Introducing Our 2024 Changemakers

What is a changemaker? It’s a question we often asked ourselves as we put together Marie Claire’s Changemakers List. At first the answer seemed obvious—someone, well, making change and doing good things. It quickly became clear, however, that true changemakers defy such easy definition. They aren’t engaged in a linear pursuit of purpose, but one shaped by the needs of the moment.

That is certainly the case for the 27 inspiring people who ultimately ended up on our list. Take author Lauren Groff, who opened an inclusive bookstore in the shadow of Florida’s book bans. Or researcher Akiko Iwasaki, who continues to study long COVID even as many have long forgotten about the disease. Or advocate Jotaka Eaddy, who brought together tens of thousands of Black women to raise more than $1 million for presidential nominee Kamala Harris in the span of hours.

These are just a few of the worthy women featured in the following pages who are helping to redefine communities, rewrite the rules, and re-examine the challenges that others have deemed too big to overcome. They are consistently rising to the occasion—and lifting us all up right along with them as they do.

Her career began four decades ago—at a time when female artists were marginalized in the creative scene—but now, at nearly 90, Simpson is in a moment of renaissance. Her work, featured in prestigious institutions such as The Whitney, MCA, and the Art Institute of Chicago, merges clothing, furniture, and utilitarian objects, exploring the intersection of two and three-dimensional spaces. Simpson's persistent creativity and unique vision represent a shift in ageist and gender-based stereotypes tied to career peaks.

When she launched the beauty brand Crown Affair in 2020, Cohen's mission was simple: to bring joy back to haircare. She’s since succeeded in establishing her company as more than just a range of hair products—Crown Affair has evolved into a supportive community where members share everything from styling tips to wellness habits. Cohen is also focused on ethical sourcing for all of her ingredients, and has established a mentorship program for women in the early stages of their careers that connects them with female leaders across industries. The founder is truly setting a new standard for being a do-good, feel-good, look-good business.

The documentary filmmaker has a reputation of exploring complex global issues with an unshakeable courage and empathy. Born in India and raised in Canada, Pahuja gained critical acclaim with her groundbreaking 2012 documentary The World Before Her, which explored the journeys of two Indian women, one a pageant queen, the other a Hindu nationalist, living under the country’s patriarchal norms. In 2022, her documentary To Kill A Tiger, which followed a father’s quest for justice in the wake of his daughter’s brutal sexual assault, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. In addition to the many awards and accolades she has received from Western film organizations, Pahuja has also worked with NGOs and women's rights organizations to screen her films in her native country, where the narratives are helping shine a much-needed spotlight on human rights issues and are influencing social change at a grassroots level.

Schoonmaker worked as Martin Scorsese’s editor on his debut feature, 1967’s Who's That Knocking at My Door, and she’s remained his right-hand collaborator for over 50 years. The renowned editor has been nominated for a record nine Academy Awards for Best Film Editing and has taken home the trophy three times for Raging Bull, The Aviator, and The Departed. Her journey to film editing was unique: She first studied political science at Cornell but struggled to secure a career with the government given her leftist views and activism in the early ‘60s. After taking an art course at Columbia, she answered an ad in a newspaper calling for help with film editing and eventually enrolled in a six-week filmmaking course at New York University where she met Scorsese. In addition to the stylistic influence she’s had on cinema history, she’s inspired countless other women to pursue below-the-line positions in film, continuously championing the strengths that women bring to the art form.

As a professional athlete and sports broadcaster, Ogwumike represents an exciting new era of women’s basketball. Born in Tomball, Texas, Ogwumike graduated from Stanford University, where she played at the collegiate level, including three Final Fours. She began her pro career in 2014 as the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft and as 2014 Rookie of the Year. Since then, she has been a WNBA All-Star twice, and has served on the executive board of the WNBA Players Association. Her trailblazing career evolved when she joined ESPN in 2018; two years later, she became the first Black woman and the first WNBA player to host a national radio show for the network. In the role, Ogwumike has become an outspoken champion for women in sports. The Nigerian American has also long been involved in international aid advocacy. In October 2023, she was named to the White House’s inaugural President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement.

For those who run in literary circles, Groff needs no introduction. She's a three-time National Book Award finalist and the author behind New York Times bestsellers Matrix, The Monsters of Templeton, Arcadia, and the Barack Obama-endorsed Fates and Furies. But this year, Groff pulled off an even more impressive feat when she opened her bookstore The Lynx in Gainesville, Florida. She saw the store as a foil to the state’s book bans, and has stocked its shelves with banned or challenged books, and hopes it becomes a safe community space for marginalized groups in the state.

Daniels is changing motorsports, one tire at a time. As the first Black woman NASCAR pit-crew member, she was also a part of the first female duo to pit and change tires at the Daytona 500 in 2019. The former basketball shooting guard at Norfolk University was recruited to the sport through NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program in 2016 and earned a position in the pit across various NASCAR series. She hopes to welcome other women into the space, even writing an ebook “How to Become a NASCAR Pit Crew Member.” After recovery from a ligament tear, Daniel returned to the NASCAR cup series this spring and set her sights on another first—signing a NASCAR team contract.

Omondi isn't just participating in the fashion discourse—she’s actively shaping the narrative. As the podcast host of "The Cutting Room Floor," Omondi fearlessly delves into fashion's shortcomings, creating a space for insiders to engage in honest dialogue about the state of the industry. Her candid interview style allows her to tackle taboo issues head-on, from ethics to inclusivity to the supply chain. She's not afraid to ask uncomfortable questions and push conversations that challenge the status quo, all while leading the call for true reform.

At just 19 years old, Peltier has fought for the planet and her community more than many can say they have in their entire lifetimes. Peltier is an Indigenous rights activist and has been a water protector since her youth, having been named the Anishinabek Nation Chief Water Commissioner when she was 14. As her community has struggled to have consistent access to safe drinking water for years, she’s long spoken out about the importance of clean water—even addressing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2016 and the United Nations Global Landscapes Forum in 2018 and 2019. She was named the Community Hero by Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2023, and frequently hosts talks for fellow young people who are eager to get involved—a sign that she’s poised to continue making a difference for generations beyond even her own.

Born in Fresno, California, to a musical family, the multi-hyphenate made her mark on the Great White Way in 1994, winning her first Tony Award for her featured performance in Carousel, just a year after graduating from the Juilliard School. Since then, McDonald’s roles have continued to show the breadth of her impressive range (and her angelic soprano) in operatic performances. She is the only actor in Tony Awards history to receive awards in all four acting categories, with a record-breaking six total Tonys. Offstage, McDonald has also cultivated an impressive career in television and film, most recently with a poignant appearance as Miss Hale in Ava DuVernay’s Origin. For decades, the superstar has used her platform to advocate for marriage equality, unhoused youth, and diverse representation in theater. In 2020, she co-founded Black Theatre United, which works to protect the legacy of Black theater and combat systematic racism in the industry. This fall, she takes on the monumental, showstopper role of Mama Rose in the revival of Gypsy, cementing her legacy as the Queen of Broadway.

After a distinguished 23-year career at Procter & Gamble, Resta was tapped to lead Audemars Piguet as CEO this year, one of only a few women holding a significant leadership role in the watch world. Her appointment is significant, reflecting a seismic shift towards greater gender diversity in a male-dominated industry. As female watch connoisseurs gain more visibility, recognition, and buying power, Resta’s background and perspective is poised to make the world of watches more inclusive, while bringing fresh insights and transformative change to the sector.

Within hours of Joe Biden stepping down from the presidential race, Eaddy mobilized over 44,000 Black women to raise over $1.5 million dollars for Kamala Harris in just four hours. While impressive, Eaddy is not new to this work. She founded her advocacy group #WinWithBlackWomen in 2020. The collective of Black women from across tech, business, politics, entertainment, and various other areas, meet virtually every week, and have organized around causes they care about, including the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and efforts to bring Brittney Griner home.

Robinson has spent her career fighting for racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ equality in many arenas of American politics and culture. She began her progressive career in 2008 as a community organizer for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and went on to serve as the executive director of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. In 2022, she became the first Black queer woman to lead the Human Rights Campaign. In the role, Robinson has led the organization through the recent period of increased anti-LGBTQ+ bills and proposals in state legislatures; her initiatives, which have included coalitions with intersectional equity groups, have mobilized millions of activists and advocates across all ages to fight discrimination through both community organizing and efforts to strike down harmful legislation. At a time when solidarity and empathy are direly needed, Robinson inspires us to do the work to ensure that all people have the rights to live fulfilling lives as their full selves.

As a photographer, Frazier has built a powerful career by turning her lens on working-class communities that are not often documented in the fine art world. By showcasing intimate family moments, Frazier brings a rawness and human narrative to social justice issues from environmental racism to workers’ rights, compelling viewers to step out of their own lives and consider those of, for instance, Ohio factory workers amid the auto industry’s demise, or multi-generational families living amid the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. She began her work in her hometown of Braddock, Pennsylvania, where she was inspired to capture her own family amidst the crumbling steel mill community where she was raised. Her empathetic photo essays are built with the collaboration of her subjects and have earned her many accolades including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a MacArthur “Genius” Grant, and the Gordon Parks Foundation/Steidl Book Prize.

The work of renowned investigative reporter Hannah Jones on racial inequality and injustice has earned her numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize. The 1619 Project, her landmark project that began as a 2019 special issue for New York Times Magazine, is now a multimedia movement that includes a bestselling book, a Hulu docuseries, the 1619 Freedom School in her native Waterloo, Iowa, and a national curriculum that challenges the white-centered historical education traditionally taught in schools. To foster the next generation of reporters, Hannah Jones co-founded the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, which has provided training, mentorship, and support for journalists who may not have access to the resources needed to do investigative work that speaks truth to power, and the Center for Journalism & Democracy at Howard University. She is also in the early stages of developing a public space for young Black writers in Brooklyn, aimed at reviving the literary salons of the Harlem Renaissance.

In 2019, Hunter founded the Black Beauty Roster, a digital DE&I platform that connects the entertainment industry with hairstylists and makeup artists who provide guidance and training on how to work with textured hair and diverse skin tones. She has since gone on to create partnerships with Warner Bros. and hosts large-scale beauty summits on inclusivity with Meta. All in the spirit of ensuring there is better education and conversations around beauty for women of color.

While many have wiped COVID from their memories, Iwasaki has kept it top of mind. Her groundbreaking work as a professor of Immunobiology and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale University, focuses on long COVID, as well as lyme disease and chronic fatigue. Iwasaki hopes that her research will be able to help change the perception of the diseases as being “all in your head” and uncover new treatments. Widely respected, she has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Medicine, European Molecular Biology Organization, and American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Few musicians have experienced the meteoric ascension that Roan has had in the year since the September 2023 release of her debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. But the Missouri-bred singer-songwriter's resonance holds no bounds. Her unapologetic queer anthems about sapphic pining, finding community, and the bliss of accepting your own identity have struck a chord with millions who similarly see themselves most at home at the "Pink Pony Club." Not only is her taste for impeccable pop-rock melodies and playful lyricism unmatched, but her drag-inspired stagewear and her intentional, tastefully trashy visuals have exposed the mainstream to more LGBTQ+ culture. And beyond her artistic influence, the rising superstar has used her platform to speak out against the "drag ban" and in support of individuals who don't feel free to be themselves, like those in her Midwest hometown and beyond. She even denied an invitation from the White House to perform for Pride—demanding more "liberty, justice, and freedom for all" before she makes an appearance.

As a professor of health and racial equity in the Division of Health Policy & Management at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health, Hardeman’s research sheds light on how racism impacts public health, especially as it relates to reproductive justice and the maternal-health crisis. Through her work, Hardeman has identified solutions to major healthcare issues. She serves on the Advisory Committee to the Director of the CDC and is a partner on the Momnibus Bill, which aims to end the disparities women face during childbirth.

As an art lover and a creative herself, Tifrere understands the struggle for female artists to find the platform they deserve. So she launched ArtLeadHer, an organization intent on changing that. After working in the music industry in the ‘00s as an R&B singer and songwriter for other musicians, she began curating her own art collection, which led her to realize how underrepresented female visual artists of all experience levels are. In addition to getting more women featured in various exhibitions, ArtLeadHer fosters initiatives from the ground up by offering arts education to marginalized girls and teens. Outside of the art scene, Tifrere has worked to normalize conversations around blended parenting by documenting her own experience in her 2018 book Blend (which also features contributions from her ex-husband Swizz Beatz and his wife Alicia Keys) as well as on social media.

Creal’s résumé precedes her—most notably as the brand architect behind leading beauty names like Tom Ford, Bobbi Brown, and Victoria Beckham Beauty. But Creal’s most impactful project is her most recent one. Launched in June of this year, Sarah Creal Beauty focuses firmly on women over 40—and in doing so, disrupts the dialogue around what it means to age.

The actress's role in the Netflix drama Baby Reindeer brought Mau worldwide recognition in 2024, thanks to her portrayal of Teri, the girl Donny (played by Richard Gadd) turns to while facing his trauma and coming to terms with his sexuality. The Mexico City-born performer went on to become the first trans woman nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie and will appear in the final season of You. But before becoming an overnight star-to-watch, Mau has long uplifted and empowered the queer community by telling LGBTQ+ narratives on screen—including the 2020 NewFest Audience Award-winning short Waking Hour (which she produced, directed, and starred) and as a creative consultant on the Netflix documentary Disclosure. She also has a history of working with LGBTQ+ survivors of violence, hosting workshops and panels on subjects like visibility, resisting transphobia, and self-care for queer women.

James isn't like any of the New York attorney generals that have come before her: When she was sworn into office in January 2019, she became the state's first Black AG and the first woman to ever hold the title in New York. Since then, she’s been hard at work pursuing justice against bad actors: In 2020, James took on the NRA—and won. A jury found that the group’s CEO Wayne LaPierre had misspent millions of dollars, forcing him to pay back 5.4 million dollars in damages and to step down from his role at the company. But her highest profile case to date would be her New York civil case against former president Donald Trump, alleging he fraudulently padded his net worth and misled banks and investors. And well, she won that case, too.

As artists have become increasingly concerned over the threat of artificial intelligence, few have used their platforms quite like FKA Twigs. After over a decade of pushing the bounds of genre with her electronic-fused R&B-chamber-pop, the British singer and actress has spent much of the past year speaking out about preserving artistic integrity. In April, the musician spoke before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee as they deliberated the NO FAKES (Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe) Act, a bill meant to protect artists from having their likenesses reproduced without their consent. It’s hardly the first time the hitmaker has spoken out about vital issues; in her lyrics and visuals, the press, and through philanthropic efforts, she’s spotlighted her experiences with racism, domestic and sexual violence, and sexism.

There are many ways to describe Russell: a fashion stylist and "image architect," working with models like Sabrina Elba and on editorial photo shoots; a digital runway archivist with an affinity for early-2000s Prada and all things Bottega Veneta. But perhaps most notably, Russell is also the well-intentioned critic behind the Instagram account The Kimbino, which counts followers like Kim Kardashian and Law Roach. On her popular page, Russell shares cheeky Photoshop collages that replace Princess Diana's revenge dress with Jean Paul Gaultier couture and put Beyoncé in Alaïa. People come to her account for the memes, but ultimately end up staying for her finger-on-the-pulse criticism of the fashion industry and insightful perspective on how she became a candid thought leader during the digital age.

Known affectionately on the internet as "Col the Dol," Jones represents a new cohort of supermodels. As a trans woman who grew up in Spanish Fork, Utah, a predominately white, Republican, and Mormon small town, her ascent int the fashion industry hasn't come easily. And yet, the 20-year-old has quickly risen to become the name, face, and walk to watch since debuting on the Fall 2022 Gabriela Hearst runway. Jones has since walked for Maison Margiela, Hermés, and Mugler, and she earned her Victoria's Secret Angel wings last year. But the catwalk is merely just one of the many platforms upon which Jones is making her mark. Off the runway, the model volunteers at New York City's Gay Men's Health Crisis, a nonprofit assisting people living with HIV and AIDS, and has ambitions to one day launch a trans healthcare organization.

A vision for a more ethical fashion landscape led Semaan to create Slow Factory, an environmental and social justice nonprofit that offers educational programs and workshops for corporations, government agencies, and academic institutions. Through her work, Semaan has challenged the industry’s biggest players to adopt more responsible practices, like re-evaluating their supply chains and creating more equitable work environments for those who work within it. It’s the kind of impact that gives hope for a future of fashion that is environmentally responsible and socially just.

Additional reporting by Tamara Warren.

This story appears in the 2024 Changemakers Issue.