Virgo Girls Who Changed the World

Mary Godwin Shelley, writer (August 30, 1797)

Born in England, Mary Shelley grew up an intellectual. Though Shelley received little formal schooling, her parents (father mostly), raised her using concepts of philosophy, radicalism, and feminism ideals. Shelley took to writing at an early age and by the time she was 19, had penned the famous novel Frankenstein, where a scientist brings a monster from his dreams to life. Shelley went on to write more than 10 more novels, short stories, and letters before her death. Shelley gained a high reputation as an author and woman of her time, and helped set the tone for those of the future.

Beyoncé Knowles, singer and actress (September 4, 1981)

African-American pop sensation Beyoncé Knowles gained fame in the 1990s as a third of Destiny’s Child, a popular all-girl group that produced hits like “Survivor” and “Independent Woman.” Dabbling in acting in such films as Austin Powers, Knowles’s solo career took off in the 2000s. Although she’s married, Knowles has always stressed the importance, power, and fun of being a ‘single lady.’ A mother (she and her husband, rapper Jay-Z, welcomed baby girl Blue Ivy Carter at the beginning of this year), actress, singer, wife and strong woman, Knowles was recently named the World’s Most Beautiful Woman by People magazine!

Margaret Sanger, women’s activist (September 14, 1879)

Margaret Sanger changed the world, and vocabulary, of women and men.  Sanger coined the term ‘birth control!’ She incepted the reproductive rights movement in the United States and used her freedom of speech to share her views and knowledge with the public. Sanger published a newspaper, The Woman Rebel, and a pamphlet, Family Limitation, to challenge laws of obscenity—such things as birth control weren’t discussed at this time; she ended up having to flee to England to avoid arrest! Sanger’s work and efforts resulted in the creation of Planned Parenthood in 1946, which is still an indispensible resource for women and girls today.