By shaking off society’s rules, legendary female pirate Anne Bonny inspired many generations of women to take their destinies into their own hands. But could anyone ever have imagined that this ‘swashbuckling savage’ would become THE symbol of feminism and freedom?

A glorious, red-haired wrecking ball, Anne Bonny was born to break all the rules. Rejecting a society that treated women as weak, the Irish-born badass created her own, roaming and robbing the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy with her (lesbian) lovers, becoming the most famous female pirate of all time.

Once upon a time, in Haiti, there was a girl with hair red as fire. ‘Jacquotte’ she was called, and she was as badass as they come. Her mother died in childbirth and when her father got brutally murdered, young Jacquotte was left alone to care for her disabled brother. What job opportunities were there for adventurous, strong-willed girls in the 17th century? That’s right, not a whole lot. And so, Jacquotte became a pirate. Even better, she became a feminist heroine.

They may not wear eye patches or have a parrot on their shoulder, but these modern-day she-pirates are making waves and shifting paradigms, in the same swashbuckling spirit as the pirates of yesteryear. Watch out, world!

From prostitute to powerful commander; this is the incredible story of Cheng I Sao – not only the most successful pirate (male or female!), but also the most badass ladyboss in history. Born close to the water in modern-day Guangzhou, the young Shi Yang understood early on that pearls don’t just lie on the seashore; you have to dive for them. And so she did!

In the mid 1400s, French sailors who saw blood red sails emerging from the fog knew it meant one thing. They were about to die. After all, noble-woman-turned-pirate Jeanne de Clisson built her notorious ‘Black Fleet’ for only one reason: to avenge her husband’s death. And in this, she showed absolutely no mercy. Blood for blood.

The feminist folklore of Grace O’Malley begins in her childhood, when she begged her chieftain/pirate father to take her along on an expedition to Spain. When he refused, saying ‘her hair would get caught in the ropes’, Grace chopped off her mane. Bam! From now on, she was known as ‘Granuaile Mhaol’ , Irish for ‘Grace with the cropped hair’.

Part history, part legend, 100% badass; living over 2 millennia ago, Pirate Queen Teuta of the Illyrians is still a feminist symbol of hardcore bravery.

Some girls want to be princesses when they grow up; Sadie Farrell had a different dream: to become a pirate, and the meanest one at that! Growing up in the crime-filled slums of Victorian New York, Sadie knew how to throw a punch. Described as ‘slight of build, but mean and vicious’ (surely a euphemism for ‘skinny bitch’) she became a ruthless mugger at a young age and even developed a legendary signature move: headbutting her victims in the stomach. It earned her her fighting name ‘Sadie the Goat’.

She wasn’t called Sayyida al-Hurra at birth. It was a title she would earn, based on her fearlessness and fierce intelligence: ‘Lady who is free and independent’. But it was thanks to her badass pirating, that she would forever be known as the ‘Pirate Queen of Morocco’.

This is a story of a princess in an ivory tower… with a twist! Because this princess, rather than ride off into the sunset with her prince on the white horse, became a formidable Viking pirate, leading a fleet of rebel pirate girls.

Anne Dieu-le-Veut’s incredible story? It’s all there in her ‘nom de guerre’*: her spirit, her creed, her life. ‘Dieu-le-Veut’ means ‘as god wants it’, meaning that when Anne wanted something, her will was so strong, it was as if the gods themselves wanted it too! Born Marie-Anne Dominique du Pres in 1661 in Brittany, France, we may assume that her early years were not exactly smooth. When we first read about Anne, she is being taken ‘off the streets’ and deported to the Caribbean. This was part of a program that imported prostitutes for local French buccaneers, hoping that they would give up pirating and settle down as farmers with their new wives. Well, when she arrives in freebooter heaven Tortuga, farming seems to be the last thing on feisty Anne’s mind.

Being a pirate is all about bending the rules, and for Mary Read that very much included gender rules. One half of the dynamic, swashbuckling Pirate Queen duo of Mary Read and Anne Bonny (see Couture), this warrior woman excelled in not one, but two male-dominated careers: the navy and piracy. She fell in love with both men and women. And she identified sometimes as a woman – Mary – and sometimes as a man: Mark. Centuries before the terms ‘feminism’ and ‘gender fluidity’ were invented, Mary was living them. Ferociously.

Whether you are single or not, celebrate this Valentine’s Day by starting a life-long romance… with yourself! To get you inspired, I am sharing some nuggets of self-love wisdom from our Self-Love Show, a series of fun, lively conversations I had on Instagram Live with some of my favorite feminine feminists. Get ready to turn up the self-love!

For over a century, March 8 has marked a special day for women across the world – and this year’s International Women’s Day promises to be extra epic!

Do you consider yourself a Feminine Feminist? Do you believe we can have it all? And are you ready to say it loud and proud? Then get right to the ‘point’ with these empowering pins!

She was born in 69 BC in Alexandria, and when she passed away 39 years later, Queen Cleopatra VII had ruled Egypt for 22 years with more courage and charisma than most male leaders before her. A shrewd strategist, a skilled diplomat and a dazzling self-promoter, she had been the last and greatest Egyptian pharaoh. With glamour and grandeur, Cleopatra had claimed her role in world politics, controlling nearly the entire eastern Mediterranean coast at the height of her power.

All the single ladies, listen up! With single women rapidly becoming the majority, it is high time to stop feeling singled out. On Singles Day, let’s celebrate our freedom and independence by sharing all those solo milestones that make us go: ‘You’ve got this!’.

“In some ways I feel like having surgery has made me accept my body more. I have all these scars, the illusion of being able to be perfect has been shattered. So I can either accept that, or I can hide away. I would rather learn to accept it.”

Imagine Agatha Christie, and you probably see her most famous female detective, Miss Marple: a neat old lady, snowy white hair, tweeds and pearls. Don’t be fooled! The woman who sold 2 billion copies of her books in 104 languages – outselling even the bible and William Shakespeare- lead a life filled with passion, fast-paced adventures and the wildest plot twists. “I had the firm conviction that, if I went about looking for adventure, adventure would meet me halfway.”

Mijn doel, al sinds ik meer dan 25 jaar geleden begon met het ontwerpen van lingerie, is om vrouwen zelfvertrouwen te geven. Maar ik heb gemerkt -en waarschijnlijk jij ook- dat vrouwen de neiging hebben om elkaar in plaats daarvan naar beneden te halen. Roddelen, beoordelen, slut shaming, noem maar op. Feministische schrijfsters Milou Deelen en Daan Borrel merkten dat ook, en besloten om er onderzoek naar te doen. In hun gloednieuwe boek ‘Krabben, van vrouw tot vrouw’ vergelijken zij vrouwen met een mand vol krabben, die proberen uit de mand te klimmen en daarbij elkaar naar beneden duwen. Waar komt de term krabbenmand vandaan, waarom doen vrouwen dit nog steeds, en hoe zit het met mannen? Ik mocht Milou en Daan alles vragen.

It’s safe to say that our lives have changed over the past few months… BIG TIME. Contrary to the freedom that we were used to, we now find ourselves restricted. The world that we live in is changing, and so we have to change our ways. But remember that we are all facing the same challenges. Let’s connect and support each other with understanding, inspiration and motivation. We’re in this together, and we’ll get through this together.

Who run the world? You, me and Béyonce have known the answer to that question for a very long time: girls. But has the rest of the world caught up yet? When we look at the state of women’s rights, we see a mixed bag of victories and setbacks, we see a whole lot of discrepancies. Girls get better grades than boys, but get paid less once they graduate. Women play the leads in Hollywood movies and Netflix series, but are still underrepresented in world politics. These numbers and percentages show: we’ve come a long way, but still have far to go. But they also show this: no matter what you throw at a woman, she will rise. I believe that 100%.

My favorite day of the year: International Women’s Day. The day on which my mission, to empower women, is actively being pursued by millions of women -and men- worldwide. On this day we celebrate what we have achieved, and we look forward to the future of (feminine) feminism.

Even though we make up almost 50% of the world’s population, less than 11 percent of history’s space explorers have been women. Yes, the glass ceiling between earth and orbit is all too real. Luckily, it looks like the latest generation of feisty ‘fly girls’ is about to smash it.

Last Monday, Marlies presented her collections for 2020 in a spectacular show at Villa Thalia, Rotterdam. Singer Famke Louise had a big role during the show. She performed two of her songs: her newest song which will soon be released, and her iconic ‘Boss Bitch’ for which Marlies joined her on stage to rap a verse herself. “The best moment of the evening”, according to model and influencer Joann van den Herik.

Whether you are single or not, celebrate this Valentine’s Day by starting a life-long romance… with yourself! To learn how to F.L.Y. (First Love Yourself), let’s get inspired by aviator Amelia Earhart, who was as brave in love as she was in the sky.

She became a star as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932, and a legend when she disappeared without a trace in 1937. But what made Amelia Earhart a feminist hero was the way she showed women worldwide that the sky is NOT the limit.

On the 22nd of September, incredible women and men joined me and my daughter Zilver at the marlies|dekkers store in Rotterdam. Why?

From original ‘bad girl’ Billie Holiday to Rihanna and Lady Gaga; an ode to the rebellious women who have defied victimization by turning damage into beauty with their voices. 

What makes Billie Holiday so unforgettable, and what can women today still learn from the Queen of Blues? I asked Dutch musical legend Sophia Wezer what it was like to be in Billie’s shoes.

Like a flower that grows from a crack in the sidewalk, Billie Holiday reached for the sun and bloomed, despite relentless adversity. Like Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, she transformed her pain and sadness into art, turning broken pieces into masterpieces. “Lady Day got diamond eyes, she sees the truth behind the lies”, Bono would sing in ‘Angel of Harlem’. Indeed, with gardenias in her hair, smoldering through smoke and tears, Billie Holiday used her voice to speak and sing her truth. Without shame, and no matter the price.

Women have been told to shut up for a long, long time. “Let the woman learn in silence, with all submission,” the Bible admonished us. But even before that, in the Odyssey, Greek hero Telemachus declared that ‘speech will be the business of men’. Fast-forward to the twenty-first century, and it seems that the ban on women’s speech has been broken. After all, we have Angela Merkel and Beyoncé; we are world leaders, film directors, TED Talk-givers. Don’t let that fool you, though! From legal threats to ‘mansplaining’, women are still discouraged from speaking up, in many different ways. To make yourself heard as a woman is still an act of bravery. That’s why, as this season’s muse, I chose Billie Holiday: the ‘Badass Queen of Blues’ who used her voice to turn female anger, pain and sadness into creations of staggering beauty.

Watch out, world! Burlesque bombshell Mosh is coming for you! I was lucky enough to have the Russian-American performer star in my campaign recently and watching her pose up a storm for photography legend Ellen von Unwerth was as exhilarating as watching an actual, big-production burlesque show.

After #MeToo, it’s crystal clear: the latest feminist wave is fueled by social media. So, to celebrate this Women’s Day, I sat down with Aafke Romeijn, who is not only a hugely talented musician, writer and journalist, but who, to me at least, is Holland’s undisputed Queen of Social Media. “On the one hand you have a bigger platform than ever as a woman and a minority, on the other hand, you get more shit thrown at you than ever.”

Just like Cupid & Psyche, Mrs. Dekkers and I seem to be an unlikely pairing. But when she and I first met some thirty years ago when I was one of the editors of Playboy, we immediately clicked. Asking me to interview her on the subject of Me Too is so Marlies. Bless her.

Marlies Dekkers did it again
Earlier this week, in a packed Maassilo in Rotterdam, lingerie designer Marlies Dekkers showed her upcoming collections – spring|summer & fall|winter 2019- during a two-hour extravaganza that included spectacular live entertainment. Marlies: “For over 25 years, it has been my mission to empower women. To make that mission come to life for the stage was a magical experience: an unforgettable celebration of feminine feminism.

Julia Child, the charismatic culinary legend who empowered women in the kitchen and beyond, was born on August 15th, 1912, in a posh LA-suburb called Pasadena. Her senses didn’t truly awaken, however, until she had a life-changing meal of oysters and sole meunière with her husband Paul in Rouen, which she described as “an opening up of the soul and spirit for me.” Aged 32, Julia signed up for the prestigious Cordon Blue cooking school where she found herself the only female student. “Up until then,” Julia said, “I just ate.”

– 3 reasons why Julia Child is one of my favorite feminine feminists –

She predicted the brightly colored hair trend years before it hit the runway at Chanel and she foresaw the rise of ‘flawed’ supermodels like Winnie Harlow. One thing is clear: trend forecaster and designer Antoinette van den Berg, aka The Lady in Blu, lives, wears and breathes trends. I sat down with the sparkly, blue-haired personality to find out what the future has in store for us. “I’m telling you, old is cool!”

An interesting thing happened when I did Nadia Narain’s yoga class the other day. I had checked myself in the mirror beforehand, and thought I looked fine, but when I looked again afterwards, I fell utterly in love with my reflection!

Forget waiting around for compliments and a candy G-string; this Valentine’s Day, let’s seduce ourselves! How can you seduce others if you don’t know how to seduce yourself, right? But it actually goes so much deeper than that. I was in New York recently, where the magnificent Mal Harrison – clinical sexologist, TEDx speaker and clit-pioneer – explained to me why loving yourself up is one of the most empowering things a woman can do, in the bedroom and beyond. “It’s about owning your pleasure, your body, your power!”

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how did your legend grow? So much more than just Elizabeth I’s older sister or the wicked ‘Bloody Mary’ who burned over 280 protestants at the stake, Mary Tudor (1516–1558) lived a life full of heartbreak, defiance and glorious triumph. Born the daughter of the notorious King Henry VIII and the Spanish Catherine of Aragon, the auburn-haired beauty grew up as a cultured Renaissance princess with a knack for languages and a passion for fashion.

She is mostly known as ‘that other Boleyn Girl’ or ‘the Mistress of Kings’. But I see Mary Boleyn (1499/1500 – 1543) as a woman who dared to defy all the rules to follow her heart. In other words, a historical heroine in her own right.

Tudor (1516–1558) lived a life full of heartbreak, defiance and glorious triumph. Born the daughter of the notorious King Henry VIII and the Spanish Catherine of Aragon, the auburn-haired beauty grew up as a cultured Renaissance princess with a knack for languages and a passion for fashion.

Crowned Queen of Scotland at only nine months of age, proud Mary Stuart (1542- 1587) was off to a flying start. A tall beauty with golden-red hair and bewitching hazel eyes, Mary was so charismatic, so brilliant with words that her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, refused to meet her during their lifetimes for fear of being overshadowed.

Was Jane Boleyn, aka Viscountess Rochford, a villain or a victim? One thing is certain: no other woman in the 16th century was as closely associated with as many dramatic events…

Of all the splendid performances in the movie ‘Elizabeth’ (1998), Fanny Ardant’s brief, but wickedly sexy portrayal of Mary of Guise is amongst my very favorites. In real life too, this French vixen may not have been as legendary as Elizabeth, but she was a feminist power house in her own right.

One of Frida’s most potent weapons was her style. The more she was suffering, the more elaborate and regal she would dress. And so, you could often find Frida laid up in bed in a spectacular headdress and extravagant jewelry, looking like a surrealist vision and a folkloric Mexican queen.

You may not think of Frida Kahlo as a typical gardener – can you imagine her in rubber boots? – but together with her beloved Diego she turned the garden of their ‘Casa Azul’ into a luscious paradise of locally sourced flora.

Frida didn’t just accept her ‘masculine’ look, she exaggerated and cultivated it! In one famous family photo, a young Frida wears a three-piece menswear suit with so much ‘swagger’ that one thing becomes clear: at just 17 years old, Frida already knew how fashion can transform you into a living work of art.

Of all the vibrant colors Frida used in her paintings, blue conveyed her deepest emotions. “Cobalt blue is electricity and purity. It’s love,” the Mexican painter wrote in her journal.

As a child, polio crippled Frida’s right leg; as a teen, she was injured horrifically in a traffic accident. After that, Frida’s health would continue to deteriorate, causing her unbearable pain and forcing her to wear corsets for the rest of her life.

On October 18th Marlies Dekkers and her FEMININE/FEMINIST movement showed her signature collection and the latest collection inspired by the great Edith Head, during a distinctive Burlesque fashion show in downtown Los Angeles.

Some people call her the most important figure in the history of Hollywood costume design, to others she is the style maven who showed millions of women how to dress for success. But to me, Edith Head will always be the mistress of transformation. In the words of one of her star friends: “If Cinderella had Edith Head, she’d never have needed a Fairy Godmother.”

I’ll admit it, I’m a bit of an app-addict. With my phone being an extension of myself, the apps on it make me feel like I’ve got the world at my fingertips: from the weather to the stars (tip: try SkyView, it’s a hand-held planetarium!) to those hard-to-get Charlotte Olympia heels.

All my work as a feminist designer is inspired by muses. Powerful female icons from past and present. Although women have been marginalised for centuries, archetypes of female power have always been there. Through my designs, I bring them to you. To help us shape the world of modern day feminism.

Once upon a time, goddess Athena outsmarted Poseidon, god of the sea, and had the most desirable city of Ancient Greece named after her. Visiting this powerhouse of female energy turned out to be an epic journey…

Op 25 september 2015 zullen honderden ambitieuze zakenvrouwen aanwezig zijn bij het Marie Claire @Work Lifestyle Experience event.

Who run the world? GIRLS! To me, Dafne Schippers is a symbol of true female power.

Miranda is much more than my right hand. She has been making my (design) dreams come true for over 15 years. But what does she think of me?

“I want to create a whole new technology – one that is aimed at helping humanity at all levels regardless of geography or ethnicity or age or gender”. Maak kennis met Elizabeth Holmes.

Mark Zuckerbergs missie om miskramen te de-stigmatiseren door openlijk erover te praten heeft ons aan het denken gezet; Hoe vaak zien wij mannen die openlijk vrouwen steunen? Dat was zeker niet moeilijk te vinden en wij hebben zelfs een aantal perfecte voorbeelden!

Je weet waarschijnlijk wel dat ik een trotse feministe ben. Ik geloof in gelijke rechten voor mannen en vrouwen.

I love women who give convention the middle finger, especially when they do so in a creative, elegant way. Meet one of my heroes, Indian director-writer-producer Mira Nair.

This Wednesday the world celebrates Women’s Day. The theme this year: ‘Be bold for change’. I couldn’t agree more. Let’s do it!

Yes, Indian Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi is ridiculously sexy, but it’s her sass that makes me love her. That, and her awesome recipe for a vegetarian curry.

This Wonder Woman wears a sari, rides a ferocious tiger, and is a rape survivor. The message: there is no excuse for sexual violence. Ever.

To show or not to show, that’s the question when it comes to belly buttons. While Taylor Swift vowed to never (ever, ever!) show hers, Indian women feel very different about it.

I’ve told you before about my fascination with the leading ladies of today’s hit series. Now let me introduce you to my latest crush, Gothic sex goddess Vanessa Ives.

Can you be a feminist fashionista? Karl Lagerfeld certainly seemed to think so when he sent his models on the runway for Chanel’s spring summer collections.

Success never comes easy. There are down, and when you are lucky, many more ups. For me, following my dreams and trying build my brand never came easy. It wasn’t only the talent that brought me where I am today, but my dedication, focus and believe in myself.

A long-overdue correction in gender equality is at our doorsteps. A tipping-point in the history of women rests in our hands. This is our moment….

Writer, director, and feminist Lena Dunham was in town for her book tour. I have been a big Lena fan for quite some time, even before she was the well-known lady she is today.

In 2009 Anastacia and I had our first rendez-vous. I never expected we would meet up again 5 year later and have a personal talk about modern day feminism.

What’s currently on my nightstand? This shouldn’t come as a surprise; it’s a nasty gal! The book #Girlboss is the latest achievement of power house Sophia Amoruso.

Some women can inspire me in such a way that you can maybe even call it a little crush. Want to know which ladies have this effect on me? Follow my #WomanCrushWednesdays on Twitter.

Olivia, Carrie, Lagertha and Maya, all main characters in todays hit series and also the reason why I have lately spend all my weekends in front of the TV. But what is it about these leading ladies of todays hit series which makes them so popular.