How Does It Feel to Be That Girl? 20 Quotes to Uplift Women on International Women’s Day

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International Women’s Day is a holiday celebrated worldwide. Aside from recognizing women for their achievements in various facets, the day also shines a light on the importance of gender equality. Although International Women’s Day has taken place for over a century, its history is rich with stories of perseverance, drive, and hope for better days.

According to the International Women’s Day website, Women’s Day traces its roots back to 1908, when 15,000 women took to the streets of New York City, pushing for fair wages, reduced working hours, and voting rights. A year later, the first National Women’s Day was celebrated on Feb. 28. in the U.S. These celebrations lasted annually until 1913.

Clara Zetkin, a communist organizer, introduced the idea of a global day to honor women’s rights at a 1910 gathering of working women in Copenhagen, Denmark. Upon receiving approval, International Women’s Day was first honored in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland on March 19, 1911.

Prior to World War I, the site shares that Russian women observed International Women’s Day on Feb. 23, 1913. However, after discussions among various women groups, March 8 was decided to be the global date for the holiday.

Fast-forward to 2025, and the UN is championing the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” This day serves as a platform to recognize women’s contributions across culture, politics, and economics, assess the strides made toward gender equality, and continue advocating for women’s rights globally.

True women’s empowerment is best shown through kindness and support. And there’s no better way to show your support than by sharing quotes one can add to their affirmations list. So, here are 20 quotes to inspire you to uplift and be uplifted by women every single day.

1. “Sometimes just being yourself is the radical act. When you occupy space in systems that weren’t built for you, your authenticity is activism.” —Elaine Welteroth

2. “Friendships between women, as any woman will tell you, are built of a thousand small kindnesses… swapped back and forth and over again.” —Michelle Obama

3. “Queen, do not allow a commoner to dethrone you. On that throne, you are royalty.” —Gift Gugu Mona

4. “I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles.” —Audrey Hepburn

5. “A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.” —Coco Chanel

   

6. “Strong women don’t have ‘attitudes,’ we have standards.” —Marilyn Monroe

7. “I have chosen to no longer be apologetic for my femaleness and my femininity. And I want to be respected in all of my femaleness because I deserve to be.” —Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

8. “There are many things you can do overnight, but there is no overnight success.” —Tory Burch

9. “Do the best you can in every task, no matter how unimportant it may seem at the time. No one learns more about a problem than the person at the bottom.” —Sandra Day O’Connor

10. “Do not bring people in your life who weigh you down, and trust your instincts. Good relationships feel good. They feel right. They don’t hurt. They’re not painful. That’s not just with somebody you want to marry, but it’s with the friends you choose. It’s with the people you surround yourself with.” —Michelle Obama

    

11. “What I want young women and girls to know is: You are powerful and your voice matters. You’re going to walk into many rooms where you may be the only one who looks like you or who has had the experiences you’ve had. So you use that voice and be strong.” —Kamala Harris

12. “You don’t have to play masculine to be a strong woman.” —Mary Elizabeth Winstead

13. “A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

14. “Once you figure out what respect tastes like, it tastes better than attention.” —Pink

15. “Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.“ —Maya Angelou

    

16. “Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we cheer each other on.” —Serena Williams

17. “When girls are given the right tools to succeed, they can create incredible futures, not only for themselves but also for those around them.” —Meghan Markle

18. “There’s something so special about a woman who dominates in a man’s world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness, and the nerve to never take no for an answer.“ —Rihanna

19. “Where there is a woman, there is magic.” —Ntozake Shange

20. “I don’t get my inspiration from books or a painting. I get it from the women I meet.“ —Carolina Herrera

Let these words remind you that women’s strength, wisdom, and power deserve to be celebrated—not just on March 8, but every single day.

Do you have an inspiring quote you’d like to share? Comment below!