The BBC has revealed its list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2022 with a long list of women from the APAC region included in 2022.
The annual BBC 100 Women list celebrates the achievements of women internationally, from grassroots volunteers to global leaders.
The announcement of the list kicks off BBC’s 100 Women 2022 season – focusing on women’s experiences around the world with a week of special interviews, documentaries, features and digital content across the BBC’s UK and international TV and radio services, BBC iPlayer, and online.
BBC 100 Women 2022 – from the APAC region include:
- Australian artist, Sally Scales, who this year was appointed to the group working with the Australian government ahead of a referendum known as ‘Voice to Parliament’ – a historic consultation which, if successful, would see indigenous people permanently represented in parliamentary processes.
- Australian sexual consent activist, Chanel Contos, the founder of a movement dubbed ‘Teach Us Consent’ that lobbies for holistic consent and sexuality education.
- Japanese climate campaigner, Kimiko Hirata, a fierce opponent of coal power who has spent nearly half her life fighting to wean Japan off its dependence on fossil fuels, and the first Japanese woman to win the Goldman Environmental Prize.
- South Korean producer, Mie Kyung (Miky) Lee, a driving force behind K-pop’s global success and architect of the music festival KCON. She is also an executive producer of Parasite, the first foreign-language film to win an Oscar for best picture.
- South Korean political reformer, Park Ji-hyun, who anonymously helped bust one of South Korea’s biggest online sex-crime rings, known as the Nth rooms. This year she went public with her experience and went into politics, reaching out to young female voters.
- Thai rap artist, Milli (real name Danupha Khanatheerakul, uses controversial lyrics to address issues such as unrealistic beauty standards and sexual consent. She raps in multiple languages and dialects, also incorporating slang from Thailand’s transgender community.
- Indonesian activist, Velmariri Bambari, who has been fighting for victims of sexual violence in Central Sulawesi. She has persuaded members of the local council to break with customary law and not impose fines on survivors of sexual abuse.
- Aye Nyein Thu, Myanmar. A doctor and a front-line volunteer in crisis areas in Myanmar
- Sirisha Bandla, India, an Aeronautical engineer
- Priyanka Chopra Jonas, India. Actress and producer
- Sanjida Islam Choya, a student in Bangladesh which has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world, but Sanjida Islam Choya is trying to change that.
- Sandya Eknaligoda, Sri Lanka, Human rights activist
- Sneha Jawale, India. Social worker
- Kadri Keung, Hong Kong, Fashion designer
- Pakistan Judge Ayesha Malik
- Geetanjali Shree, India. An author who made history this year when she became the first Hindi writer to win the International Booker Prize
- Zhou Xiaoxuan, China. Feminist activist and the face of China’s MeToo movement
- Cheng Yen, Taiwan. Buddhist philanthropist
Other notable names on the BBC 100 Women list include global music phenomenon Billie Eilish, actress and disability activist Selma Blair, and ‘West Side Story’ Hollywood icon Rita Moreno.
This year marks the BBC 100 Women’s tenth season, as well as the 90th anniversary of the BBC World Service and the centenary of the BBC. As such, the theme for 100 Women 2022 is progress – and the season will take the opportunity to look back at what’s changed over the past decade, as well as highlight the inspiring women who have made a difference.
“Women have been at the heart of conflict around the world in 2022 which will be reflected in this year’s nominees – from those bravely demanding change in Iran, to the female face of resistance in Ukraine and Russia,” the BBC said in a release.
“It’s wonderful to see this year’s list of 100 Women, and to be celebrating its tenth season,” said Tim Davie, BBC Director-General of the BBC.
“The women on this year’s list are all remarkable in what they have achieved and contributed to their communities and society, and I am proud that the BBC continues to do vital work by shining a spotlight on them and sharing their stories around the world through our first-class journalism and storytelling.”
Liliane Landor, Senior Controller of BBC News International Services and Director of BBC World Service, added: “In the tenth year of 100 Women, it is brilliant to see how the annual season has gone from strength to strength. I remember our launch and very first intake of 100 Women – little did we know how much the project would grow.
“I’m delighted to see the women featured on this year’s list. They, like all the women before them, have contributed to our world in incredible ways, and we celebrate this. This is about increasing visibility and giving recognition where it’s due.”
“With this year also being the 90th anniversary of BBC World Service, I am glad that 100 Women continues our commitment to reporting and telling the stories of people’s lives from all over the world.”
BBC 100 Women 2022 Full List (in no particular order):
1. Billie Eilish, US
Singer-songwriter
2. Ona Carbonell, Spain
Artistic swimmer
3. Geraldina Guerra, Ecuador
Femicide activist
4. Sandy Cabrera Arteaga, Honduras
Reproductive rights advocate
5. Sandya Eknaligoda, Sri Lanka
Human rights activist
6. Kimiko Hirata, Japan
Climate campaigner
7. Jane Rigby, US
Astronomer and astrophysicist
8. Chanel Contos, Australia
Sexual consent activist
9. Salima Rhadia Mukansanga, Rwanda
Referee
10. Marie Christina Kolo, Madagascar
Climate entrepreneur
11. Milli, Thailand
Rap artist
12. Naja Lyberth, Greenland
Psychologist
13. Ibijoke Faborode, Nigeria
Co-founder of ElectHER
14. Judy Kihumba, Kenya
Sign language interpreter
15. Nathalie Becquart, Vatican
Nun
16. Heidi Crowter, UK
Disability campaigner
17. Priyanka Chopra Jonas, India
Actress and producer
18. Selma Blair, US
Actress
19. Rita Moreno, Puerto Rico/US
Actress
20. Geetanjali Shree, India
Author
21. Alice Pataxó, Brazil
Indigenous activist
22. Simone Tebet, Brazil
Member of the Brazilian Federal Senate
23. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, Nigeria
Law professor
24. Sneha Jawale, India
Social worker and burns survivor
25. Ursula von der Leyen, Germany
President of the European Commission
26. Kisanet Tedros, Eritrea
Educational entrepreneur
27. Alla Pugacheva, Russia
Musician
28. Mia Mottley, Barbados
Prime Minister of Barbados
29. Dilek Gürsoy, Germany
Heart surgeon
30. Esraa Warda, Algeria/US
Dancer
31. Naomi Long, Northern Ireland
Politician
32. Olena Zelenska, Ukraine
First Lady of Ukraine
33. Ons Jabeur, Tunisia
Tennis player
34. Sofía Heinonen, Argentina
Environmentalist
35. Nigar Marf, Iraq
Nurse
36. Velmariri Bambari, Indonesia
Activist
37. Monica Simpson, US
Reproductive rights campaigner
38. Velia Vidal, Colombia
Writer
39. María Fernanda Castro Maya, Mexico
Disability activist
40. Yuliia Sachuk, Ukraine
Disability leader
41. Reema Juffali, Saudi Arabia
Racing driver
42. Mie Kyung (Miky) Lee, South Korea
Producer
43. Aye Nyein Thu, Myanmar
Medical doctor
44. Sirisha Bandla, India
Aeronautical engineer
45. Oleksandra Matviichuk, Ukraine
Human rights lawyer
46. Eva Copa, Bolivia
Politician
47. Erika Hilton, Brazil
Politician
48. Ceci Flores, Mexico
Activist
49. Suvada Selimović, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Peace campaigner
50. Judith Heumann, US
Disability rights advocate
51. Cheng Yen, Taiwan
Buddhist nun
52. Maryna Viazovska, Ukraine
Mathematician
53. Sally Scales, Australia
Artist
54. Wegahta Gebreyohannes Abera, Tigray, Ethiopia
Humanitarian aid worker
55. Ayesha Malik, Pakistan
Judge
56. Yulimar Rojas, Venezuela
Athlete
57. Kristina Berdynskykh, Ukraine
Journalist
58. Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, Ghana
Author
59.Tamana Zaryab Paryani, Afghanistan
Activist
60. Zhou Xiaoxuan, China
Feminist activist
61. Maeen Al-Obaidi, Yemen
Lawyer
62. Alexandra Skochilenko, Russia
Artist
63. Fatima Amiri, Afghanistan
Student
64. Sanjida Islam Choya, Bangladesh
Student
65. Iryna Kondratova, Ukraine
Paediatrician
66. Tarana Burke, US
Activist
67. Samrawit Fikru, Ethiopia
Tech Entrepreneur
68. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, UK
Charity worker
69. Monica Musonda, Zambia
Businesswoman
70.Yana Zinkevych, Ukraine
Politician and frontline medical volunteer
71. Zahra Joya, Afghanistan
Journalist
72. Lina Abu Akleh, Palestinian Territories
Human rights campaigner
73. Hadizatou Mani, Niger
Anti-slavery campaigner
74. Sepideh Qoliyan, Iran
Political campaigner
75. Narges Mohammadi, Iran
Human rights campaigner
76. Gohar Eshghi – Iran
Civil activist
77. Efrat Tilma, Israel
Volunteer
78. Gehad Hamdy, Egypt
Humanitarian and dentist
79. Park Ji-hyun, South Korea
Political reformer
80. Taisia Bekbulatova, Russia
Journalist
81. Sarah Chan, South Sudan
NBA scouter
82. Erika Liriano, Dominican Republic
Cocoa entrepreneur
83. Woman cutting her hair
Protester
84. Layli, Iran
Protester
85. Roya Piraei, Iran
Activist
86.Victoria Baptiste, US
Nurse and vaccine educator
87.Laura McAllister, Wales
Professor and former footballer
88. Moud Goba, UK
LGBTQI+ activist
89. Asonele Kotu, South Africa
Tech entrepreneur
90. Yuliia Paievska, Ukraine
Paramedic
91. Zara Mohammadi, Iran
Educator
92. Dima Aktaa, Syria
Runner
93. Ifeoma Ozoma, US
Public policy and tech specialist
94. Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, Iran
Actress
95. Elnaz Rekabi, Iran
Climber
96. Roza Salih, Scotland
Politician
97. Ainura Sagyn, Kyrgyzstan
Computer engineer
98. Jebina Yasmin Islam, UK
Campaigner
99. Kadri Keung, Hong Kong
Fashion designer
100. Niloufar Bayani, Iran
Ecologist
