Can we talk about how it’s suddenly the middle of 2025? One minute we were screaming “Happy New Year!” and setting our new year resolutions , and the next, we’re halfway through, wondering where the time went.
The first half of the year was a warm-up. And if you need a shot of inspiration to absolutely crush the next six months, look no further. All across the globe, African women have been rewriting rules, breaking records, and securing bags so big they need their own security detail. They’re not just taking a seat at the table; they’re building their own damn tables.
These are the queens whose 2025 moves are reminding us all that it’s never too late to go after exactly what you want.
1. Tems: The Global Icon Who Owns the Stage—And the Company
At this point, Tems’ global domination is just a fact of life. But in 2025, she leveled up. Not only did she become the first African artist to headline the FIFA Club World Cup final, but she also quietly secured a minority stake in a Major League Soccer (MLS) club, San Diego FC, proving she’s just as much a boss off-stage as she is on it.
Tems’ historic performance as the first African to headline the FIFA Club World Cup final and her business venture remind us that you don’t have to choose between creativity and ownership—you can do both. Her story teaches us that African women belong on the biggest global stages, both artistically and economically.
Your Second-Half Takeaway: Your talent can take you far, but your boldness will take you further. Own your gift, and then own your power.
2. Abigail Kwartekaa Quartey: Boxing for a Legacy
In a sport that told her she didn’t belong, Abigail Quartey threw fists and rewrote the rules. She became Ghana’s first female world boxing champion and the first woman to travel the world as a member of the West African nation’s national team.
Abigail has proven that power and femininity are not are allies, not opppsites.
Your Second-Half Takeaway: Let them underestimate you. Let them laugh. And then, let your success be the knockout punch they never saw coming.
3. Amara Nwuneli: The 17-Year-Old Genius Saving the Planet
What were you doing at 17? While most of us were figuring out teenage drama, Amara Nwuneli was busy becoming the first Nigerian to be named Africa’s winner of the prestigious Earth Prize.
The Earth Prize is basically the Nobel for young environmental changemakers. Amara won for her incredible initiative focusing on sustainable solutions for waste management. At 17, she’s actively building a greener, better future. Your age is not a barrier to your impact. Look at the problems around you not as obstacles, but as opportunities to create meaningful change.
Your Second-Half Takeaway: Start where you are, use what you have. Passion and purpose have no age limit.
4. Tshego Gaelae: Beauty, Brains, and the Boldness to Dream
When Tshego Gaelae was crowned Mrs. World 2025, she became the first Black woman to win the title. But Tshego isn’t only walking runways, she’s walking the talk by championing mental health, women’s education, and self-love beyond the glitter and glam.
Your Second-Half Takeaway: Your beauty is political. Show up in full color, full volume, and full truth because every part of who you are deserves to be seen and celebrated.
5. Alma Asinobi: The Trailblazer Urging Us To Be Braver
If audacity had a face, it would look a lot like Alma Asinobi. The dynamic travel content creator set her sights on a massive goal: a Guinness World Record attempt for the fastest time to visit every continent. Though her journey came to an unsuccessful conclusion at the end of March, she succeeded in calling attention to the issue she aimed to highlight through the trip: just how hard it is to travel with a Nigerian passport.
Your Second-Half Takeaway: Chase audacious goals—even if no one’s done it before. Especially if no one’s done it before.
6. Nora Awolowo: The Filmmaker Shattering Ceilings
In the male-dominated world of film production, the technical awards have long been a boys’ club. But this year, someone came through and unapologetically crashed the party. When the 2025 AMVCA nominations dropped, Nora Awolowo’s name appeared in the Best Cinematography category for ‘Red Circle’, her first feature film, making her the first Nigerian woman ever to be nominated.
Red Circle has carved out a unique space in Nollywood’s box office history, and so has the woman whose vision helped bring it to life. Nora Awolowo, who was just 24 when the film went into production, is officially the youngest Nigerian cinematographer and producer to lead a film past the ₦100 million mark locally. It’s a remarkable feat, particularly for an original, non-franchise title without the backing of a major studio.
Cinematography is the heartbeat of a film. It’s the eye, the vision, the mood. For years, it’s been a space where women have been systematically excluded. Nora’s nomination was a seismic shift. It was a statement that our gaze, our perspective, and our technical skill are not only valid but also excellent.
Your Second-Half Takeaway: Be the first. Walk into the room where no one looks like you and dare to be the best. Nora’s journey is a masterclass in challenging the status quo. What industry, role, or conversation are you ready to disrupt? Your presence alone can be the revolution.
7. Tobi Amusan: The Track Star With An Incredible Comeback
You simply can’t keep an icon down, and Tobi Amusan is living proof. After a year-long absence that had the world watching, Nigeria and Africa’s fastest woman has made a spectacular comeback to the World Athletics top 100, silencing any and all doubts with a series of breathtaking performances. Clocking a blistering 12.24s at the Paris Diamond League—her fastest time since she shattered the world record in 2022.
With this unstoppable form, she has rightfully reclaimed her title as Nigeria’s highest-ranked female athlete and surged back into the top 10 for her event. Now, all eyes are on her symbolic return to Hayward Field—the very track where she made history—for an electrifying showdown at the prestigious Prefontaine Classic against a stacked field. Tobi is on a mission to remind the world exactly why she holds the crown.
Your Second-Half Takeaway: Tobi teaches us that a dip in the rankings—or a slow start to the year—is simply the setup for a legendary comeback. Don’t waste energy explaining your slump or dwelling on the fall. Instead, put in the work behind the scenes and let your results scream for you when you return. The world will have no choice but to watch you reclaim your throne.
8. Kirsty Coventry: Changing the Rules of the Game
In June 2025, Olympic legend, Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry made global headlines by becoming the first African and first woman elected as President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As a decorated swimmer with seven Olympic medals, her appointment was long overdue.
Your Second-Half Takeaway: Don’t be afraid to step into leadership roles where no one looks like you. Trailblazing is about being brave enough to go first.
9.Dr. Esperance Luvindao: The Youngest Voice in Global Health
At just 31, Dr. Esperance Luvindao became Namibia’s Minister of Health in March 2025 and went on to chair Committee A at the 78th World Health Assembly. A poet, doctor, and public health advocate, she is living proof that being young and being in charge are not mutually exclusive.
Your Second-Half Takeaway: Your age is not a limitation—it’s a perspective. Speak up, lead boldly, and let your ideas stretch further than your years.
10. Apiwe Nxusani‑Mawela: Brewing a New Legacy
By launching Tolokazi Brewery and expanding Brewsters Academy in 2025, Apiwe is South Africa’s first Black female brewery owner and now a pipeline builder for other Black women entering science and entrepreneurship.
Second-halfway takeaway: You don’t have to be the only one forever. Build doors. Leave maps. Pour into others as you rise.
These ten women offer more than applause-worthy moments. They offer a blueprint. Their stories are reminders that African women are no longer asking to be included; they’re building, leading, and dominating in spaces where they were once invisible.
So what do we take into the rest of the year?
Let 2025’s second half be about unapologetic ambition. About answering your own “what ifs” with action. About creating paths where none exist, and then turning around to leave the door open for others.
