International women’s day is a time to appreciate and celebrate women all around the world. Annually, on March eighth the world comes together to celebrate equality and commemorate the political, social, and economic achievements of women throughout the years. 

This tradition was started on March 19, 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, and Germany. These countries then sparked a domino effect through the world. Since then, women celebrate their achievements with rallies, social media posts and more. Many celebrities and female role models have elaborated on their views about the capabilities that a strong woman has.

“I am an example of what is possible when girls from the very beginning of their lives are loved and nurtured by people around them,” said Michelle Obama “I was surrounded by extraordinary women in my life who taught me about quiet strength and dignity.” 

This year, in honor of the equality that women have to continually fight for, the theme for international women’s day was “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” 

“There’s something so special about a woman who dominates in a man’s world,” Rihanna explains, “It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness, and the nerve to never take no for an answer.”

International women’s Day colors originated in the United Kingdom’s Women’s Social and Political Union. Represented by purple, white and green, women’s day colors were paired this year with the hashtag #BreaktheBias. This is meant to call out those individuals and collective biases of those that continue to have a negative outlook on women in the workforce, schools and even home life.