8 Angels of the North that inspire for International Women’s Day
Written by Maia Olusanya on 8th March 2024
In honour of International Women’s Day, I have compiled a list of influential women from the North East and spoken to creators of the Sunderland-based women’s podcast ‘Rebel Women’ about the importance of having northern women in the media.
Denise Welch – a North East legend known for her appearances in shows such as Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, Byker Grove, and is a regular panellist on Loose Women.
H80CK2 DENISE WELCH LONDON ENGLAND 18 May 1999
Kate Adie – A renowned TV journalist for the BBC born in Sunderland famous for her hard-hitting news reports from war zones all around the world.
BHYBX3 KATE ADIE CURRENT AFFAIRS REPORTER 29 May 1991
Emeli Sande – The extremely successful Scottish singer-songwriter was born in Sunderland and is now the ambassador of The University of Sunderland.
HRYNN6 London, UK. 5th Mar, 2017. Emeli Sande outside the Tower of London at Care International Women’s March. Hundreds of protesters gathered to hear speeches, music and protest in central London for women’s rights. Credit: Jacob Sacks-Jones/Alamy Live News.
Alice Hall – This University of Sunderland Alumni now has a multi-million-pound fashion empire. Alice would spend her lunch breaks rushing to the Post Office weighed down with parcels for her eBay buyers. Now Pink Boutique ships out more than 4,000 products a day from a 60,000-square-foot factory in Newcastle.
Cheryl Tweedy – An international phenomenon from the British girl group Girls Aloud, Cheryl Tweedy is a Geordie icon. Cheryl was the first British female solo artist to have five number-one singles in the UK.
DP87NR June 16, 2006 – World Cup, NUREMBURG, GERMANY – K48322.ENGLAND V TRINIDAD & TOBAGO.WORLD CUP, NUREMBURG, GERMANY 06-15-2006.CREDIT: – CHERYL TWEEDY.(Credit Image: © Globe Photos/ZUMAPRESS.com)
Jade Thirlwall – The South Shields born singer rose to fame on X-Factor when she was placed in the now worldwide girl group Little Mix. As part of the group she has won three Brit Awards, achieved nineteen top-ten singles and five number-ones on the UK Singles Chart, before going on hiatus in 2022
PXE3FA LONDON, UK. October 21, 2018: Jade Thirlwall of Little Mix at tthe BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards 2018 at Wembley Stadium, London.
Picture: Steve Vas/Featureflash Credit: Paul Smith/Alamy Live News
Jill Scott – Scott has been described as one of England’s four outstanding players; “energetic, ball-winning midfielder who organises the team well, works hard at both ends of the pitch and can change her team’s angle of attack.”
She grew up in Sunderland and began her senior career with Sunderland Women. In October 2005, aged only 18 years, she won the Women’s Player of the Month award for September, based on her performances for both her club and country.
KK9N5B COLCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 28: England’s Jill Scott in action during the FIFA 2019 Women’s World Cup Qualifier against Kazakhstan.
Vick Hope – Born and raised in Newcastle Hope now hosts three shows a week on BBC Radio 1: Going Home on Radio 1, and Life Hacks and Official Chart: First Look with Katie Thistleton. The Sunday Times dubbed her a “voice of a generation” when she started at BBC Radio 1 in 2020.
HR9M88 Vick Hope attending the Kong: Skull Island Euorpean Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square, London.
Grace McDonough of the ‘Rebel Women’ podcast said: “It’s so important to have influential women in the North East to look up to.
“A lot of the North East’s history that’s commonly celebrated is traditionally ‘masculine’ so to be aware that there are remarkable women from Sunderland who have also done remarkable things and to celebrate that is so important.
“That’s what the Rebel Women of Sunderland project does so wonderfully, so it’s a privilege to bring the project to life through the podcast.”
Her colleague Lottie Steele whom she’s producing the podcast with agrees saying: “Celebrating and recognising what the women from Sunderland have done in the past and present is so important to inspire our future rebel women of Sunderland.
“Bringing these amazing accomplishments to light disrupts the common history that is known about the region, which is exactly what we need. I feel so privileged to have been asked to produce Rebel Women the Podcast, and help share these amazing stories whilst learning so much myself by speaking to so many inspirational women from Sunderland.”
