We Asked You

Stevie Lee Wright, 44, Wigston

I’d probably go for someone in fashion like Mary Quant because she’s stood the test of time and was revolutionary for her era. She changed the way women looked at themselves and how they displayed themselves in public and gave them confidence to show their bodies and how they wanted to express themselves.

My mum because she worked throughout the whole pandemic. She works as a technician in the Sandringham building at the Royal. It’s just inspiring that she still managed to go to work and help others when we were in a pandemic so she’s my role model.

Matthew Barlow, 24, Whetstone Char lee Thompson, 36, South Wi gston

The Spice Girls. Hear me out, I know it’s cringey, I have a picture of them on my bedroom wall but I don’t care because when they first came out when I was 12, they blew my mind. I realised girls can be outspoken and can wear what they want and be successful and amazing. These women changed my life.

Who is an inspirational woman to you?

March is Women’s History Month so we asked coffee-drinkers, dog walkers and passers-by in the Everards Meadows area who they see as an inspirational woman

and why WORDS BY KERRY SMITH AND EMILY MILLER

Rob Spence, 32, Enderby

Meryl Streep because I’m aware she went through a lot of failure in her early years. I know there were a lot of producers and directors who turned her down; I think one person said because she wasn’t attractive or maybe words to that effect. However, she has gone on to become one of the most recognised and well-known movie stars of our time.

Maya Angelou. She went through a lot of heartache and trauma in her life but she grew and came out of her trauma and she helps you to reframe feelings and to teach you that you’re deserving of love. She didn’t disguise trauma and shows that you should honour your suffering but that you can heal. I’m a trauma-informed therapist and craniosacral therapist helping people to release tension and trauma without having to talk about it so she inspires me to help others to heal because I’ve been on a similar journey.

Ryan Storer, 21, city centre

The Queen and Katy Perry. When the Queen went to her husband’s funeral she still stuck to the Covid rules while at the same time the Prime Minister had a party. Although she could break the rules, she’s still a role model so she didn’t. When Katy Perry does her concerts they’re so random, she comes out of huge toilets and things like that – things that might seem weird, but she isn’t bothered. She just does what she wants to do.