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  3. 50 of the Most Inspiring Women Ever Featured on the Cover of PEOPLE

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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