Women who have powerful impact on British society

Extraordinary women shape the world and inspire those around us. That’s why The Independent is once again marking International Women’s Day with our annual influence list, celebrating women who have had a powerful impact on British society over the last year.

Excelling across sport, the arts, public service, and advocacy, these women are boldly using their voice and talent to change the world. For the fourth year running, The Independent is publishing its influence list on 8 March. This year, the list is focused on the theme “give to gain”, in recognition of the extraordinary sacrifices many of these women have had to make to succeed.

Topping the list is England’s super-sub Chloe Kelly, who made a remarkable comeback from the most difficult period of her career to cement her status as a national legend, scoring the winning penalty at the Euros in 2025. As usual, The Independent has made the deliberate decision not to exclude women who some readers may disagree with politically, and neither does the list endorse any particular point of view.

There was only one woman who could have taken England’s winning penalty at the Euros. Stepping up to the spot, Chloe Kelly looked cool and collected as the country held its breath. But it was never in question. The squad’s super-sub fired home a staggering 68mph shot — faster than any goal in the previous Premier League season — and with it, England’s Lionesses claimed their second successive Euros title.

Lily Allen: It was a mixture of heartbreak and rage that drove British pop star Lily Allen back into the studio for the first time in seven years. Reeling from her split from Stranger Things star David Harbour, Allen poured all of her efforts into West End Girl, an unflinchingly honest portrayal of the breakdown of a marriage featuring her signature acerbic, witty songwriting.

Jessie Buckley: Jessie Buckley, the frontrunner for this year’s Best Actress prize at the Oscars for her devastating work in Hamnet, feels a bit like an old friend — perhaps because many of us first saw her in an Andrew Lloyd Webber talent show on BBC One, or perhaps because her big British Vogue cover story in January opened with her apologising to journalist Hayley Maitland for her mucky car, then expressing how desperate she was to talk about the Celebrity Traitors finale.

The 36-year-old Irish actor plumbs the depths of her soul in Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet, playing the largely ambiguous wife of William Shakespeare, who is gripped by despair following the death of the couple’s son, Hamnet. For her performance, she has — as of writing — won the Bafta and the Golden Globe, with (most probably) the Oscar next on the docket.

It has been a significant year for Buckley personally as well as professionally: she had her first child, a baby girl whose name she has not publicly disclosed, with her mental health worker husband.

Princess of Wales: The Princess of Wales has continued to embody strength, determination, and hope as she gradually returned to royal duties last year following cancer treatment. Now in remission, her honesty and openness in speaking about her own experience will undoubtedly have helped hundreds facing similar challenges feel less alone. Speaking on World Cancer Day last month, Kate said a cancer journey is not a linear experience and that “there are moments of fear and exhaustion” but also “moments of strength, kindness and profound connection”.

Despite her personal challenges, her mission to shine a light on early childhood development has gone from strength to strength. Working with the Royal Foundation, she has pioneered several initiatives exploring the links between early life and huge social challenges such as addiction and mental health problems in adulthood. In December 2025, she hosted her fifth annual “Together at Christmas” carol service, joining community inspirations and young leaders to focus on the power of connection and community.

The Independent