From entertainment to sport, here are nine women whose remarkable career achievements have paved the way for others’ success
When women break barriers in their industries, they both inspire and empower other women to follow in their footsteps. In 2021, all eyes will be on Chloe Zhao, who is likely to become the first Asian woman to be nominated for a best director Oscar for her film Nomadland after garnering significant critical acclaim in 2020.
Here, we celebrate other examples of notable women from Asia who have risen the ranks to excel in their fields.
See also: Front & Female: Supermodel Maye Musk Meets Hong Kong's Accomplished Female Leaders
1. Going to space
Japanese surgeon Chiaki Mukai became the first Asian woman to rocket into space when she boarded the space shuttle Columbia in July 1994, the first of two orbital expeditions she would embark upon.
Jaxa, the Japanese National Space Agency, (or Nasda, as it was known then) chose Mukai to carry out physiological and medical experiments, such as bone and muscle metabolism and the ageing process, while in zero gravity.