24 Inspirational Women That Every Woman Over 60 Should Know About

Over the past few years, whilst building the Sixty and Me community, I have had the pleasure to meet and learn from some amazing, inspirational women. Their writing has made me think and their dedication to women’s issues has inspired me.

Some of these women are speakers and journalists. Others have written blogs, articles or books. While their interests are unique, they share the fabulous qualities of passion, drive and vision.

Each of these fascinating ladies has something to offer women of our generation. It is my honour to share with you how much they have impacted my own journey and I encourage you to get to know each of them.

Please take the time to connect with them on Facebook or Twitter. Visit their blogs and websites. Learn from them. Follow their shining example as they help us to make life after 60 everything that it can be.

Here Are 24 Inspirational Women That Every Woman Over 60 Should Know

Kerry Hannon – Great Jobs for Everyone 50+

Kerry is an expert on personal finance and careers for boomer women. Her best-selling books Great Jobs for Everyone 50+, Great Pajama Jobs: Your Complete Guide to Working from Home and Never Too Old to Get Rich: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Starting a Business Mid-Life totally inspired me.

I love her passion, compassion and practical, down-to-earth advice. If you’re looking for a job after 50, I encourage you to check her out.

Diana Nyad – Swimmer

I hesitate to highlight Diana Nyad as simply an “ordinary” inspirational older woman. After all, she did become somewhat of a celebrity. As a 64-year-old woman, she became the first person to swim the 110 miles from Cuba to Florida, without a shark cage. That in itself is an accomplishment after many years of trying and failing.

However what I admired most about her was her response to all the negative comments that followed her accomplishment. This included people questioning the veracity of her success. Her grace under pressure was quite remarkable. She is a great example of an older woman who challenged stereotypes and won, while responding to other people’s insecurity in a positive way. Her greatest accomplishment was her own belief in her accomplishments. That inspires me.

Barbara Hannah Grufferman – Best of Everything After 50

Barbara is the author of the fabulous books The Best of Everything after 50 and Love Your Age: The Small-Step Solution to a Better, Longer, Happier Life. She is a recognized expert on healthy and positive aging.

Barbara is a frequent contributor to Growing Bolder, Thrive Global, and AARP. Her video series on the AARP YouTube Channel features ideas for life in your 50s.

Prill Boyle – Defying Gravity

Prill is an author, speaker, writer and TV host. She has spent her career interviewing, writing about and promoting the achievements of hundreds of “ordinary” women who have done extraordinary things in their lives. Her book, Defying Gravity, celebrates late blooming women and has been a huge inspiration to me!

Joan MacDonald – Fitness Influencer and Wellness Advocate

Joan MacDonald is proof that it’s never too late to transform your life. At the age of 70, she decided to take control of her health, losing over 60 pounds, gaining muscle, and reversing health conditions like high blood pressure and kidney disease. Her journey, which she shares with millions on Instagram (@trainwithjoan), has inspired countless older women to embrace strength training and prioritize wellness. Now in her late 70s, Joan continues to challenge stereotypes about aging, proving that fitness is for every stage of life.

Ellen Dolgen – Menopause Mondays

Ellen is a writer, speaker and wellness advocate for women who are going through menopause. She is a fabulous Huffington Post blogger and encourages discussions on menopause, women’s health, and the modern woman’s life today.

She is dynamic and fun and empowers women with her weekly blog, Menopause Monday – named one of the “Best Menopause Blogs” by Healthline since 2012.

Nancy Collamer – My Lifestyle Career

Nancy Collamer is a career coach and blogger for Forbes and Next Avenue. She is also the author of “Second Act Careers.” Nancy is passionate about providing practical tips on how to make the transition to a new working lifestyle in your 50’s and beyond.

Gretchen Rubin – The Happiness Project

Gretchen is the author of several books, including Happiness Project, an account of the year she spent trying to unravel the mysteries of true happiness. She helps to prioritize things that create happiness in life – her writing definitely sparks new ideas!

Judith Boyd – Style Crone

Judith Boyd is a 70-year-old blogger whose site “Style Crone” celebrates her love for style and fashion in the lives of older women. She is all about creating a unique personal style and helping women over 60 to both adorn themselves and to express their inner-self and beauty. Follow her on Instagram!

Suzanne Braun Levine – Women in Second Adulthood

Suzanne is a legend in the women’s movement and now an inspiration to midlife women. She is a best-selling writer, editor and authority on issues facing women over 50. I love her book You Gotta Have Girlfriends, which covers the emotional and physical importance of having a trusted circle of women friends.

Lisa Copeland – Find a Quality Man

Lisa Copeland is a dynamic writer, blogger and dating coach for women over 50. With her book The Winning Dating Formula for Women over 50, she provides us mature women with the tools and confidence to understand the mindset of men. She teaches us how to create intimacy and achieve great dating experiences. Lisa has been blogging for Sixty and Me for a few years.

Karen Sands – The Everyday Futurist

Karen is a professional futurist, speaker, author and certified master coach. She identifies major trends that will affect a woman’s personal and professional life in the future. If you’re starting your own business, changing or reinventing your career, or transforming your organization, Karen can provide guidance!

Jane Fonda – Actress, Activist, and Fitness Icon

Jane Fonda is a force of nature. An Academy Award-winning actress, fitness pioneer, and lifelong activist, she has reinvented herself time and time again. She revolutionized home workouts in the 1980s with her best-selling exercise videos and continues to promote health and well-being for older women. Beyond fitness, Jane is an outspoken advocate for women’s rights, climate change action, and political reform. In recent years, she founded Fire Drill Fridays, a movement urging action against the climate crisis. Even in her 80s, she remains deeply engaged in activism, proving that passion and purpose never fade.

Ellen Pober Rittberg – Ellen

Award winning journalist and writer Ellen Pober Rittberg is an expert on grandparenting. She is author of a super helpful book called 35 Things Your Teen won’t tell you, so I Will. Her guidelines apply to grandkids as well. She is a go-to resource for understanding the role of a grandmother and how to build strong family relationships.

Susan Piver – Open Heart Project

Susan is a world-renowned meditation teacher and award-winning New York Times best-selling author. Her books are personal, and impactful. As a Buddhist teacher, she is the founder of the Open Heart Project which aims to teach anyone in the world how to meditate.

Her books include The Four Noble Truths of Love: Buddhist Wisdom for Modern Relationships, Start Here Now: An Open-Hearted Guide to the Path and Practice of Meditation and The Wisdom of a Broken Heart.

Alexia Parks – 10Traits

Alexia Parks is an intriguing woman who is an author and innovator. In her book Hardwired: 10 Major Traits of Women Hardwired by Evolution That Can Save The World, she explores how she feels women are “hardwired” to be leaders in today’s complex world and working with men in partnership.

Erica Jong – Best-Selling Author and Advocate for Women’s Empowerment

Erica Jong is a literary icon who revolutionized conversations about female sexuality and independence with her groundbreaking 1973 novel, Fear of Flying. The book became a cultural phenomenon, selling over 37 million copies. Now in her 80s, Jong continues to write, publish, and speak about the evolving roles of women in society. Her later works, including Fear of Dying and What Do Women Want?, explore themes of aging, relationships, and self-discovery, making her a powerful voice for women navigating midlife and beyond.

Carol Orsborn – The Wisdom Collection

Carol is an author and speaker who leads retreats for Boomers in the aging and healthcare communities. She has written over 30 books on quality of life, spirituality and aging with her latest being Older, Wiser, Fiercer: The Wisdom Collection. Here she explores the relationship between spirituality and aging and the search for meaning and purpose in later life.

Deb Haaland – First Native American Woman to Serve as U.S. Secretary of the Interior

Deb Haaland shattered glass ceilings in 2021 when she became the first Native American woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of the Interior, overseeing policies related to public lands, natural resources, and Indigenous affairs. 

A member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, Haaland has dedicated her career to advocating for Indigenous rights, environmental protection, and social justice. Before joining the Biden administration, she was one of the first Native American women elected to the U.S. Congress, representing New Mexico. Her leadership is a landmark achievement in American politics, ensuring that Indigenous voices are heard in critical discussions about land stewardship and climate policy.

Gloria Steinem – Feminist Icon and Human Rights Advocate

Gloria Steinem is one of the most influential voices in the modern feminist movement. As a journalist, activist, and co-founder of Ms. Magazine, she has spent decades fighting for gender equality, reproductive rights, and social justice. 

Her books, including Revolution from Within and My Life on the Road, offer profound insights into activism and personal growth. Even in her late 80s, Gloria remains a sought-after speaker and thought leader, using her platform to inspire the next generation of feminists. She embodies the power of persistence and the belief that change is always possible, no matter your age.

Margaret Atwood – Literary Legend and Feminist Thinker

Margaret Atwood’s writing has shaped cultural conversations about power, gender, and autonomy for decades. Best known for The Handmaid’s Tale, a dystopian novel that has become a symbol of resistance against oppression, Atwood has written more than 50 books, spanning fiction, poetry, and critical essays. 

Her ability to predict and analyze societal shifts has made her a leading voice in literature and feminism. Even in her 80s, she continues to write, lecture, and engage in social and political issues, proving that creativity and insight only deepen with age.

Kamala Harris – Trailblazing Vice President and Advocate for Women’s Rights

Kamala Harris made history in 2021 as the first female Vice President of the United States, as well as the first Black and South Asian woman to hold the position. 

A former attorney general of California and U.S. senator, Harris has long been a champion of women’s rights, racial justice, and criminal justice reform. Throughout her career, she has fought for equal pay, reproductive rights, and healthcare access for women. 

As Vice President, she continues to break barriers, inspiring women of all ages to pursue leadership roles and challenge systemic inequalities. Harris’ rise to one of the highest offices in the world is a testament to perseverance and the power of representation.

Forever Inspiring – A Tribute to two Inspirational Women

Sadly, two hugely inspirational women who make this list every year have passed away, but their legacies continue on. For those who knew or followed them, I am sure they enriched your life and inspired you, as they did for me.

Cindy Joseph – Boom by Cindy Joseph

Cindy was a truly beautiful woman, inside and out, and the passionate and proud leader of a movement she called the “Pro-Age Revolution.” Makeup artist turned super model, she cared passionately about older women celebrating positive aging.

Her Boom skin care and cosmetics line – the first pro-age line for women of every generation – is part of her legacy and the products are just amazing!

Evelyn Hannon – Journeywoman

Evelyn Hannon was a fascinating woman and a celebrated globetrotter and writer. She was the creator of Journeywoman, a website for women travellers of all ages, which continues to thrive. The advice and supportive community are still a go-to resource for me before I plan a trip.

A few years ago, I was able to sit down with Evelyn and discuss traveling and exploring new cultures on our Sixty and Me YouTube Channel. She was a true pioneer in female travel and helped many women follow in her footsteps.

Read more: Where Does Your Inspiration Come From?

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Which women inspire you? Are there any women that you would add to our list of inspirational women that every woman over 60 should know about? Please add your thoughts in the comments below.