Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith, Alicia Keys, Michelle Obama and Jennifer Lopez discuss the power of women and music at the 2019 Grammy Awards.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Today we celebrate the women who fought to get us to where we are now. Today we celebrate how strong and extraordinary women are physically, emotionally, professionally and intellectually. Today we celebrate women all around the world who continue to stand up for what they believe in. Today we recognize the women who inspire us day in and day out.

Women have been leaving their amazing marks on history for centuries and women continue to make history. Here are some amazing firsts from the last few months:

1. Expedition 59

Later this month, NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Christina Koch will carry out the first all-female spacewalk in history. Expedition 59 will be supported by Kristen Facciol, who will be the flight controller on the console in Houston during the mission.

2. Sarah Thomas

Sarah Thomas became the first female referee to work in an NFL postseason game. This was very noteworthy news, but Thomas was no stranger to firsts. She became the first female official to work a major college football game in 2007 and the first full-time female NFL ref in 2015.

3. The Oscar Winners

Women stole the show at the Oscars this year. There has been a remarkable push for equal representation within the film industry and for the first time, 15 women took a golden statue home with them. This may not seem like a lot, but it sure is a great step in the right direction.

The women of Congress celebrated the win during the State of the Union.

4. The Women of Congress

After an incredible midterm election voter turnout, there are now more women in Congress than ever before. Among these new additions to our legislative branch are Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, the first Muslim women elected to Congress; Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland, the first Native American women elected to Congress; and Abby Finkenauer and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the youngest women ever elected to Congress.

5. Lady Gaga

Musician and actress Lady Gaga became the first women to win a Grammy, Oscar, Emmy, British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award and Critics’ Choice Award all in the same year. She won all five major awards for co-writing “Shallow” for A Star is Born.

6. Fatmah Baothman

Education is powerful and so many more women are earning higher degrees than in past years. Fatmah Baothman is one of these women. She just became the first woman in the Middle East to earn a PhD in Modern Artificial Intelligence.

Pejic is making the transgender and female communities proud.

7. Andreja Pejic

Inclusivity is so important when celebrating any group of people and since we are celebrating womanhood, we celebrate everyone who identifies as female. Andreja Pejic is the first transgender model to be featured in an Australian lingerie campaign. Underwear brand Bonds chose her to be the frontwoman of their Intimately line.

8. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces

Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces was recently inaugurated as the 73rd President of the United Nations General Assembly. She is the first Latina woman – and fourth woman – to lead the UN General Assembly and hopes to inspire women all over the world to pursue leadership positions.

Yes, these are all extraordinary women and we’re proud for all they have accomplished. However, there are millions of extraordinary women who don’t make headlines.

Every time you stand up for yourself, love your body no matter what, crush that early morning run, achieve a new personal best at work or at the gym, or are just unapologetically you, you help prove how tremendous women truly are.

Today is not a day to celebrate select women; it’s a day to celebrate all women. Today, we celebrate you.

Love always,

Love Squad