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The Five Fearless Women in Pearls

It seems everyone is reading Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s controversial book, Lean In. By the sheernumber of people responding to it, both women and men alike, it seems destined to change theconversation f rom what women can’t do to what they can. But anyone who thinks women have to act likemen to get ahead misses the point.

Here are the f ive women who are f earless in living their lives: On their own terms and yet, are beautif ul andcomf ortably f eminine wearing their PEARLS.

1. Angelina Jolie

If there is any lingering doubt that Angelina is f earless, it ’s now gone f orever when she stunned the worldwith her announcement recently in a New York Times op-ed article that she quietly underwent a preventivedouble mastectomy. A sex symbol to many, the world stood in awe of her brave move and willingness toshare her story.

Now hailed as an inspiration to other women, Angelina writes, “Life comes with many challenges. The onesthat should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of.”

2. Nicole Kidman

In every incarnation, onscreen or of f , Nicole Kidman has been nothing less than f earless (if you have anydoubt on this, see her in Paperboy). “Nicole always does a high-wire act without a net,” Baz Luhrmann, thedirector of Moulin Rouge and Australia, once said, “and even if she sometimes f alls, this is what makes hercompelling—as an artist and as a person.”

The actress sums it up, “I am going to make failures .I am going to make successes. And I’m going to live mylife.”

3. Carolina Herrera

We all should take our cue f rom Carolina Herrera, the Venezuelan aristocrat turned f ashion designerknown as the First Lady of Fashion. Encouraged in the beginning by Diane Vreeland, she now is ahousehold name and at 74, has a career that many could only dream of . Herrera sports always a chic andelegant, yet surprisingly f unctional ensemble — pearl clip earrings, white crisp long-sleeved shirt,sometimes worn with an opera- length pearl necklace, with a big patent belt. Very Carolina.

It is not at all surprising given that this designer has built a 32 year-old business based on those principlesand a sense of classic style that has def ied f earlessly a trend-obsessed industry. With her businessturning over a billion dollars a year, she is right on being f earless.

4. Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek, is a Mexican-American Oscar-nominated actress, f ilm director (Frida), beauty entrepreneur(Nuance), and humanitarian. She is married to multi-billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault, the CEO of Kering(f ormerly PPR), the luxury group that owns Gucci and Bottega Venetta among others. Salma has broughtthat same passion to her work as a human rights activist. She’s supported organizations that give aids tobattered women and children.

Salma Haye k d azzle d in Mikimo to p e arls at the Ind e p e nd e nt Sp irit Award s lunche o n in Be ve rly Hil ls e arly 2013.

Her f earless and most def ining moment came when she encountered a starving baby of a stranger in aUNICEF goodwill mission in Af rica. She didn’t think twice about nursing him as the news cameras rolled.

5. Michelle Obama

The Harvard grad and f ormer corporate attorney (and husband Barack Obama’s boss) actively uses herplatf orm as f irst lady to f ight childhood obesity and promote healthier eating and lif estyles. With Americansviewing Michelle Obama in a posit ive light, she’s more popular than her husband by f ar .

Always in her now signature pearls, she says, “I always say that women should wear whatever makes themfeel good about themselves. That’s what I always try to do.” One thing is f or sure, wearing pearls makes thef irst lady look and f eel good.

So what would you do if you were not afraid?