International Women's Day, originally called International Working Women's Day, is celebrated on March 8 every year.
The festival sets out to show respect, appreciation and love towards women for their economic, political and social achievements in modern society.
During the past year, quite a few female celebrities have made significant achievements in their fields. Their persistence, enthusiasm and encouragement has led more females to pursue their own goals regardless of outside factors.
There is a saying in China that goes: "Women hold up half the sky". Now, let's look at the lives of eight prominent sky-holders.
1.China's Women's Volleyball Team
Profession:Sportswomen
Key word:Persistence
Achievement:After a 12-year wait, China's Women's Volleyball Team re-gained its spot on top of dias, winning gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics. The team are now regarded as national heroes, proudly carrying the flag of China's Olympic glory that first flew 30 years ago.
Quote:"We are a team, we never gave up and united as one to overcome difficulties. I believe this spirit can shine through in all walks of life." — Lang Ping, coach of China's Women's Volleyball Team
2.Liu Wen
Profession:Model
Key word:Confidence
Achievement:As the first Chinese model to walk the Victoria's Secret runway and the first Asian model to make Forbes magazine's annual highest-paid models list, Liu has led three other Chinese girls to the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, bringing a wave of Chinese chic to the fashion world.
Quote:"I am not born to be a model. But as long as I become a model, I take it seriously." —— Liu Wen
3.Jolin Tsai
Profession:Singer
Key word:Diligence
Achievement:Reputed as the Queen of C-pop and described as an Asian Madonna, Jolin Tsai has achieved everlasting popularity in Chinese-speaking countries by releasing a series of commercially successful albums. During the past year, she has actively pushed into other fields winning the gold medal at the 2016 UK Cake International competition and becoming the first Chinese singer to be invited to take part in fashion shows including Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, Met Gala and fashion week in Paris, New York, London and Milan.
Quote:"Pop singers should challenge pre-existing concepts and lead audiences to accept new genres of music. Madonna's works were controversial and somewhat critically panned when just released, but after years they were considered masterpieces." —— Jolin Tsai
Zhou Dongyu [Photo/VCG]
4.Zhou Dongyu
Profession:Actress
Key word:Sincerity
Achievement:Known as one of the "Four Renowned Actresses of the Post-90s Generation", Zhou Dongyu made her career breakthrough with the film Soul Mate, receiving the best actress award at the 53rd Golden Horse Awards.
Quotation:"Zhou holds the screen very well. She can turn an initially daft personality into an angsty but stoical heroine." —— A Variety review of her performance in the film The Palace
5.Dong Mingzhu
Profession:Businesswoman
Key word:Thoughtful
Achievement:Dong Mingzhu has transformed Gree from a sleepy domestic brand into the world's largest maker of air conditioners based on sales. Dong has won the award "Top 10 Economic Figures in China".
Quote:"One of the toughest businesswomen in China." —— The New York Times
6.Dong Qing
Profession:TV host
Key word:Intelligent
Achievement:As a well-known Chinese television hostess, she is the face of two cultural reality shows Chinese Poetry Conferenceand Readers. The shows are redefining audiences' opinions on traditional culture and seeking the beauty of life. She is also the producer of Readers.
Quote:"The charm of life lies in its unpredictableness, so we just have to try and keep going." — Dong Qing
7.Hao Jingfang
Profession:Writer
Key Word:Creativity
Achievement:Chinese writer Hao Jingfang was named the winner of this year's Hugo Award for best novelette for her short science fiction story, Folding Beijing.
Quote:"Science fiction writers prepare for all future possibilities, whether good or bad, likely or unlikely. You can hear sci-fi writers talking about strategies to face aliens at the dinner table, seriously. We care about all possibilities. We live in parallel universes." —— Hao Jingfang
8.Wu Yishu
Profession:Student
Key Word:Wisdom
Achievement:Wu Yishu, a 17-year-old senior high school student from Shanghai, is the champion of the Chinese Poetry Conference. Her rich knowledge of classical poetry impressed everyone and she has become famous online.
Quote:"Her rich knowledge and mastery of Chinese traditional culture meets all my fantasies about how an ancient female lived in the past." ——Online comment from a fan
