International Women’s Day
There are so many women I admire…too many to mention here, but here are the three women that sprung to mind when I knew I was going to write this piece celebrating International Women’s Day, the inspirational Maya Angelou, the iconic Tina Turner and my mother, the incredible Margaret Cairns-Dewar.
My Inspiring Internal Women - Maya Angelou, Tina Turner and my Mum.
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou’s strength was born through hardship and adversity. She was a woman who turned her pain into poetry, silence into power, and oppression into resilience. This was a woman who fought hard for Civil Rights and held over 50 Honourary Degrees. She had an unshakable dignity and proved that nothing could break the spirit of a woman determined to rise.
From surviving rape and racism to becoming one of the most influential voices in literature and activism, her strength lay in her ability to transform personal and collective suffering into a message of hope, courage, and unwavering self-worth. Her legacy reminds us that strength is not just about endurance but about the ability to stand tall and speak our truth.
When I first saw her recite ‘Still I Rise’ she was an older woman, completely confident and radiating sexy, sassy cool, and I was utterly blown away.
Tina Turner
Tina Turner’s strength was a testament to resilience, reinvention, and sheer force of will. She survived an abusive marriage, and personal setbacks, yet she never let any of it define or break her. Instead, she faced all those challenges head on proving that true strength is not just about surviving but about thriving. With her big old growl of a voice, and incredible magnetism she was fearless and bold! She broke barriers for women in the music industry and her story is one of courage, self-liberation, and an unwavering belief in her own power.
She was a woman completely at ease with her sexiness and I loved that she wasn’t afraid to look completely sweaty and dishevelled after giving it everything she had on the stage.
Margaret Cairns-Dewar
Lastly but most importantly is my Mum. This is a woman who I have never seen be anything but strong throughout my life. She was widowed at the age of 30 after my Dad was killed by a drunk driver whilst working in South Africa, he had just come off the phone to her and was killed as he walked back to where he was staying. I was 5 and my little brother was 2.
My two older brothers who were in their teens from my dad’s first marriage were also at home. She couldn’t fall apart as she had us to look after and I saw her put her own feelings aside to help us deal with ours. She has fought for us, backed us and built us up when life got hard. She did all this with love, dignity and a whole lotta fun.
I get my incredible strength from watching my Mum, as she did from watching hers, my amazing Granny Minnie Douglas.
Me and my inspiring Mum
