Latest news with #InspiringWomen
Hans India
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
Golden Girls of Bihar: Rugby glory sparked by dreams, grit and ASMITA League
Patna: The Patliputra Sports Complex ground was painted in celebration on Friday as Bihar's girls' rugby team scripted history, clinching a dominant 22-0 win over Odisha to bag the gold medal in the sport's debut at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025. Among the heroes of the day were three gritty young women - Anshu Kumari, Saloni Kumari and Alpana Kumari - who not only powered their side to victory but also embodied a larger narrative of resilience, empowerment and hope. For Bihar, this wasn't just another medal - it was a statement. A statement that dreams born in the narrow lanes of Supaul, Patna and Nalanda can shine bright on the national stage. A statement that the ASMITA women's League - a Khelo India initiative aimed at talent development and nurturing young girls through competition and incentive - is bearing fruit in powerful, transformative ways. Ten out of the 12 players in Bihar's gold-winning squad have come through the ranks of the ASMITA League (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action), a grassroots movement that has redefined the scope of women's sports in Bihar over the past three years. For many of these girls, rugby was once an unfamiliar sport - today, it is their identity. 'None of us had even heard of rugby just a few years ago. We had been in some other sports and various circumstances led us to rugby. And then the introduction of the ASMITA League brought the sport to our districts, our schools, our lives,' said the trio, moments after the win. 'The league gave us a platform, a purpose, and confidence. That's how this journey started.' Anshu, a Class 12 student whose father runs a modest sweet shop, burst onto the scene by winning a bronze at the U-14 nationals in Pune. Saloni, daughter of a street vendor, now proudly recalls captaining India's U-18 side at the Asian Rugby Championship in Malaysia. And Alpana - who overcame multiple injuries, including a fractured collarbone and a serious road accident - stood tall, showcasing why grit beats the odds. 'This gold is not just ours, it's for every girl who dares to dream beyond boundaries. It's for every parent who supported us, and every coach who believed in us,' they added, their eyes sparkling with pride. The Khelo India Youth Games, too, have become a pivotal launchpad for young athletes. For many like Anshu, Saloni and Alpana, a KIYG medal isn't just an achievement, it's a possible path to national camps, job opportunities and long-term recognition. 'We've seen seniors get government jobs after winning medals. That's the dream. And we're hopeful that this gold will take us closer to that goal,' said the girls, as they joined the celebrations for the boys' rugby team, who also defeated Odisha to claim gold later in the evening. On a historic day for Bihar rugby, amid cheers, tears, and high-fives, the message was loud and clear - this is just the beginning. With ASMITA laying the foundation and KIYG giving them a stage, Bihar's daughters are sprinting towards a future full of promise.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Anna Sui Gets a Barbie Doll Named After Her
Anna Sui will be getting her own Barbie doll named after her. In recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Heritage Month, Mattel Inc.'s Barbie will honor Sui with an Inspiring Women Barbie doll. The doll will be available for pre-sale on Mattel Shop and for $35, starting Thursday. More from WWD Anna Sui Exhibition Is Heading to the Phoenix Art Museum The Originals: How Anna Sui Became the Gen Z Fashion Whisperer Zooey Deschanel Goes Mod in 1960s-inspired Anna Sui Dress for 'Harold and the Purple Crayon' Los Angeles Premiere Barbie's Inspiring Women series pays tribute to courageous women who took risks, changed rules and paved the way for generations of girls to dream bigger than ever before. Sui began her fashion career as a student at Parsons School of Design in New York, and started designing clothes out of her New York apartment. In 1991, she introduced her first collection, which quickly gained a devoted, global following with its blend of rock 'n' roll and romanticism. She has been awarded the CFDA Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent and the CFDA Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award. The designer is a first-generation Chinese American born in Detroit, and joins other women in the Inspiring Women series such as Jane Goodall, Maya Angelou, Helen Keller, Eleanor Roosevelt, Billie Jean King, Ella Fitzgerald, Florence Nightingale, Susan B. Anthony, Amelia Earhart, Frida Kahlo, Rosa Parks and Sally Ride. Barbie worked closely with Sui to create a doll that reflects her likeness. Her star-print dress and chunky heeled boots take their cue from a look in Sui's 2007 collection. The jet-black jewelry are her personal signature pieces, and her sunglasses are from her spring 2025 collection. Her nails are painted bright green, Sui's favorite color, from the Anna Sui Cosmetics nail polish collection. The doll also includes a miniaturized perfume bottle of her Anna Sui Classic Eau de Toilette. 'Having a Barbie doll in my likeness inducted to the Barbie Inspiring Women series is such a meaningful and full-circle moment,' said Sui. 'I've been a Barbie fan since childhood, and dressing Barbie played a pivotal role in igniting my passion for fashion. I spent countless hours designing looks for my dolls with fabric scraps left over from my mom's sewing projects — it was creative outlet that encouraged me to follow my dreams. I know my younger self would be incredibly proud of how far I've come, and I hope my doll inspires fans to embrace curiosity, nurture their creativity and dream without limits,' she said. In further celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, the Barbie Dream Gap Project, a global mission dedicated to closing the gap by challenging gender stereotypes and helping undo the biases that hold girls back from reaching their full potential, will donate to APEX for Youth in partnership with Sui. Through programming focused on health and well-being, education and community engagement, their volunteers support and mentor students of all ages to build the next generation of tomorrow's change makers. Best of WWD A Look Back at Prince William and Kate Middleton's Royal Wedding Beyoncé's Tour Outfits: From 'Cowboy Carter' to 'Dangerously in Love' and More Photos Savannah James' Style Through the Years: LeBron James' Wife's Fashion Evolution [PHOTOS]
Buzz Feed
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Level Up Your Blerd Game With These 23 Products
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · A Blerd's journey to saving the universe is long, but at least there's Wi-Fi. 1. A Bessie Coleman Barbie doll that inspires imagination and honors the first Black and Native American female pilot *and* the first Black person to earn an international pilot's license. Celebrate the trailblazing aviator who soared to new heights, showing young dreamers that the sky's the limit! Amazon Promising reviews: "I've been fascinated with Bessie Coleman since childhood. My aunt was a pilot of cropper planes in Virginia. Bessie was her idol. The doll is absolutely beautiful. She's dressed to the nines and the facial and body structure are marvelous. Mattel outdid themselves with this one." — My Milz Get it from Amazon for $21.80. 2. Or a powerful Ida B. Wells doll that honors the fearless journalist and activist, teaching the next generation about courage, truth, and the fight for justice with every story they tell. Amazon Promising review:"Barbie's tribute to investigative journalist and civil rights leader Ida B. Wells is just my style — instead of long blonde hair, pink, and glitter, we have short cropped hair, a serious visage, and a sober black dress with collar and cuffs. She's perfect! I t's a good likeness of Ms. Wells, and she comes with a historically accurate dress and mini copy of the Memphis Free Speech, the newspaper she co-owned. I've kept my doll in a box, but from other people's photos, I know she's on a fully articulated curvy body. She's just gorgeous and is one of my favorites from the Inspiring Women line. A great gift for a collector or a child who loves history!" — Curlytoes Get it from Amazon for $24.95. 3. An R2D2 French press that's out of this world. Unleash your Jedi spirit and brew coffee with the best companion for your next adventure to a galaxy far, far away. Amazon Promising review: "I gifted this to my daughter this Christmas, and she loves it. It is adorable in person, and she enjoys using it. It's a great gift for the Star Wars fan in your life." — Ann Hill Get it from Amazon for $49.99. 4. A Black Panther game controller stand to keep your controller off the floor and in an easy-to-find location, so you don't have to spend an hour tearing apart your room searching for it. Rage Quitters / Etsy 5. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, a book about 100 Black women and the amazing things they've done in their lives, from Ava DuVernay to Ida B. Wells. This book is not only educational, it's incredibly inspiring. Amazon I have this book on my Kindle and absolutely love it! I think it's a must-read for everyone, not just kids. I learned so much more about some of the most phenomenal women. Also, the illustrations are absolutely brilliant! I will get a physical copy once I move! Promising review: "So inspiring. There are many women I never knew about who were incredibly outstanding. I love books, and I love learning. There was limited representation for girls who looked like me growing up, so I try to buy inspirational books about Black girls and women for my nieces and even myself. I also love that Afro-Latinas like Susana Baca were also added to this book as they are just as important to Black history as they are to Latin American history." — Janiesha Get it from Amazon for $12.49. 6. Or a Bookshop gift card so you can buy all the books you want while also supporting local bookstores. Bookshop First launched in 2020, Bookshop is an online book retailer that partners and donates a portion of their profits to local bookstores and the best part is you can pick the bookstore that receives the donation. They've raised over $30 million Bookshop for independent bookstores so far! I just ordered up a bunch of books from here, including The Maid and the Crocodile. They shipped fast and I was happy to support a Black-owned bookstore a couple of towns over. Plus they are offering 20% off some titles with the code BHM25. Pick up a giftcard from here, starting at $10. And check out their amazing Black History Month collection.) 7. A magical pair of Disney ears that celebrates the iconic Proud Family. Channel your inner Penny Proud and show the world your fashionista style and fun personality. World of ImaginEars is a small business based in Vista, California, that makes custom Mickey ears based on your favorite properties. Promising review: "If you've ever wondered why you'd pay over $60 for a pair of ears, it's all about the QUALITY. These ears are perfectly crafted, likely using high-end materials that make them feel premium. Honestly, the photos don't do them justice! I'm super excited to wear them for this year's '90s Night at Disneyland. A heads-up: It did take the full 4 weeks for them to arrive from the order date, so if you need them sooner, reach out to the seller for alternative shipping options. The only downside for me is that they are a bit top-heavy. I have a small head and a short haircut, so they don't have much to grip, which can make them slide a little (probably more of a personal issue). But despite that, they still look amazing. I'll definitely be returning to this shop for future purchases!" — C N Get it from World of ImaginEars on Etsy for $65. 8. A figurine of the new Captain America, Sam Wilson, who showed us that anyone with the heart, courage, and determination can rise to the mantle of a true hero. Promising review: "My son has 35 (12-inch) action figures. This is amongst the coolest. He has detachable wings that are very big and wide. Makes for great play. His detachable shield fits form in the hand so it doesn't fall around. Super well made and lots of fun. Perfect for any age, little or big kid into action figures. He has also survived the tub. He bends at the hips and legs so water drained right out." — Elynoon Get it from Amazon for $39.95. 9. Or a Captain America purse, perfect for adding a heroic touch to your everyday style while keeping your essentials shielded in true superhero fashion. Box Lunch Promising reviews: " Absolutely love this bag!! It's exactly what I wanted, and I can't wait to wear it at the Disney parks and (of course) to see Brave New World! I have a lot of Loungefly products, and this is definitely up there as one of my faves." — Sam2848 Get it from Box Lunch for $69.90 (also available in backpack form). 10. A Snorlax Google Home holder that'll be an amazing companion on your journey to be the very best. It is 3D-printed, making it durable, no matter how many times you've accidentally knocked it over. Straight Outta Prints is a small business specializing in 3D-printed goods. One of the best impulse buys I made this year. It's so cute, and the Google Home fits snuggly into the belly. Snorlax is one of my favorite Pokémon, so I am glad I got it. It comes in a variety of colors, including glow-in-the-dark. I did paint mine with acrylic paint to look exactly like Snorlax, but it was easy to paint. It is sturdy (trust me, I dropped it several times, and it didn't break) and lightweight. It also helps take up less desk space, which, if you've ever seen my desk, you'd understand why that's important to me. The seller was extremely helpful when I asked a ton of questions and it shipped very fast. A must-have for any Pokémon lover! 11. An adorable Totoro crystal puzzle that can sit on the corner of your desk and watch over you while you're working. I got this as a Christmas gift from a friend, and I absolutely love it. My Neighbor Totoro is one of my favorite comfort movies, so I love having it watch over me. I will admit it was a little difficult to put together, and I dropped it once, causing me to have to start over when I was soooo close to the end. But trust me, it was so worth it. It's tiny, so it can easily fit on top of my organizer on my desk. Plus, it is really cool to sit it on a light and watch it shine. Promising review: "As this was my first time building one of these 3D crystal puzzles, I had a bit of a tough time. Directions come in Japanese, but they show you what piece to use step by step, though you have to play around with it until it fits. After a while, I started to get the hang of it though. Definitely a fun little puzzle to go with my Totoro collection. FYI, the chest piece is kind of a tight fit, but it will go in, and it's not broken like one review says. That's how it is for the arm holding the umbrella." — Ghost Get it from Amazon for $18.20. 12. A Wakandan AfroTech hoodie that blends the futuristic vibes with the spirit of Wakanda Rookie ATL / Etsy Rookie ATL is a Black-owned business in Atlanta, Georgia. They boast that they make apparel for STEM, gamers, nerds, comic lovers, and other weirdos. They use their proceeds to help increase awareness of STEM education opportunities in minority neighborhoods. Get it from Rookie ATL on Etsy for $36.99 (available in unisex sizes S–5XL, youth sizes XS–XL, and six color combos). 13. A Planeteer baseball jersey so you can unleash your powers to solve one eco-crisis at a time. This jersey is fully customizable, allowing you to put whatever name and number you want on it to make it your own. RetroCityThreads RetroCityThreads is a custom jersey shop from Montgomery, Alabama. Their goal is to bring joy and nostalgia with their pop culture jerseys. Promising reviews: "Awesome product. You can tell there is pride in their work. Buy with confidence." — Maybell Get it from RetroCityThreads for $59.99 (available in youth sizes XS–XL, adult sizes S–4XL). 14. A print of Moss from The IT Crowd, because he might be the ultimate nerd, but he'll still put you in your place... after he finishes his milk of course. Pop Off Studio / Etsy Pop Off Studio is a small business based in the UK. Promising review:"This art print is amazing. I have it above my sink. I have wanted to get this piece for a while now, and finally, I am living in an apartment that can fit it. The quality is astoundingly good. If you are a fan of The IT Crowd, I highly recommend this item." — Lilly Tesla 15. Or a quirky pin of Moss reminding us to embrace our inner oddball — because being true to yourself, no matter how weird, is the ultimate coolness. BadgeBird / Etsy BadgeBird is a small business based in the UK. Promising review: "Just a perfect badge! Moss is one of my favorite TV show characters, and I had been searching for something of him to add to a jacket that I've covered in patches and badges; so pleased I came across this one! Looks great on my jacket." — Laura Get it from BadgeBird on Etsy for $4.62. 16. A heat-activated Skyrim mug, perfect for a Dragonborn to use before their next big adventure (and every morning in between). Just fill the cup up with a hot beverage and be graced with Ralof's face. Kayos Mugs / Etsy Kayos Mugs is an Istanbul, Turkey-based small business specializing in mug designs. Promising review: "My brother LOVED his birthday present. It's now his favorite cup! The image is clear, and the actual game text was used, which is an important detail! Well made and was neatly delivered in styrofoam to prevent damage! Very good. I will definitely buy from them again! Thank you!" — Jade Emmett 17. A Princess Tiana sweatshirt that will have you dancing under the stars in the bayou. Just don't kiss any frogs while wearing it. Box Lunch Promising review: " My favorite sweater. The colors are gorgeous, and there are so many flowers embroidered throughout the sleeves and front and back. I absolutely adore it. Worth the price." — Missy Mel Get it from Box Lunch for $59.90 (available in sizes XS–3XL). 18. A set of three bookmarks for anyone who just wants to be left alone so they can read their books. KLigg / Etsy KLigg is a Black-owned small business based in Alexandria, Virginia, founded by Kadeja Liggans. She illustrates all the artwork and is on a mission to empower Black women. Promising review: "I love my bookmarks! They are made with amazing quality, and the designs are GORGEOUS." — Jodie Bonhometre Get a pack of three from KLigg on Etsy for $10 (available in four sets). 19. This electrifying shirt of one of the best superhero cartoons in the early 2000s, Static Shock. Apparely My Feelings / Etsy ApparelyInMyFeeling is a Black-owned small business based in Miami, Florida. They make trendy, geeky-focused apparel. Get it from ApparelyInMyFeeling on Etsy for $18.66+ (available in unisex sizes S–5XL and four colors) 20. A Komani code magnetic sign that may not give you a shortcut through life but can give you a strong nostalgic feeling of the days when you could sit and play video games all day and not worry about adult responsibilities. Print Under Pressure / Etsy 21. A custom Funko of the Fifteenth Doctor, capturing the new era of time-travel with the charm and mystery that any whovian would be ecstatic to have with them on their next journey through time and space. 3 Friends Fine Crafts / Etsy 22. A Betty Boop apron honoring jazz singer Esther Jones, who inspired the original Betty Boop cartoon character. Smalling Wear is a Black-owned small business based in Kansas, that sells custom Afrocentric items. They started out by selling candles at farmer's markets and craft fairs before opening up an online store. 23. A stunning puzzle celebrating the beauty of Black women and nature, piece by piece. It comes together, honoring the elegance and grace of women and the world around them. Unified Pieces is a Black-owned puzzle company that celebrates creativity, diversity, and the joy of puzzling! They believe every puzzle should spark your imagination, pulling you into a world full of mystery and beauty. Promising review: "These puzzles are absolutely gorgeous and the quality is unmatched!! I'm obsessed!" —K.G. Check out more Black-centered content by exploring how BuzzFeed is celebrating Black History Month this year! Of course, the content doesn't end after February. Follow BuzzFeed's Cocoa Butter on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to keep up with our latest Black culture content year-round. BuzzFeed
