A Power Trio Lost

This past week we lost three great women.  It struck me that these three women, all with an amazing legacy, made their mark on our world in such different ways.

Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau was an American socialite, fashion designer, and style icon. She founded Lilly Pulitzer, Inc., which produces clothing and other such wares featuring bright, colorful, floral prints. As the brand is popular with high society, she was called the "Queen of Prep".   In the course of working at the juice stand, she started using the fruit from her husband's citrus groves, Lilly found that squeezing juice made a mess of her clothes. Seeking to camouflage the juice stains, she designed a sleeveless shift dress made of bright, colorful printed cotton. She found that customers loved her dress, so she produced more in order to sell them at her juice stand. Eventually, she was selling more dresses than juice, and decided to focus on designing and selling what had become known as her "Lillys".

Margaret Thatcher, "the Iron Lady" was a British politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990. She was the longest-serving British Prime Minister of the 20th century and is the only woman to have held the office.  Thatcher has been credited with England's huge economic recovery in the 80's, where she brought the country back from high unemployment and poverty.  "Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the highroad to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction." -Margaret Thatcher

 

Annette Funicello was an American actress and singer. Beginning her professional career as a child performer at the age of twelve, Funicello rose to prominence as one of the most popular "Mouseketeers" on the original Mickey Mouse Club. As a teenager, she transitioned to a successful career as a singer as well as establishing herself as a film actress,during the mid-1960s.  In 1993, she opened the Annette Funicello Fund for Neurological Disorders at the California Community Foundation after announcing that she had been suffering from Multiple Sclerosis for years.

 

Three great women, each doing what they love and leaving their mark on our world.  Food for thought on this Wednesday....How can I use the things I love to leave my mark on those around me?