Grab your cosmos because it’s International Women’s Day! Now, you might be wondering, “What’s the big deal? Why do we need a day dedicated solely to us fabulous women?” Well, darling, let me break it down for you.

First things first, picture a world without some of the incredible inventions pioneered by women. Can’t imagine it? Well, let me paint the picture. Say goodbye to that morning cup of coffee, because without the brilliant minds of Melitta Bentz and Josephine Cochrane, we’d still be washing our dishes by hand and sipping on unfiltered subpar coffee. Oh, and don’t even think about reaching for that trusty Wi-Fi connection—thank you, Hedy Lamarr—for without her groundbreaking work in frequency hopping, your ability to stream your favourite shows, sports, and movies online would be as reliable as dial-up internet in the ’90s.

But wait, there’s more! Imagine a car without the lifesaving windshield wiper and a life without the seamless long-distance communication with the invention of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) by Marian Croak. Yep, you guessed it—both instrumental in our daily lives and both the brainchild of remarkable women!

Now, let’s confront the elephant in the room—the glaring reality of misogynistic attitudes still deeply entrenched in our society. From the insidious phenomenon of mansplaining to the alarming persistence of the gender pay gap, the evidence is indisputable: women continue to face systemic barriers and discrimination. Still don’t believe me, here are some facts that may or may not change your mind:

• Women, on average, earn only 84 cents for every pound earned by men, with even starker disparities for women of colour.
• Women are underrepresented in leadership positions worldwide, comprising only 33.5% of senior management roles globally.
• Globally, one in three women has experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime, often at the hands of an intimate partner.
• The burden of unpaid care work falls disproportionately on women, with women spending on average three times as many hours as men on unpaid care and domestic work.
• Women are still fighting for control over their own bodies, with reproductive rights and access to healthcare under constant threat of restriction and erosion.

But hear this loud and clear, darlings: we refuse to play small or dim our lights for anyone. We stand tall, unyielding in our pride, unwavering in our determination, and unapologetic in our demand for equality. The time for change is now, and we will not be silenced until every woman is treated with the dignity, respect, and equity she deserves.

So, why do we celebrate International Women’s Day? Because, honey, without the brilliance, resilience, and fearlessness this world would be a whole lot duller and a whole lot less fabulous. So here’s to us—bold, brilliant, and unapologetically fierce. Let’s raise a glass to the women who came before us, the women standing beside us, and the women who will lead the way forward. Happy International Women’s Day, darlings! Now go out there and conquer the world like the fabulous boss babes you are!