Buzz
While Black Widow, Wonder Woman, and Scarlet Witch may be fictional, the world is filled with real-life women who have surpassed even these comic book heroes. These incredible women have battled monsters, rescued those in peril, and worked tirelessly to make the world a safer place.
10. Lydia AngiyouBear, Champion of Bear Wrestling
Lydia Angiyou stands at 155 centimeters (5’1”) and weighs approximately 40 kilograms (90 lb). She may not seem like someone you'd describe as “intimidating,” but looks can be deceiving. This Inuit woman is not one to be underestimated. At 43 years old, while walking through Ivujivik, Quebec, she noticed her nephews and seven-year-old son playing in the streets. But instead of joy and laughter, the children were frightened, likely because a 300-kilogram (700 lb) polar bear was heading their way. Fearing the bear was after her child, Angiyou sprang into action, channeling her inner Ellen Ripley.
Without a second’s hesitation (or the aid of a Caterpillar P-5000 Work Loader), Angiyou ran toward the bear and began punching and kicking. Enraged, the bear stood on its hind legs, and upon seeing its massive size, Angiyou started to cry. The beast then swiped at her, knocking her to the ground. But Angiyou wasn’t out of the fight. On her back, she continued to kick, keeping the bear at bay. The creature struck her face and sent her tumbling, but she refused to back down.
Just as it seemed the situation was hopeless, help arrived. A local villager, armed with a rifle, fired a warning shot into the air, causing the bear to shift its focus to the new threat. The hunter took aim, and with a single shot, the bear was brought down. Miraculously, Angiyou survived the encounter with only minor injuries—a few cuts and a black eye. Not only did she protect her child, but she was later awarded the Medal of Bravery by the governor of Quebec.
9. Leela Hazzah, Defender of the Lions
Lions, perhaps the most iconic animals on Earth, are sadly becoming rarer. There are now fewer than 30,000 lions left in the wild in Africa. In fact, experts predict that lions may face extinction in Kenya by 2030.
While the loss of habitat is a significant factor in the decline of lions, human-lion conflict also plays a major role. In Kenya alone, between 100 and 1,000 lions are killed each year by enraged farmers. However, the human aspect of this issue must also be considered. Take the Maasai, for instance. Livestock holds immense value to the Maasai. Cows are their currency, essential to their way of life. When hungry lions encounter desperate ranchers, the outcomes are often tragic.
This is where Leelah Hazzah comes in. After discovering that lions had disappeared from her native Egypt, Hazzah dedicated her life to protecting these majestic animals. With a master's degree in hand, she traveled to Kenya and founded the lion conservation group, the Lion Guardians. The Guardians, all Maasai warriors—the very individuals responsible for many lion deaths—work together to protect the lions.
In Maasai culture, killing lions is often seen as a rite of passage for young men, as it is part of their tradition. However, after Hazzah spent a year living with the Maasai, educating them on the crucial role lions play in the ecosystem and their contribution to attracting foreign tourists, 65 Maasai warriors laid down their weapons and joined Hazzah's cause to protect the lions.
The Lion Guardians educate other Maasai about the significance of lions, help build stronger fences to safeguard livestock, and monitor the lion population. They earn $100 per month and are also taught to read and write. According to CNN, the Guardians boast a 99-percent success rate in saving lions in the Amboseli region of Kenya. Leelah Hazzah can take immense pride in this accomplishment.
8. Irina Margareta Nistor, The Voice of All Actors
Romania in the 1980s was a grim place. Under the oppressive rule of Nicolae Ceausescu, citizens lived in constant fear of the secret police and their extensive network of informants. The country faced severe shortages of both food and medicine, and government censorship was extreme.
Western films with romantic scenes were heavily edited, depictions of priests were outright banned, and any scenes showing luxury—such as flashy cars, pools, or abundant food—were cut to avoid reminding the population of what they lacked.
For those tired of the censorship, there was the option of purchasing a black-market VCR. If you couldn’t afford one (some even sold their cars or homes to get one), you could attend an underground theater. People who owned VCRs converted their homes into illicit cinemas, where rooms were packed with people eager to watch American horror films or see Chuck Norris in action. Despite the diversity of genres, all these films had one thing in common: they were narrated by the same mysterious woman.
Her name was Irina Margareta Nistor, and following Ceausescu’s reign, she probably had the most familiar voice in Romania. By day, Nistor worked as a government translator, converting foreign films for censorship review. By night, she worked in a hidden basement, translating uncensored films for a dealer who then sold them on the black market. Time was limited, so she had to translate films on her first viewing. She would listen for an actor’s line and immediately repeat the dialogue in Romanian.
In that basement, Nistor lent her voice to everyone from Jean Claude Van Damme to Woody Allen. She dubbed seven to eight films a day, and between 1985 and the Romanian Revolution, she translated around 5,000 films.
Although she never intended to become a symbol of resistance (her initial goal was simply to watch new films), Nistor ultimately became the voice of defiance. She gave people a glimpse of the Western world, helping them escape the restrictions of communism. Today, Nistor is a film critic, but people still fondly remember how her voice brought joy during the darkest periods.
7. Kate WarneAmerica’s First Female Detective
In 19th-century America, there weren’t many women following in the footsteps of Clarice Starling or Temperance Brennan. Detective work was predominantly a man’s field, until Kate Warne made her entrance. In 1856, this young widow walked into the Pinkerton Detective Agency, seeking employment. Intrigued by her, Allan Pinkerton, the agency’s head, offered her a position, making Warne the first female detective in the history of the United States.
She also played a crucial role in saving Abraham Lincoln’s life.
After Abraham Lincoln’s election, a group of Southern sympathizers conspired to eliminate him. As the President-elect left Illinois for the White House, his journey would pass through Baltimore. Once he arrived in “Charm City,” the assassins planned to strike.
Luckily for Lincoln, Pinkerton caught wind of the plot and brought in three agents, including Warne. As Pinkerton gathered intelligence while posing as a stockbroker, Warne disguised herself as a wealthy Southerner and gathered vital information about the assassination by mingling at high-society events.
Once Lincoln was convinced that his life was at risk, Pinkerton escorted him safely through Baltimore, with Warne playing a central role in the plan. First, she reserved four private booths in the back of a Philadelphia-bound train, claiming they were for herself, a sick brother, and two relatives. Then, she devised a disguise for the “sick brother,” providing Lincoln with a shawl, a cap, and a traveling bag. She even suggested that the 193-centimeter (6’4”) giant stoop down a bit.
Once the train was in motion, Warne stayed in the booth next to Lincoln, her pistol at the ready. To keep the news of Lincoln’s arrival in Baltimore from leaking, Pinkerton ordered the telegraph wires to be cut and stationed additional agents along the railway to ensure complete security. Upon reaching Baltimore, Lincoln remained in his booth as the passenger car was transferred to another train. Soon, the locomotive was pulling away, leaving the confused assassins far behind.
After thwarting the Baltimore Plot, Warne went on to dismantle a Confederate spy ring, was appointed head of Pinkerton’s newly established Female Detective Bureau, and brought at least one murderer to justice in the 1850s. After succumbing to an unknown illness, she passed away in 1868, leaving behind a remarkable legacy for future generations of detectives.
6. Shannen RossmillerCybersleuth
Ryan Anderson, a National Guardsman preparing to deploy to Iraq, had no interest in fighting Al-Qaeda. Instead, he wanted to switch allegiances. Looking to join the insurgents, he frequented a radical message board and befriended Abu Khadija, a terrorist operating out of Germany. In an attempt to impress his new associate, Anderson shared classified information about the American military. It wasn't long before he was caught by federal authorities.
What Anderson didn’t realize was that Abu Khadija wasn’t a terrorist. In fact, Abu was Shannen Rossmiller, a Montana mother working for the state’s attorney general. In her spare time, she scours the internet, searching for terrorists.
Rossmiller’s unusual hobby began after the events of 9/11. Just hours after the attacks, she suffered a pelvic fracture, which kept her confined to bed for weeks. With all that time on her hands, she immersed herself in current events, studied the Quran, and even completed a nine-week Arabic course. It was then that she began searching for would-be suicide bombers online.
To deceive her targets, Rossmiller created a number of fake personas, each with detailed backstories and distinct traits. She even researched their hometowns and hideouts, allowing her to casually mention local restaurants and mosques. These avatars enabled her to interact with potential terrorists, some of whom were genuine threats. Besides Anderson, she uncovered a man attempting to sell nine US Stinger missiles, a young man seeking martyrdom, and a Pennsylvanian plotting an attack on American soil. These are just some of the cases she investigated.
Rossmiller employed both advanced and simple techniques. One of her high-tech methods involved sending suspects a keylogger, a piece of software that records everything typed on a computer. But some of her tricks were remarkably basic. On numerous occasions, Rossmiller convinced suspects to complete an “Oath of Allegiance to the Jihad,” which included fields for personal details like their legal name, home country, and family contacts.
Although her work as a cyber-sleuth has proven effective, Rossmiller has faced threats, including phone calls and even an instance where someone shot at her car. Despite the danger, she remains undeterred. While most people unwind by watching TV, Rossmiller continues to spend her free time online, engaging with individuals who have violent intentions.
5. Donya Al-NahiRescuer Of Kidnapped Kids
Her alias is Bond, Jane Bond. That’s how the British Foreign Office refers to her, at least. Her true identity is Donya Al-Nahi, and since 1998, she’s undertaken multiple covert operations in countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, and Turkey. But Al-Nahi isn’t a secret agent infiltrating terrorist cells—she’s a British mother who has successfully rescued at least 20 kidnapped children.
Born Donna Topen, Al-Nahi embraced Islam at the age of 16 after spending time in Jordan. She later married Mahmoud, an Iraqi, and started a family. However, her life took a dramatic turn when she met a woman whose husband had taken their child to Libya. Instead of offering sympathy, Al-Nahi devised a plan to bring the child home.
The two women traveled to Tripoli, where they abducted the girl on her way to school. Al-Nahi created a distraction by engaging the teacher while her companion pulled the child into a nearby car. The duo then drove for 17 hours, crossing through Algeria, eventually making their escape at a Moroccan airport.
As news of Al-Nahi’s daring mission spread across the UK, other Muslim mothers sought her help, hoping to retrieve their children who had been taken by fathers disillusioned with Western culture. Charging only for expenses, Al-Nahi journeyed throughout Africa and the Middle East, snatching children from beaches, taxicabs, and playgrounds.
While many of her operations ended successfully, not all went as planned. Al-Nahi was arrested in Dubai and faced three years in prison, but the Crown Prince intervened. On another occasion in Jordan, she arrived at a father’s home only to be met by armed guards, leading to a thrilling 90-minute car chase.
Al-Nahi’s greatest challenge came when her husband, Mahmoud, kidnapped their two children and fled to war-torn Baghdad. He underestimated her determination. Al-Nahi teamed up with her sister, flew to Iraq, and tracked him down. With the help of some American soldiers, she managed to retrieve her children and safely return to Britain.
4. Mariya Oktyabrskaya: The Nemesis of the Nazis
Mariya Oktyabrskaya, born in the Crimean Peninsula, married a military officer in 1925. While frequently relocating from one army base to another, she spent her time learning how to shoot, working as a nurse, and participating in councils for military wives.
Her life as an army wife took a drastic turn when the Nazis invaded Russia. After her husband's death in 1941, Oktyabrskaya wasn’t content to mourn. Fueled by a thirst for vengeance, she sold all her belongings, used the money to buy a tank, and donated it to the Red Army—with one condition: she would join the tank as its operator.
Soviet officials saw the potential publicity in her story, but Oktyabrskaya wasn’t interested in fame; her only goal was to take down as many Nazis as she could. After learning to operate the tank, she was assigned to the 26th Guards Tank Brigade in September 1943, where she served as both a driver and mechanic. When she first arrived, the men doubted her, but Oktyabrskaya quickly earned their respect through her skills and determination.
Mariya affectionately named her tank 'Fighting Girlfriend.' During her first combat, she smashed through enemy lines, crushing artillery and machine gun positions. A few days later, a shell destroyed her tank's tracks. Undeterred, Oktyabrskaya, in complete darkness, ventured onto the battlefield, fixed her tank, and reentered the fight. As she later wrote in a letter, 'I’ve had my baptism by fire. I beat the bastards.'
However, her luck ran out on January 17, 1944. During a nighttime skirmish, the Germans hit her tank with a blast. Defying orders to remain inside, Oktyabrskaya leapt out with her tools. This time, a piece of shrapnel struck her head, knocking her into a two-month coma. She passed away on March 15, 1944. For her bravery, Oktyabrskaya became the first female tank driver to earn the prestigious title of 'Hero of the Soviet Union.'
3. Neerja Bhanot: The Self-Sacrificing Stewardess
On September 5, 1986, Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan, seemed like any other day. Pan Am Flight 73 was preparing to depart for Frankfurt, having come from Mumbai, when suddenly, four men dressed as security guards boarded the plane. They were members of the Abu Nidal Organization, a Palestinian terrorist group, and they had sinister plans to divert the flight.
The terrorists had planned to fly to Cyprus, where they would hold over 300 passengers hostage until their comrades were released from prison. However, their plot unraveled when 22-year-old flight attendant Neerja Bhanot spotted them and quickly alerted the pilots. This gave the flight crew the crucial time to escape. Without the pilots, the terrorists were left helpless.
As the head of the cabin crew, Bhanot took charge of the entire plane. Over the next 17 hours, she worked to maintain calm, serving coffee and sandwiches with professionalism. The terrorists made things difficult, not only threatening her life but also murdering a young man to demonstrate their power.
When the terrorists ordered Bhanot to collect the passports to identify the Americans on board, she refused to comply. Instead of handing over the documents, she scattered them across the plane, hiding them in places the terrorists would never think to look.
As Pakistani commandos stormed the plane, the terrorists tried to kill as many hostages as they could. They began firing on the passengers, and Bhanot sprang into action. She opened the emergency door, pushing passengers down the slide to safety. Amidst the chaos, she shielded three children with her body, tragically losing her life in the process.
Twenty-one lives were lost that day, but Neerja Bhanot’s heroic actions saved many more. For her bravery, she was posthumously awarded the US Special Courage Award and became the youngest recipient of India’s highest honor for bravery, the Ashok Chakra. Today, an award bearing her name exists, recognizing women who take a stand against social injustice.
2. Sampat Pal Devi, The Pink Vigilante
A 2012 poll by TrustLaw, a legal news service owned by Reuters, named India as the worst G20 country for women. With issues such as legal marital rape, honor killings, and over 50 million female fetuses aborted solely because of their gender, Sampat Pal found herself deeply angered by these injustices.
Living in Uttar Pradesh, a region infamous for its sexual violence and corrupt law enforcement, Pal’s own life was shaped by hardship. Married at 12 and a mother by 15, Pal endured a life of illiteracy and poverty, suffering mistreatment from her in-laws. After growing frustrated, she left her home and went on to create several organizations to defend women’s rights.
In 2006, Pal’s life took an unexpected turn when she witnessed a neighbor beating his wife. When Pal intervened, the man turned on her, assaulting her as well. But the next day, Pal, along with a few friends, armed themselves with sticks, tracked down the man, and gave him a lesson he wouldn’t forget. Word of her bravery spread, and soon other women were approaching Pal, pleading for her help.
Motivated by the success of her actions, Pal founded the Gulabi Gang, a group of women vigilantes who wear pink saris and wield bamboo sticks. (‘Gulabi’ translates to ‘pink’ in Hindi.) If the Gang caught wind of a husband abusing his wife, they would show up at his doorstep to correct his behavior.
Today, the Gulabi Gang boasts over 20,000 members and continues to make an impact. Pal, in particular, is a force to be reckoned with. When a police officer refused to file a rape case, she physically confronted him until he agreed to do his duty. When a power company refused to provide electricity to a local town, Pal led the Gang to storm the company building and locked the officials in a room until they apologized.
Under Pal’s leadership, the Gang has stopped child marriages, campaigned against the dowry system, rescued women from abusive in-laws, and pressured government officials into taking action. When a local politician was implicated in the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl, the Gang picketed outside his home until the police arrested him. In recent years, Pal’s group has even expanded into politics, with several members winning important local positions. Like Teddy Roosevelt, they believe in carrying big sticks.
1. Rukhsana Kausar, The Indian Rambo
In 2009, 18-year-old Rukhsana Kausar was living with her family in the Jammu region of northern India, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border area between India and Pakistan. This was far from the safest place, as the surrounding forests were filled with armed terrorists.
One day, seven members of a Pakistani terrorist group emerged from their hideouts and marched straight to Rukhsana’s house. They came seeking food and shelter, and one of them demanded to marry Rukhsana. But when her father refused, the situation quickly spiraled into violence.
While four terrorists stood guard outside, the other three began to assault Rukhsana’s parents with sticks. Up to that point, Rukhsana had been hiding under a bed, but when she saw her family being attacked, the teenager’s fury erupted.
Without warning, Rukhsana sprang into action. With the precision of a trained fighter, she seized the terrorist leader by the hair, slammed him against the wall, and cleaved him with an axe. As he lay bleeding on the floor, she took his AK-47 and filled him with bullets. Her brother, 19-year-old Eijaz, quickly joined in. After hacking at the attackers with his own axe, he too grabbed a rifle, and together the siblings unleashed a barrage of gunfire.
Armed with machine guns, Rukhsana and Eijaz held their ground against the remaining terrorists for a grueling four hours. “I had never touched a rifle before this,” she later shared with reporters. “I’d only seen heroes in movies, and I tried to act like them.” The influence of those films became clear when, by the time the terrorists retreated, the Kausars had killed one and wounded two others.
Terrorists are not known for letting grudges go easily. Seeking revenge, they have made multiple attempts on Rukhsana's life since the initial attack. On one occasion, they threw grenades at her house, but she wasn’t there. Another time, an IED was discovered near the Kausars' home, but authorities safely defused the bomb. Despite all their efforts, the terrorists have failed to kill her.
