Marie Curie has topped a list of the 50 most inspirational women of all time.
The Polish physicist and chemist, known for her pioneering research on radioactivity, was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the first person to win two Nobel Prizes.
Second on the list was Florence Nightingale, who was one of the founders of modern nursing. Following her was Anne Frank, who kept a diary of her life while in hiding during World War II and next were Emmeline Pankhurst and Queen Elizabeth II. J K Rowling just missed out on the top five, placing in sixth position.
The survey was conducted by Your Life and surveyed over 2,000 people.
Your Life campaign chair Edwina Dunn said:
“Marie Curie and Florence Nightingale deserve this accolade of being named the most inspirational women of all time. They are two brilliant icons whose determination, intelligence and altruism, led incredible scientific advances that changed the world. We want a new generation to be inspired to follow in their footsteps.”
Honesty was voted the most inspirational personal quality, followed by determination, empathy and then kindness.
Here is the top 50:
Marie Curie
Florence Nightingale
Anne Frank
Emmeline Pankhurst
Queen Elizabeth II
J K Rowling
Mother Theresa
Princess Diana
Margaret Thatcher
Jessica Ennis-Hill
Amelia Earhart
Joan of Arc
Judi Dench
Jane Austen
Michelle Obama
Queen Elizabeth I
Marie Stopes
Indira Gandhi
Rosa Parks
Theresa May
Kelly Holmes
Aung San Suu Kyi
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge
Oprah Winfrey
Ada Lovelace
Dawn French
Emma Watson
Serena Williams
Angelina Jolie
Hillary Clinton
Mary Berry
Billie Jean King
Aretha Franklin
Benazir Bhutto
Cleopatra
Karen Brady
Malala Yousafzai
Mary Quant
Maya Angelou
Marilyn Monroe
Katharine Hepburn
Billie Holiday
Debbie Harry
Venus Williams
Beyoncé
Carole King
Madonna
Bette Davis
Twiggy
Nigella Lawson
