Real-life heroines
Every day, we see women sending messages of support, strength and solidarity to other women. So this International Women's Day (8 March), we asked our customers to nominate the brilliant friends, sisters and mums in their life to get some recognition. And wow – your stories. We hope they inspire you to care wildly, just like they did us.
The women's ally
"Amanda truly is a superwoman! 20 years ago she set up an amazing charity because she saw the need to support young women to know that they matter and to help them recognise their worth. For 20 years, she’s worked all hours, sacrificed financial security, holidays and much more – and literally tens of thousands of young people’s lives have been changed as a result. She does it all whilst also being an amazing single parent to FOUR kids, being a wonderful friend, and all-round hero." – Beth
The strong mum
"My mum will be 90 this year. I'm the only girl, with four brothers, and I was brought up just like them to be strong, confident and above all, independent. Womens' Lib was part of our lives in the seventies, and throughout her life my mother has fiercely defended the rights of women to live the life they choose. I'm now 61 and my daughter is 30, the fiercest feminist of us all, three generations of strong women. I hope that at 90 I will be as alive, as engaged, and as constantly curious as Mum is." – Sarah
The workplace champion
"Tara's my wife and I think she's incredibly inspiring. She's thoughtful, caring and will always put other people first whilst still having good boundaries. At work, she's introduced benefits such as family forming and pregnancy loss benefits, sabbaticals and more. She strives to create a culture that helps everyone thrive and to bring to life the value 'be hard on problems not people.' In her spare time she mentors women on career development. She's just generally a lovely person." – Kezia
The pillar of strength
"My mum, Azmat is the definition of strength, compassion, and resilience. As a full-time carer to both my brother and sister, her dedication goes beyond what words can capture. She navigates challenges daily with grace and unwavering love, always putting her family’s needs first. Her role as a carer requires immense patience and strength, yet she approaches every day with selflessness and warmth. My mum doesn’t just go above and beyond for her family - she embodies the spirit of women who quietly, but powerfully, shape the lives of those around them." – Rizwana
The calm amid the storm
"Ellie brings the normality to our lives! We adopted our little boy who makes us both so incredibly happy and ever since I lost my leg in the military (I’ve not found it yet) I’ve been chasing ways to make myself happy. Ellie continues to entertain my silly ideas and ensure she creates a stable base for Theo when I’m away from home. For me, she’s my hero and for society in general, she’s an unsung hero." – Richard
The changemaker
"Jude supports people with lived experience of some of the most challenging social issues to become better spokespeople and campaigners, so their voices can be heard and create crucial change for their peers. She's an ally and a cheerleader for people who need it most. Jude quietly gets on with making a difference and never asks for or expects recognition. But she absolutely deserves it." – Gemma
The fierce friend
"Katherine really is an incredible human! In the few years I’ve known her, she's completed over 100 marathons. Last year saw her celebrating her 40th year of NHS service as a cardiac nurse in London. And as a friend, we’ve spent many hours wading through mud on long walks and enjoying cake together. She’s been there so many times for me. If you're exhausted after reading this, then you can imagine how exhausted Katherine no doubt is… but she never really lets on and just keeps going." – Judy
