull her sparkle. Because of her, I’m even more committed to making the world a fairer place, even in small ways. Love you Rosie!

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Famous for bringing drag to the mainstream, Ru Paul is a trailblazer for the queer community and often acts as 'Mother' to her Drag Race contestants. Bestowing wisdom, Ru empowers and celebrates each and every person who steps into the infamous pink werkroom. Ru often reminds people to challenge their inner saboteur and recognise their charisma, uniqueness and talent. Her famous quote, 'If you can't love yourself, how are you going to love someone else?' acts as a mantra to a lot of people - myself included. Ru is an inspiration in full glam drag, or suited and booted up to the nines. But today, I'd like to celebrate the Ru in heels, a gown and a glorious wig. The drag communities one and only Mother.

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I want to celebrate the most incredible woman I know, my mum. She is the embodiment of grace, strength, and unconditional love.

No matter what life throws at her, she carries herself with resilience, determination, and an unshakable spirit. Even on the hardest days, she still finds a way to smile, not just for herself, but for us. She shows up, always. She never stops being our mum and our safe place.

Her love is unwavering, her sacrifices immeasurable, and her kindness boundless. She is my role model, my greatest source of inspiration, and the reason I believe in the power of strong women.

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My daughter, Charlie, is the embodiment of strength, compassion, and determination – my inspiration to keep pushing forward every day. During her first six years, it was just the two of us navigating life together. Her tenacious curiosity and endless questions about the world ignited my own drive to be the best Mum I could be – the Mum she deserved.

Now a qualified Maths teacher, Charlie is a shining example of what it means to be a strong, independent woman. She overcame adversity to achieve her goals, including bravely starting university in the middle of the Covid pandemic. Nothing ever seems to phase her, and she faces every challenge with grace and resilience, all while carrying the biggest heart.

Her commitment to her community is unwavering – volunteering weekly with our local scout group and always finding ways to uplift those around her. She’s a fantastic sister to her teenage younger brother, despite them being like chalk and cheese, even taking him abroad by herself last year – a true testament to her caring nature.

Charlie has shown me that if you have a goal, you should chase it wholeheartedly – and that you don't need anyone else to make your dreams a reality. On this International Women's Day, I couldn't be prouder of the remarkable woman she’s become.