Upmarket, widely acclaimed and influential publication VOGUE has stirred a mild controversy by naming 25 most influential British women that exclude the most obvious choice for public at large. While it rightly includes Megan Markel, now Duchess of Sussex, Amal Clooney, Human Rights International Lawyer and wife of super-star George Clooney, Ruth Davidson, leader of Scottish Conservative Party who has put Conservatives back on Scottish political map and in the eyes of many a future party leader and indeed the next PM!
The list also includes humble, down to earth J. K. Rowling, famous multimillionaire author of fascinating and widely read Harry Potter books, popular with both children and adults alike, with well over 400 million copies sold worldwide and many books converted into Hollywood’s widely acclaimed block-buster movies, the main source of her fame and fortune. The list also include not so well known names outside their own profession circle, like Karen Blackett, advertising, Brenda Hale, President of Supreme Court, Collete Roche, Manchester United Executive, Priyanka Joshi, biochemist and many more.
But the controversy is about the exclusion of such famous names like our Queen and PM Mrs May, Scottish SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon who has taken her party to a new height, Diane Abbott, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary and fierce opponent of racism and class society, Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge and wife of William, our future king and perhaps Princess Anne, one of the most hard-working and intelligent Royal, according to those who have met her, although she is now avoiding limelight! On acting side, names of Dame Helen Mirren and Judith Dench are in the forefront, in public domain.
I am glad that Vogue is not influenced by glitter, wealth and royal connections. I wonder who would be on the list of AV/GS if it ever publishes such a list!
Kumudini Valambia
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