53 women who made history as the first to do these extraordinary things

Zoë Ettinger,Erin McDowellMar 11, 2021, 21:16 IST

Laverne Cox became the first openly trans woman to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy and Hillary Clinton was the first American woman to win a presidential primary.Taylor Hill/WireImage/Brooks Kraft/Getty Images

Hattie Caraway was the first woman elected to the Senate after winning a special election in 1932.
Sally Ride became the first American woman in space and the first acknowledged gay astronaut.
In 1984, Vanessa Williams was the first Black woman to win the Miss America pageant.

For generations, women of all backgrounds, colors, and gender expressions have been changing the world with their historic firsts.

Though it might seem normal for women to fill certain roles today, for the first woman of color in Congress, Patricia Mink, and the first female Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O'Connor, it was anything but. They had to face discrimination based solely on their gender, and work twice as hard to overcome those obstacles, proving to the world that women could do it.

This Women's History Month, we are reflecting on truly exceptional women from history by highlighting 53 who were the first to achieve a title or award in their field, including sport, science, art, entertainment, and politics.

Harriet Tubman was the first woman to lead an armed military operation in the United States.

A portrait of Harriet Tubman (1820-1913). Corbis via Getty Images

Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and she's the only woman who's won twice.

Scientist Marie Curie works in a laboratory in this undated photo. AP Photo

Edith Wharton was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize.

Edith Wharton (1862-1937). Photo12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Madam C. J. Walker was America's first female self-made millionaire.

Madam C.J. Walker circa 1914. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Gertrude Ederle was the first woman to swim across the English Channel.

Gertrude Erderle swimming. Getty Images

In 1928, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly a plane across the Atlantic Ocean, and she was the first person to fly over both the Atlantic and Pacific.

Amelia Earhart. Keystone/Getty Images

Hattie Caraway was the first woman elected to the US Senate.

Hattie Caraway, US Senator from Arkansas, in 1943. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

In 1939, Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to win an Academy Award.

Hattie McDaniel, left, was given the Motion Picture Academy award for the best performance of an actress in a supporting role in 1939. AP Photo

Frida Kahlo was the first Mexican artist with work purchased by an internationally renowned museum.

Portrait of Frida Kahlo. Getty Images

Marcenia Lyle Stone, also known as Toni Stone, was the first woman to play big-league professional baseball.

Toni Stone with a baseball in 1953. Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images

Judy Garland was the first woman to win Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards.

Judy Garland in the 1950s. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

In 1962, Rita Moreno became the first Latina woman to win an Oscar.

Moreno with her Academy Award. Getty Images

Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman to travel into space.

Valentina Tereshkova. Alexander Mokletsov

Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, even as officials tried to forcibly remove her from the racecourse.

Kathy Switzer gets roughed up by Jock Semple during the Boston Marathon. Paul J. Connell/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

Patsy Mink was the first woman of color elected to Congress.

Patsy Mink at a news conference in 1971. Getty Images

Katharine Graham was the first female Fortune 500 CEO and the first woman to be publisher of a major US newspaper.

Katharine Graham of the Washington Post, 1980. Robert R. McElroy/Getty Images

Juanita M. Kreps was the first woman to serve as secretary of commerce.

Juanita Kreps at the Wentworth Hotel in 1982. Paul Matthews/Fairfax Media via Getty Images

Susan B. Anthony was the first woman in America depicted on a coin.

Susan B. Anthony dollar coin. Wikimedia

Mary E. Clarke was the first woman to achieve the rank of major general in the United States Army.

Mary E. Clarke at Fort McClellan Military Police Center in 1978. Paul Harris/Getty Images

Patricia R. Harris was the first woman to serve as secretary of health and human services.

Patricia Harris in 1968. Bill Wunsch/The Denver Post via Getty Images

Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman on the United States Supreme Court.

Sandra Day O'Connor before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Wally McNamee/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

Sally Ride was the first American woman in space.

Sally Ride prior to the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Getty Images

Vanessa Williams was the first Black winner of the Miss America pageant in 1984.

Miss New York and Miss America Vanessa Williams in 1984. NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Barbra Streisand was the first woman to win the Golden Globe for best director.

Barbra Streisand holds her two awards at the 41st Annual Golden Globe Awards. Fotos International/Getty Images

Joan Benoit won the first women's Olympic marathon.

Joan Benoit. Derek Davis/Portland Portland Press Herald/Getty Images

Ellen was the first woman to come out on national TV and the first female comedian to be asked to sit on Johnny Carson's couch.

Ellen. George Pimentel/Getty Images for TINEPARK

Helen Hayes was the first woman to win an EGOT.

Helen Hayes. Carlos Rene Perez/AP

Aretha Franklin was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Franklin on "The Andy Williams Show" in 1969. NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Toni Morrison was the first Black woman to win a Nobel Prize.

Toni Morrison. Peter Kramer/AP

In 1997, Madeleine Albright, the first woman US secretary of state, was sworn in under President Bill Clinton.

Albright in 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Jodie Foster was the first known LGBTQ woman to win an Oscar for best actress and the first known LGBTQ person to win two acting awards.

Jodie Foster. Lennox McLendon/AP

Julie Taymor was the first woman to win a Tony Award for best director of a musical.

Julie Taymor behind posters for "Juan Darien." Ted Thai/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images

Oprah Winfrey was the first Black female billionaire.

Oprah. Themba Hadebe/AP Photo

Danica Patrick was the first woman to lead the Indy 500 and the first to win the pole position at the Daytona 500.

Danica Patrick at the Indianapolis 500 in 2018. Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Halle Berry was the first African American to win an Academy Award for best actress.

Halle Berry. Christopher Polk/ Getty Images

Wangari Maathai was the first African woman to receive a Nobel Prize.

Wangari Maathai. Gurinder Osan/AP

In 2008, Sarah Palin, then-governor of Alaska, became the first female vice-presidential nominee of the Republican party.

Sarah Palin. Associated Press/Justin Hayworth

In 2010, Taylor Swift, became the first woman to win Album of the Year twice.

In 2010, Taylor Swift became the youngest artist to ever win Album of the Year. Matt Sayles/AP

Kathryn Bigelow was the first woman to win the Academy Award for best director.

Kathryn Bigelow. Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Lauryn Williams was the first American woman to win a medal in both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

Lauryn Williams in Sochi, Russia, in 2014. Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Tammy Duckworth is the first woman with a disability elected to the House and the Senate.

Senator Tammy Duckworth leaving Trump's impeachment trial in 2020. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Laverne Cox is the first openly trans woman to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy.

Laverne Cox in 2019. Taylor Hill/WireImage/Getty Images

Hillary Clinton is the first woman to have won a presidential primary.

Hillary Clinton campaigning in Brooklyn in 2016. Brooks Kraft/ Getty Images

Faith Spotted Eagle is the first Native American to secure an electoral vote for president.

Faith Spotted Eagle outside her home in Lake Andes, South Dakota, in 2014. Travis Heying/Wichita Eagle/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

In 2018, chef Dominique Crenn became the first woman in the United States to receive Michelin's highest distinction of three stars.

Dominique Crenn speaks onstage SXSW in Austin, Texas. Amy E. Price/Getty Images

Stacey Cunningham became the first female president of the New York Stock Exchange.

NYSE Chief Operating Officer Stacey Cunningham poses on the floor of the NYSE on May 22, 2018. Brendan McDermid/Reuters

At 22, Valentina Sampaio, became the first trans Victoria's Secret model.

Valentina Sampaio in 2019. Tommaso Boddi/WireImage/Getty Images

Stephanie Kurlow is credited as the first Hijabi ballerina.

Stephanie Kurlow, then 14, poses at a dance studio. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Nancy Pelosi is the first woman to serve as speaker of the House and the first person in more than 60 years to serve nonconsecutive terms as speaker.

Nancy Pelosi speaks during a news conference about the impeachment of US President Donald Trump. Joshua Roberts

Billie Eilish is the first woman to take home the "Big Four" at the Grammy Awards: album, record of the year, song of the year, and best new artist.

Billie Eilish poses in the press room with her Grammy awards. Chris Pizzello/AP

In 2021, Kamala Harris became the first woman elected vice president of the United States.

Kamala Harris is sworn in as vice president by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP

Another first in the 2021 political race was the election of the first openly transgender US state senator, Sarah McBride.

Sarah McBride. Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festiva

Cardi B became the first female rapper to have a diamond-certified song.

Cardi B. Prince Williams/ Getty Images

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