I read with interest an article from my daughter’s Glamour magazine (February’s edition) referring to a compiled list of the most powerful women in our country relating to six groups ‘Fashion & Beauty’, ‘Entertainment & Media’,’Sport, Culture & Society’, ‘Science & Technology’, ‘Politics’ and ‘Business & Law’. Information was taken from news archives, music charts, best-seller lists, richlists, factoring in Google hits and column inches. A panel of judges were consulted including Piers Morgan, Amanda Platell, Emma Crosby, Jo Elvin and Marigay McKee.
I was interested in the results for the Sport, Culture and Society group:-
Fifth came Paula Radcliffe, the women’s world marathon record holder who will compete in her last Olympics in 2012 and who has become an ambassador for British Sport.
Fourth position went to Karen Brady, Sir Alan Sugar’s ‘new Margaret’ on The Apprentice. Karen is a non-executive director on the board of England’s 2018 bid and was the former boss of Birmingham City Football Club.
Third position was given to Dame Kelly Holmes, the double gold medal winning runner who retired in 2005. She is now President of Commonwealth Games England.
Second place went to JK Rowling, now the richest author in the world who came from humble beginnings as a single mother and who has become one of the most powerful women in book publishing.
And finally first place was awarded to Queen Elizabeth II, the Head of State, the Church, the Armed Forces and the Commonwealth. Her Majesty has been quoted as saying ‘The upward course of a nation’s history is due to the soundness of heart of its average men and women’. The judges declared her as Britain’s most famous and powerful woman who ‘never puts a foot wrong – a remarkable lady’.