History has not always been kind to women. For centuries, women have proved they are no less than men, but their nous and prowess have taken a back seat to the achievements of men. Women have done business with aplomb; explored with courage; revolted without fear and invented with acuity. They’ve always stood as tall as men, but history has still shortchanged them.

We are of course familiar with many braveheart women, but some still remain lodged unknown in the pages of history. For every Joan of Arc, there’s a Mongolian pirate queen; for every Rani Laxmi Bai, there’s an Indian warrior queen; for every Rosa Parks, there’s a Queen of the Underground Railroad.

On women’s day, we present you portraits of some badass females who, with their kickass tactics and kinetic energy, not only navigated the world on their own terms but shaped it as well. Nothing could faze them; nothing could freeze them. With forcefulness and fierceness, they kept marching forward and changing the world.