To celebrate International Women’s Day today, we want to uphold the achievements of local women and the impact they have had not just on this city but the world.
Across these pages, we’ve pictured some of the women from across The News’ patch who have done extraordinary things – from executing engineering genius to securing victory on sport’s biggest stage.
The theme of International Women’s Day 2021 is #ChooseToChallenge. You can learn more about the civil awareness day and its aims here.
A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron
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13. Nicola Duffett
Portsmouth-born actor Nicola Duffett is known for her roles as Debbie Bates on EastEnders and Cat MacKenzie on Family Affairs. She was a key character in the latter show between 1998 and 2005. Photo: Ben A. Pruchnie
14. Amanda Holden
Actor and media personality Amanda Holden was born in nearby Bishops Waltham. She was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for her title role in the musical stage show Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2004, and has since presented a string of TV hit shows including This Morning. She has appeared as a judge on Britain's Got Talent in 2007. Photo: John Phillips
15. Kim Woodburn
Born in Eastney, Kim Woodburn is best known for co-hosting the Channel 4 series How Clean is Your House? alongside Aggie MacKenzie. Kim also came third in the 19th series of Celebrity Big Brother - finishing in third place - and was the runner-up of the 2009 series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Photo: Ian Hargreaves
16. Painting of Hertha Ayrton, the scientist and inventor, by Mme. Darmesteter (Phoebe Sarah) Hertha Ayrton, née Marks (28 April 1854 in Portsea - 23 August 1923) was an English engineer, mathematician and inventor.
Hertha Ayrton was an engineer, mathematician and inventor. She was born in Portsea, Portsmouth on April, 28 1854 and died in Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex on August 26, 1923. Her research in vortices in water and air led to the invention of the Ayrton fan, which was used in the trenches of the First World War to get rid of gas and poison. She was also closely involved with the fight for women's suffrage. Here, Hertha Ayrton has been painted by Mme. Darmesteter. Photo: Hertha Ayrton