"Well behaved women seldom make history." -Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

The following women are real-life heroines that have influenced my life in one way or another.

1. Joan of Arc
One of the best compliments I ever received was when someone told me I was like "a modern-day Joan of Arc." Fingers crossed this doesn't imply that I eventually get burned at the stake. I love her devotion, her action, and her French-ness.

2. Anne Frank
It may be cliche to say this, but reading The Diary of Anne Frank changed my life. I was fourteen and in desperate need of an attitude adjustment. Her ability to be happy in spite of her circumstances will forever be an inspiration to me.

3. Carole King
"You've got to get up every morning/And show the world all the love in your heart." I revere Carole King for her music, but I also admire her for her dedication to environmentalism.

4. Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Suffragettes represent! She devoted her life to women's rights and truly made an impact. Girlfriend rocks. Hard.

5. Mary Fielding Smith
A Mormon pioneer (and my great-great-great grandmother), she traveled across the plains with her children, their father recently martyred. One of the company captains suggested that she stay behind, as she'd be a burden to the group. She looked him right in the eye and said that not only would she be going with them, but she would also beat him to the valley. And you know what? She totally did.

6. Tina Fey
My mom once asked me why I liked Tina Fey so much. "Not only did she pursue her dream of acting and improv, but she was the first female head writer on SNL. She made it cool for women to be funny," I gushed. Someday I hope to meet her and tell her just how much she's done for me.

7. Michelle Obama
How cool is Michelle Obama? Dignity, style, knowledge, and activism. She's also the kind of mom I want to be someday.

8. Grace Kelly
Ah, and then there's Grace. There was so much public interest in her life and she still managed to become her own woman. Most actresses today seem to be concerned with attention and sensationalism. They fail to recognize the true definition of Hollywood Glamour, which Grace personified.

9. Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
She is the one responsible for the oft-quoted saying in the title. (I'm currently reading the book she wrote about what she meant when she said that. It's fascinating.) Anyhow, Laurel is the only Mormon to ever win a Pulizter Prize and she's also an active feminist. Those are things worth aspiring to.

10. My mom
She's one of the strongest people I know. She was a fierce-awesome lawyer back in the day and now she's a great mom to myself and the kid brother. I love her advice and even though we are very different people, I'm grateful for the impact she's had in my life.

Other sources of inspiration: Sally Ride (I wanted to be an astronaut SO BAD because of her), Marie Curie, Martha Stewart (all insider trading aside, I really admire her savvy and talent), Joan Jett, Katee Sackhoff, Azar Nafisi (the author of Reading Lolita in Tehran), Jane Austen, Shannon Hale, Jane Espenson, Anna Freud, Dorothy Parker, Harriet Tubman, and Christine Ladd-Franklin.