50 of the Most Inspiring Women Ever Featured on the Cover of PEOPLE

From feminist icons to first ladies, TV chefs to tennis pros, PEOPLE has a long history of recognizing some of the coolest, most confident and most empowering women in pop culture. In honor of International Women's Day, look back on just a few of the many amazing women featured on the magazine's cover since 1974
By Alex Apatoff
March 08, 2019 10:23 AM

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Gloria Steinem, 1974

Prominent women's right's activist

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Billie Jean King & Chris Evert, 1975

Tennis champions at the time of the Battle of the Sexes

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Julia Child, 1975

Pioneering chef with beloved TV show

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Barbara Walters, 1976

The first female co-anchor of the Today show

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Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, 1974

Former First Lady who became an editor, arts patron and architectural preservationist

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Jane Pauley, 1983

The second female co-anchor of Today and an advocate for working mothers

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Dolly Parton, 1977

Musician, philanthropist and national treasure

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Gilda Radner, 1977

Saturday Night Live star

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Diana Ross, 1979

Music icon

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Betty Ford, 1979

First lady who was open about her battles with alcoholism

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Grace Kelly, 1982

Oscar-winning actress who became the princess of Monaco

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Nancy Reagan, 1980

First lady

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Sandra Day O'Connor, 1981

The first female justice on the Supreme Court

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Geraldine Ferraro, 1984

First female candidate for vice president for a major political party

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Dr. Ruth, 1985

Prominent sex-positive therapist

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Madonna, 1985

International pop superstar and "man-smasher"

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Cher, 1988

Legendary music icon and outspoken feminist

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Tina Turner, 1985

Massively successful solo artist

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Christa McAuliffe, 1996

American teacher and astronaut killed in the Columbia space shuttle explosion

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Gloria Estefan, 1990

Music icon who endured a near-fatal accident and went back to performing

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Connie Chung, 1990

Newscaster who opened up the dialogue about having children later in life

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Anita Hill, 1991

Accused Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harrassment and started a national dialogue around workplace assault

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Sandra Bullock, 1995

Oscar-winning actress and America's sweetheart

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Martha Stewart, 1995

Pioneering businesswoman and television star

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Princess Diana, 1998

British royal and global philanthropist (this posthumous cover was about her legacy)

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U.S. Women's Soccer Team, 1999

World Cup-winning athletes

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Olympic Medalists, 1996

Medal-winning athletes from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, including gymnast Kerri Strug

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Olympic Figure Skaters, 1996

Olympic medal winners Kristi Yamaguchi, Oksana Baiul and Ekaterina Gordeeva

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Shania Twain, 1999

Country superstar who overcame poverty to be a bestselling artist

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Katie Couric, 2002

News anchor and advocate for colon health

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Jessica Lynch, 2003

Rescued POW

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Dr. Jerri Nielsen, 1999

American physician who self-treated her breast cancer at the South Pole

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Celine Dion, 1999

International pop icon who went from poverty to superstardom

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Sheryl Crow, 2006

Grammy-winning musician and breast cancer survivor

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Dixie Chicks, 2003

Pioneering country trio who spoke out politically

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