Celebrating International Women’s Day 2026

International Women’s Day will be celebrated globally on Sunday and each year at Worth we mark this day by asking our four senior prefects to choose a woman who inspires them.

This important day was introduced in America in 1909 and then organised around the world for the first time in 1911. It has been held each year on 8 March since then and the purpose of the day is to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women across time.

Our senior prefects have chosen four excellent female role models. Read on to see who they chose and then have a think of someone who inspires you.

Head Boy Eddie: Learning about Rosa Parks in History has been inspiring. Especially, her courage shown when she stood up to racial segregation in 1955, by not giving up her seat on a bus, kickstarting the Montgomery bus boycott. Her actions and bravery highlight how one person can bring about essential change, which is why in my opinion she is a cultivating figure to remember on International Women’s Day.

Head Girl Florrie: Eileen Feng Gu was born on 3 September, 2003, in San Francisco. At the age of 18, she became the youngest Olympic champion in freestyle skiing. She is widely regarded as one of the most decorated freestyle skiers in history, winning three gold medals in the halfpipe and big air events, as well as three silver medals in slopestyle and big air across the 2022 Beijing and 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic Games. Although she represents Team China internationally, Gu graduated early from her high school before enrolling at Stanford University in 2020 to study quantum physics. Her influence extends far beyond sport. In 2022, she was named one of the Time magazine 100 most influential people, highlighting her global impact beyond the slopes. While Gu’s talent and achievements are remarkable, it is her attitude toward challenges that makes her especially inspiring. She faces intense pressure with discipline, focus and resilience, demonstrating exceptional mental strength. Despite constant media attention, she maintains a strong support system to help her perform at the highest level. Even when facing setbacks, Gu does not allow her success or failures to define her. In an interview, she stated, “You can control what you think. You can control how you think, and therefore, you can control who you are.” Her mindset and determination make her an outstanding example of how to face expectations and challenges, making her a truly inspirational woman.

Deputy Head Boy Hayson: Alysa Liu – American figure skater who made history at a very young age, becoming one of the youngest US national champions. What inspires me most is her courage and independence. She achieved incredible success as a teenager, handling pressure and global attention with maturity and responsibility.

She retired early because she felt pressure and lost her love for the sport. But a few years later, she realised how much she loved skating, not for medals or expectations, but for the love of the game and decided to come back on her own terms. Instead of letting others control her training, music, costumes or schedule, she made choices that reflected her own personality and creativity

She won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics by being true to herself and skating with passion, not just for the result, showing that success is not just about winning medals. It is about knowing and prioritising yourself, staying grounded and making brave decisions for your own future.

Deputy Head Girl Grace: Emma Watson, best known for her role as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter, has recently become just as respected for her work beyond acting, notably in speaking out about women’s rights and using her platform to address pressing social issues with confidence and purpose.

In 2020, while serving as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, Emma Watson launched the HeForShe campaign, empowering everyone, men and women, to take part in the movement for gender equality. By using her global influence to raise awareness and promote acceptance, she has helped bring greater attention to the importance of equality.

She has also emphasised the transformative power of education on the lives of girls worldwide, advocating to help girls in countries such as Bangladesh and Zambia attend school. In doing so, Emma Watson has become an inspiring example of how public figures can use their influence to promote positive and lasting change.

I personally look up to Emma Watson because she hasn’t just used her fame for success, but to stand up for causes she believes in. She leads by example and encourages others to do the same.