Super Women of 2021 Super Quiz

German Chancellor Angela Merkel had remained at the top spot of Forbes Magazine’s The World’s Most Powerful Women list since 2006, except for 2010 when the former U.S First Lady Michelle Obama temporarily replaced her, including the last ten years in a row. That's a total of 14 years at the top of the list.

US Vice President Kamala Harris attended Howard University in Washington, DC, where she was part of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. We know this because Harris posed against colors inspired by her sorority for US Vogue's Feb. 2021 Edition. The informal picture was meant for the magazine's inner pages but found its way to the cover, much to Harris's team's dismay.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez famously wore a white gown with the message “tax the rich” in red to the 2021 New York Met Gala.

What were other slogans worn at the 2021 Met Gala?

New York Representative Carolyn B. Maloney came to the 2021 Met Gala draped in sashes stating “Equal Rights for Women.” American soccer player Megan Rapinoe carried a purse that reads “In Gay We Trust,” and Cara Delevingne wore a Dior vest, with “Peg the Patriarchy” printed in red.

Kathy Hochul, 62, will become New York's first female governor in its 233-year history. Hochul, a former Democratic congresswoman who has served as lieutenant governor since 2015, will take over from Andrew Cuomo, 63, until his third four-year term in office ends in December 2022. Cuomo announced his resignation as governor of New York on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, over allegations that he sexually harassed at least 11 women.

US Republicans have voted to oust a top lawmaker, Liz Cheney, from her leadership post as the GOP’s conference chair on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, over her criticism of former President Donald Trump. Cheney has held the third-ranking position in the House of Representatives since 2019.

Why was Cheney voted out?

Cheney has repeatedly condemned Trump over his unfounded claims the 2020 vote was stolen from him. She was one of 10 members of her party who voted with Democrats to impeach the then-president for incitement of insurrection after the January 6 Capitol Riots. The Republican-controlled Senate acquitted him. In an interview with NBC News shortly after the vote, Cheney called her removal "the opening salvo" in a fight "to bring back our party to substance and principles."

Nigerian-American economist and international development expert Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was appointed as Director-General of the World Trade Organization on Feb. 15, 2021. Her term began in March 2021. She is the first woman and the first African to hold the office.

Former Danish PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt is a member of the Facebook Oversight Board. Since ending her political career in 2015 and until 2019, she was the chief executive of the British international NGO Save the Children.

What’s new?

Facebook's Oversight Board, the independent body that reviews content moderation decisions made by the social media company, on May 5, 2021, upheld Facebook's Jan. 7 decision to "restrict" former President Trump's access to his Facebook and Instagram account. In its ruling, the Oversight Board found that Trump "severely violated Facebook’s Community Standards and Instagram’s Community Guidelines."

What will happen now?

According to the decision, "Facebook’s normal penalties include removing the violating content, imposing a time-bound period of suspension, or permanently disabling the page and account." Therefore, the Oversight Board has given Facebook six months to apply an appropriate "proportionate response that is consistent with the rules that are applied to other users of its platform."

Prof. Sarah Gilbert led the development of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.

Image: mattel.com

She is now a part of the medical Barbie collection, along with five other women working in laboratories around the world: US healthcare workers Amy O’Sullivan and Dr. Audrey Cruz, a Canadian doctor and campaigner Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, Brazilian biomedical researcher Dr. Jaqueline Goes de Jesus and Dr. Kirby White, an Australian medic who co-created a reusable gown for frontline staff.

Chloé Zhao became the first woman of color to win the best director at the 2021 Academy Awards. She is also the youngest woman to win the award and the second woman to receive it in Oscars history.

Who was the youngest person to win the best director at the Oscars?

The youngest director to receive the Oscar for best director was Damien Chazelle in 2017 for La La Land.

Who was the first Asian to win the best director?

The first Asian to win the best director at the Oscars was Ang Lee for 2005's Brokeback Mountain, making him the first person of color to win the award.

Who was the first woman to win the Oscar for best director?

Kathryn Bigelow is the first woman to have won the Academy Award for best director for 2009's The Hurt Locker.

Kim Kardashian just joined the billionaire club - Forbes reported Tuesday, April 7, 2021. The publication estimated that Kardashian, 40, "is now worth $1 billion, up from $780 million in October, thanks to two lucrative businesses - KKW and Skims - as well as cash from reality television and endorsement deals, and several smaller investments."

What’s Kanye west’s net worth?

Kardashian’s soon-to-be ex-husband Kanye West’s net worth was estimated by Forbes at $1.8 billion, mostly from deals on his Yeezy sneaker and fashion line.

What’s Kylie Jenner’s net worth?

According to the Forbes report, Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian's 23-year-old half-sister, lost her billionaire status, with a fortune estimated at around $700 million.

Conservatorship is a legal concept in the United States in which a judge appoints a guardian to manage the financial affairs or daily life of another. Like Britney Spears, who in recent years is trying to end her father's conservatorship.

Britney Spears's Conservatorship 2021 Facts

A New York Timed documentary, Framing Britney Spears, explored the star's conservatorship since 2008. Following its launch on Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, Bet Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker tweeted #FreeBritney. Miley Cyrus shouted: "We love Britney!" during her pre-Super Bowl performance on Sunday evening. On Sep. 29, 2021, a judge approved Spears's petition to suspend her father, Jamie Spears, as her conservator. Watch Framing Britney Spears. 

Mattel is releasing a Naomi Osaka Barbie doll in time for the 2021 Olympics. The doll features clothing inspired by the Nike tennis outfit Osaka wore at the 2020 Australian Open.

More Barbie News Facts:

In 2021 Barbie announced a Maya Angelou doll and added a Ken doll who uses a wheelchair to their Fashionistas lineup.

Considered the greatest gymnast, Simone Biles is the most decorated American gymnast, with 31 Olympic and World Championship medals combined, including three individual gold medals in the 2016 Olympics and a record seventh US national championship in June 2021.

Simone Biles 2020 Olympics News Facts

On Sunday, July 25, 2021, Simone Biles qualified first overall for the all-around qualifying competition at the Tokyo Olympics, despite going out of bounds during her floor routine at the end of a tumbling pass, stepping off the mat during vault, and needing extra steps to complete her beam dismount. On July 27, the 24-year-old Biles withdrew from the competition following one rotation after realizing she wasn’t in the suitable mental space to compete. “I didn’t want to go into any of the other events second-guessing myself,” Biles said. On Aug 3, Biles returned to the balance beam final to win the bronze medal, tying her with Shannon Miller for most Olympic medals by an American female gymnast with seven total.

Poet Amanda Gorman performed a poem on Sunday’s, Feb. 7, 2021, Super Bowl event, just moments before the coin toss between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs. Gorman appeared in a taped message that combined her reading with images of the people she dedicated her poem to, educator Trimaine Davis, nurse manager Suzie Dorner, and Marine veteran James Martin.

Ashleigh Barty was born in Australia.

Ash Barty Fact:

Barty is the second Australian WTA singles No. 1, after fellow Indigenous Australian player Evonne Goolagong Cawley, who won the Wimbledon singles title in 1971 and 1980.

Gal Gadot welcomed her third daughter with her husband, Yaron Varsano, in late June 2021. On June 30, she took to Instagram to announce the news.

Bonus Question: What did Gal Gadot name her three daughters?

Gadot and Varsano named their oldest daughter Alma (Hebrew for damsel), their middle child Maya, and their newborn Daniella.

Ana María "Anne" Hidalgo Aleu, 62, is the first woman to hold the office of the Mayor of Paris. A member of the Socialist Party, she was first elected in 2014.

What’s Anne Hidalgo’s plan?

On Sept 12, 2021, Anne Hidalgo announced a bid for the French presidency. Hidalgo has centered her campaign on “overcoming class prejudice” to win back voters who have marched for more “social justice” over the past two years, including the gilets jaunes (yellow vests). Hidalgo is running against current French President Emmanuel Macron and Right-wing extremist Marine Le Pen.

Where did Anne Hidalgo come from?

At age two, Hidalgo arrived in France from Andalucia with her Spanish parents, who fled Franco’s dictatorship.

Meng Wanzhou is the deputy chair of the board and chief financial officer (CFO) of telecom giant and China's largest privately held company, Huawei, founded by her father, Ren Zhengfei.

Meng Wanzhou News Fact

Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada in December 2018. She was kept under house arrest in Vancouver. Wanzhou is the subject of an extradition request made by the United States on charges of trade secrets theft related to possible violations of trade sanctions on Iran, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. As a Canadian judge heard final arguments about sending the Huawei executive to the United States, China stepped up the pressure. On Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2021, a Chinese court rejected a Canadian citizen's appeal for a death sentence in a drug case that was increased after Wanzhou's arrest. On Wednesday, Aug. 8, a Chinese court sentenced a Canadian entrepreneur to 11 years in prison on spy charges. On Sept. 24, 2021, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor had been released from detention in China after 1,019 days, shortly after Canadian authorities released Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou from house arrest.

Jean Smart became a staple of elite TV in the past few years, with Emmy nominated roles on “Fargo,” “Watchmen,” and “Mare of Easttown.” HBO’s Hacks earned her her first Emmy win in 12 years in 2021.

What were Jean Smart’s previous Emmy wins?

Jean Smart won two Emmys for her guest role as Frasier’s love interest on Frasier in 2000 and 2001. She won the supporting actress in a comedy award in 2008 for the sitcom “Samantha Who?”.

Olivia Colman won the best actress Oscar in 2019 for her portrayal of Queen Anne in The Favourite. She also portrayed Queen Elizabeth in 2012’s Hyde Park on Hudson, which won her a Best Supporting Actress trophy at the British Independent Film Awards. She finally took the Emmy in 2021 for her lead role as Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown.

Frances McDormand won best actress for her performance in “Nomadland” at the 2021 Oscars — her third such win. She also picked the best picture award for “Nomadland” as a producer.

For which pictures was she previously awarded?

Frances McDormand previously won the best actress Academy Awards for "Fargo" in 1997 and "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" in 2018.