In conjunction with Take Our Daughters To Work Day, the Ms. Foundation offers its top 10 female role models:
Hillary Rodham Clinton, recently called the "real winner in the November elections," for keeping the nation focused on key issues for women and their families; access to jobs and credit, education and adequate health care.
Lt. Col. Eileen Collins, the astronaut whose shuttle, Columbia, will be her third venture into space, and the first woman to be named space commander.
Lauryn Hill, recording artist of the solo opus, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," who works to improve the quality of life for inner city children through her Refugee Camp Youth Project.
Geraldine Laybourne, former Disney/ABC executive whose multimedia company, Oxygen Media, announced a new cable television network and Internet sites geared toward women.
The Women's National Basketball Association, whose second successful season has been a showcase for high-energy women playing with determination and drive.
Joanne Simpson, the chief scientist for meteorology at NASA's Space Flight Center.
Emily Lyons, the nurse who nearly died when a bomb exploded at the women's health clinic where she worked. She continues to speak out for safeguarding the right to reproductive health care.
Waris Dirie, supermodel turned activist, who travels the world as a United Nations Special Ambassador advocating the end of female genital mutilation and speaking about her personal experiences undergoing the procedure.
Kory Arvizu-Johnson, who became an environmental activist at the age of 9 when she founded Children for a Safe Environment. Now 20, she continues to fight to keep toxic waste out of low-income communities.
Bhairavi Desai, organizer for the Taxi Workers Alliance in New York, who works long hours, sometimes without pay, to improve conditions of taxi drivers.
Three role models were also named in memoriam:
Bella Abzug, 1921-1998, a public servant and a rebel known for her hats, political activism, bone-cracking handshakes and brash wit.
Florence Griffith Joyner, 1960-1998, whose spectacular fingernails and lightning speed elevated women's track to a new level.
Linda McCartney, 1932-1998, who, even in the face of cancer, continued her activities on behalf of animals.
