These Hollywood Ladies Are Making a Powerful Change in the World

International Women’s Day is not only a day to celebrate the courageous women across the globe, but to remind us that we are just as powerful. These Hollywood trailblazers are proof that anything is possible, but more importantly they show us the importance of using our voices to unite — not divide. And that’s something we’re going to need in the next four years. Be inspired!

Amal Clooney

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Amal Clooney isn’t just the wife of megastar George Clooney. She’s using her new spotlight to publicize genocide around the globe. A human rights lawyer, when Amal and George first met, she  originally didn’t give him the time of day (fame didn’t exactly impress her).

Now, Amal is one of the loudest voices out there when it comes to equality and raising awareness for women around the world. In fact, she will be speaking to the United Nations this week to urge member states to collect evidence against ISIS to prosecute them for genocide.

“There is lots of my work that takes place behind closed doors that is not ever seen,” she said to BBC News at Six on Tuesday. “I think if there are more people who now understand what’s happening about the Yazidis and ISIS, and if there can be some action that results from that, that can help those clients, then I think it’s a really good thing to give that case the extra publicity that it may get.”

Right now, Amal is pregnant with twins. But that doesn’t stop her from traveling the world to try and put an end to corrupted governments. “I have interviewed former child soldiers and young girls who were raped and enslaved by ISIS,” Amal said. “It’s been the most harrowing testimony I’ve ever heard. We know that it’s genocide. The UN has said so. In other words: ISIS is trying to destroy them as a group and we are allowing it to happen without actually calling ISIS to account. This is exactly the question that I’ll be posing to member states and [I’m] going to ask them: ‘Are the crimes not serious enough for you to investigate?’ Well, that can’t be it. This is genocide.”

Emma Watson

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This lady has come a long way since waiving her wand in the Harry Potter franchise. A consistent (and we do mean consistent: read HERE) feminist, the Beauty and the Beast star speaks on behalf of countless women around the world.

In July 2014, she was appointed a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, and spoke on behalf of the “HeForShe” campaign, urging men to be unafraid of calling themselves feminists and to join the movement.  “I have realized that fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating,” she said. “If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop.”

Kerry Washington

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Kerry Washington is not messing around. While her role as Olivia Pop in Scandal might seem strong, she’s nothing compared to the woman behind it. Kerry has consistently been a voice outside of Hollywood advocating for women’s causes and voting rights, making numerous appearances on Real Time With Bill Maher and other outlets expressing her progressive opinions on anti-cancer programs for women and LGBT diversity in TV and film.

An active member of the Creative Coalition, a group discussing challenges within the entertainment industry and society at large, Kerry is well-versed on all issues relating to non-representation in Hollywood. Check her out on Real Time:

Angelina Jolie

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Angelina Jolie is classified as one of the most beautiful women in the world. But her resume goes beyond Hollywood movies and an infamous marriage to Brad Pitt. Her passion runs deep, and it continues to spread throughout the world as she lobbies at the U.S. Capital and speaks publicly to members of Congress about issues effecting the lives of those living in third world countries.

The Oscar winning actress became a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 2011 and continues to take that role very seriously. She’s come a long way from climbing mountains and fighting spirits as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider. Now she’s fighting governments!

America Ferrera

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America not only hit the campaign trail during Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, but she was a loud voice at the Women’s March in D.C. Her activist spirit is so strong she’s even said she almost quit acting to take it on full time.

Not only does she work with organizations to encourage Latinos to vote, she also joined the Epic channel to be a correspondent on immigration issues for its series America Divided.