“From the skyscrapers of Chicago to the open plains of the Prairie State, Illinois is famous for its rich diversity and Midwestern values.
So it should come as no surprise that the state’s most influential and inspiring women represent that same diversity, cultural richness and spirit of America’s heartland.
As the country commemorates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the legal right to vote, the USA TODAY Network is identifying 10 women from each of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, as Women of the Century.
The rules were simple: They had to have lived in the past 100 years and shown outstanding achievement in the areas of arts and literature, business, civil rights, education, entertainment, law, media, nonprofits and philanthropy, politics, science and medicine, or sports.
In Illinois, this was no small task. Illinois’ women are authors, politicians, megastars and starchitects. They are trailblazers, activists and leaders.”