We grew up reading stories of one-dimensional princesses in fairy tales, only to realize later that happily-ever-afters don’t exist and that we don’t need a prince charming on a white horse to save us and provide us a better life! There are plenty of stories about women we should have read as little girls, women we can all draw inspiration from today.

Hypatia

Despite her vast contributions to the development of Philosophy, Astronomy and Mathematics, her Pagan belief opposed the Christian majority at that time and eventually led to her brutal death. It was also likely that a woman of her influence was considered to be a threat. With the growing number of girls losing interest in Math and Science at a young age today, Hypatia’s existence and achievements would make a great source of motivation for more women to excel these areas.

Empress Theodora

From an actress to a powerful political figure in Byzantine history, she was probably one of the forgotten names who kick-started the notion of woman’s lib. In addition to playing an equally vital role in ruling the empire with her husband, she also conceptualized and enforced the idea of women’s property and divorce rights. And even if politics isn’t your thing, often it still takes a persistent woman in authority to make everyone sit up and pay effective attention to issues that concern women of today.

Hua Mu Lan

Poems and prose brought her out to the Chinese people and years later, she was the first in the new wave of female Disney characters, with a strong streak of independence and courage, when they made an animated epic out of her life. We’re pretty sure Joan of Arc did a great job over where she was but Mu Lan proves there are female figures who are just as admirable, from this part of the globe too.

Mahsuri

Her husband was away fighting a war and someone had motives to stir up conspiracy about her and the wandering poet slash story teller in the village. This misjudgment and accusation of adultery led to her death, but not before she cast a seven-generation curse (which she managed to utter with her last breath) on the island of Langkawi in present-day Malaysia. The curse is believed to have been lifted only in recent decades and the legend of Mahsuri reminds us that even if gossip gets out of hand, the truth will ultimately prevail.

While princesses in castles and princes on white horses make good imaginative reading material for young girls, it’s never too late to look into and be inspired by alternative stories we may have missed out on as a child.