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The Caribbean is birthplace and home of some of the most influential women who are making indelible contributions to the social, cultural and political aspects of not just their countries, but the world at large.

Whether it is through sports, healthcare, politics or entertainment, Caribbean women continue to shatter the glass ceiling to make their mark on society.

As the world commemorates International Women’s Day, under the theme ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,’ Our Today has put together a list of some of the most influential Caribbean women today.

Mia Mottley

Mia Amor Mottley is Barbados’s 8th prime minister and has made history as the country’s first female leader. She is the country’s current prime minister.

Before becoming the country’s 8th prime minister, Mottley served as one of two Opposition senators between 1991 and 1994. She was also appointed minister of education, youth affairs and culture between 1994 to 2001.

Mottley also served as attorney general and deputy prime minister of Barbados between 2001 and 2008.

The 58-year-old is also an attorney.

Mottley was among Forbes’ 2023 list of the World’s Most Powerful Women.

Portia Simpson Miller

Portia Lucretia Simpson Miller, affectionately known as ‘Mama P’, served as the first female prime minister of Jamaica. Simpson Miller served as prime minister from March 2006 to September 2007 and from January 2012 to March 2016.

She was also the leader of the Peoples’ National Party from 2005 to 2017. Simpson Miller was also the leader of the Opposition from 2007 to 2012, and from 2016 to 2017.

During her years in politics, she also served as minister of labour, social security and sport, tourism and local government.

In 2012, she was ranked by Time magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.

Kamala Harris

Kamala Devi Harris is an American politician and attorney who is the daughter of Indian biologist Shyamala Gopalan, and a Jamaican academician Donald J Harris.

Harris serves as the 49th U.S. vice president under the current president, Joe Biden. Harris has made history as the first female vice president and the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history.

She is also the first African-American and Asian-American vice president.

Prior, Harris served as the attorney general of California from 2011 to 2017 and as a U.S. senator for California from 2017 to 2021.

Rihanna

Robyn Rihanna Fenty is well-known Barbadian singer, businesswoman and actress. Rihanna first gained recognition for her musical craft when she signed to Def Jam Recordings in 2005 and released her first two studio albums, Music of the Sun and Girl Like Me.

Today, Rihanna is one of the best selling artistes of all time.

Rihanna is the owner of the fashion brand Fenty under the luxury group LVMH, making her the first woman to create an original brand for LVMH and also the first woman of colour to lead an LVMH brand.

In 2023, Rihanna’s net worth was estimated at US$1.4 billion. She was also among Forbes’ 2023 list of the World’s Most Powerful Women.

Shericka Jackson

Jamaican sprinter Shericka Jackson is the fastest woman alive in the 200m and the second fastest in history for the event. She is the fifth fastest woman alive in the 100m.

The well-decorated athlete was in 2023 conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Technology Jamaica for her outstanding contribution to track and field.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

Jamaican track and field sprint icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has been referred to as one of the greatest female athletes of all time.

Fraser-Pryce has created a name for herself internationally as a two-time Olympic goal medallist and five-time World Champion.

The ‘Pocket Rocket’ is a two-time Olympic gold medallist in the 100m and a five-time World Champion. Fraser-Pryce also secured the Olympic silver medal in the 200m and World Championship gold.

To say that Fraser-Pryce has contributed to Jamaica’s sporting industry is an understatement, she has contributed to Jamaica being recognised across the world as a birthplace of legends.

In 2008, Fraser-Pryce was conferred with the Order of Distinction for her achievements in athletics. She was also honoured with a statue at the National Stadium in Kingston for her contribution to Jamaican athletics.

Dr Susan Collins

Dr Susan Collins is a Jamaican-American economist who served as the first African-American woman as CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston in 2022.

Prior to this, Collins served as the 16th provost and executive vice-president for academic affairs at the University of Michigan between 2020 and 2022.

Antonette Wemyss-Gorman

Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman is first female to reach the rank of commander in the Jamaica Defence Force (JCF). She is the current chief of staff of the JDF.

Prior to this, she served for 15 years aboard a ship in the Jamaica Coast Guard. She has received several awards for her service in the military, including the Order of Distinction, the Medal of Honour for Meritorious Service and General Service and the Military Commendation Medal.

Spice

Jamaican dancehall singer and entreprenuer Grace Latoya Hamilton, more popularly known as Spice, is one of the most influential females in the dancehall industry.

Lauded the queen of dancehall, the 41-year-old singer first gained recognition after performing at the annual dancehall festival Sting in 2000. Since then, she has blossomed into a fierce dancehall artiste and DJ due to her musical style and versatility.

Today, Spice has seen continued success in her musical career even being a Grammy-nominated artiste. Her studio-album 10 was nominated for Best Reggae Album at the 64th Grammy Awards in 2022.

In 2016, she was the first dancehall artiste to be nominated for Best Reggae Act at the MOBO Awards.

Terri-Karelle Reid

Dr Terri-Karelle Reid is a renowned media personality, event host and media communication practitioner.

She has become a Jamaican household name from being the former host of the popular television talent show, Digicel Rising Star. She also won the Miss Jamaica World title in 2005.

In 2023, Dr Terri-Karelle Reid was recognised in the Top 100 Under 40 Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD).