Our presenters talk about the women that inspire them
Tuesday 8th March is International Women's Day
Last updated 2nd Mar 2022
All over the world, people are celebrating the incredible women that they know and admire as part of International Women's Day. On Hits Radio we're exclusively playing female artists, past and present, to highlight this special day.
Some of our presenters have got involved and told us about the women that inspire them:
Fleur East
Fleur talks about how her Mum is so inspirational, because of her positive attitude and strength.
Gemma Atkinson
Gemma explains why she isn't just inspired by one woman in particular, but all women. She say's this is because "Sometimes it's tough for women...some of us are raising families, running businesses, keeping a home ticking over, keeping our partners happy. So to all the Mums, Sisters, Aunties, Nanas. I think you're all incredible!"
Sheree Murphy
Sheree's particularly inspired by her mum, because "she's the strongest woman I know". She also said "she's loving, she's kind, she's loyal, she's forgiving. She's everything that you would want"
Hattie Pearson
Hattie said that she's particularly inspired by Jessica Ennis-Hill. It's because "she's strong, she's powerful and she is fierce". Hattie went on to say how much of an amazing role model Jessica was to young women.
Jennie Longdon
Jennie's inspiration is her Mum, because "she's always believed in me, she's always trusted me"
Take a look at some of the women who have written the biggest number one hits:
RAYE
RAYE left her record label in 2021 and since then has released music independently, which has included her Number 1 hit 'Escapism'. If that wasn't enough, the singer one a BRIT Award in 2024 for her song in the Song of the Year category, as well as winning five other awards, making BRIT history, for the most awards won in any one year.
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue has been in the music industry since the 80s, but she's still releasing very successful songs to this day, including her 2023 hit 'Padam Padam'. Although she's had several Number 1s over the years, it was her chart-topper 'Slow' in 2003, which was the first Number 1 she wrote.
P!NK
Having enjoyed two very successful decades in the music business, P!NK has written many of her songs including 'Just Like a Pill', and 'So What' which both went to Number 1 in the UK.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is a force to be reckoned with. She's released 10 studio albums with seven of them going to Number 1 in the UK. She's also re-recorded and re-released four of her albums, all of which went to Number 1 again.
She's also had plenty of Top 10 singles too that she's written, including her Number 1 hit 'Look What You Made Me Do'.
Beyoncé
Beyoncé has had several Number 1s that she has co-written, including 'Crazy in Love', 'Déjà Vu', 'Beautiful Liar' and of course her fantastic collab with Lady Gaga, 'Telephone'. Most recently, Beyoncé has had another Number 1 with her country hit 'Texas Hold 'Em'.
Ariana Grande
With plenty of hits under her belt, it's no surprise that Ariana has penned a number of them, including Number 1 hits like ''Thank u, next', '7 Rings' and 'Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored'.
She also co-wrote her 2014 hit with Iggy Azalea, 'Problem'.
Katy Perry
Katy Perry's massive breakthrough song 'I Kissed A Girl' was the first Number 1 written by the pop star. She followed that success with more Number 1s she'd written including 'California Gurls', 'Part of Me', 'Roar', and her collaboration with Calvin Harris, Big Sean and Pharrell Williams, 'Feels'.
Adele
Adele is a prolific songwriter, having written or co-written nearly all of the songs on her four Number 1 albums. 'Someone like You', 'Hello' and 'Easy on Me' are the three Number 1 singles she's written.
Becky Hill
Becky Hill has co-written many of her releases. However, it was her debut hit with Oliver Heldens 'Gecko (Overdrive)' which reached the top spot first in 2014.
Ella Henderson
Going from X Factor contestant to pop star in her own right, Ella Henderson has had hits like 'Glow', 'Yours', and 'This Is Real', but it was her single 'Ghost' that she co-wrote which reached the top spot in the UK.
Olivia Rodrigo
The 21-year-old pop star has had a Number 1 album around the world and three Number 1 hits in the UK in 2021, 'Drivers License', 'Good 4 U' and 'Vampire'.
The singer wrote, or co-wrote every song on her debut album 'Sour'.
Little Mix
Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and former member Jesy Nelson truly made their mark when they wrote and released 'Shout Out to My Ex'. Not only did the female anthem get to Number 1, it also won Best British Single at the BRITs in 2017.
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga has written so many songs, including her debut hit which reached Number 1, 'Just Dance,' followed by 'Poker Face,' 'Bad Romance', and her massive collab with Bradley Cooper, 'Shallow'.
Camila Cabello
After leaving Fifth Harmony, Camila Cabello had some big success with her Number 1 hits 'Havana', and 'Señorita', both of which she wrote.
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish wrote or co-wrote every song on her two Number 1 albums, 'When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?' (2019) and 'Happier Than Ever' (2021), she also had chart-topping success with the James Bond theme 'No Time to Die' in 2020.
Dua Lipa
In 2019, Dua Lipa and Calvin Harris picked up a BRIT Award for their massive anthem 'One Kiss'. The song was written by both Dua and Calvin along with Jessie Reyez and reached Number 1 around the world.
In 2023, she also had a Number 1 with a song she co-wrote for the Barbie film with Mark Ronson, called 'Dance The Night'.
Jess Glynne
Jess Glynne sprung to fame on Clean Bandit's hit 'Rather Be', but she's also had an amazing solo career with three Number 1 singles, all co-written by her, 'Hold My Hand,' 'Don't Be So Hard on Yourself' and 'I'll Be There'.
Charli XCX
She's written for a lot of successful artists, but Charli XCX has also had success with a song she wrote with Patrik Berger and Linus Eklöw. Released by Icona Pop and featuring Charli, 'I Love It' reached Number 1 in the UK in 2012.
Ella Eyre
Despite being known for featuring on a number of songs including, Rudimental's Number 1 'Waiting All Night' and Sigala's 'Came Here for Love', Ella Eyre is also a songwriter.
Ella co-wrote Sigma's 2014 hit 'Changing' featuring Paloma Faith along with a team of songwriters.
Ava Max
Ava Max burst onto the music scene back in 2018 with her huge hit 'Sweet but Psycho'. The song was written by Ava and featured on her debut album 'Heaven & Hell' released in 2020.
Gayle
Gayle, real name Taylor Gayle Rutherford, had huge success with her debut song 'ABCDEFU', which she wrote. The song was a Number 1 hit around the world including the UK.
Cheryl
After Girls Aloud split, Cheryl went on to release several hits including five Number 1 singles, two of which she co-wrote, 'I Don't Care' and 'Crazy Stupid Love'.
Now read:
26 chart-topping songs written by women
The best TV shows to binge that have a strong female lead