Inspiring Women of Key West

March 16, 2018
Inspiring Women of Key West

March is Women’s History Month. It’s a month where we come together and highlight the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. What started out as a single day in March has evolved into a month long celebration where the accomplishments of women are recognized and praised nationwide.

If we give you a second, we bet you could think of a few women who have had a positive impact on America as a whole. If we give you a few more seconds, we bet you can make an even longer list of women who have had a positive impact in your personal life.

Check out a few of names that made our Inspiring Women of Key West list. These are some amazing people that are either from Key West or have lived on the island and have made a positive contribution to America.

 

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Wilhelmina Celeste Goehring Harvey

Wilhelmina Celeste Goehring Harvey was the first female mayor of Monroe County, Florida. The public face of the “Conch Republic” Harvey held many influential roles in Key West. She was the first female mayor, the first female commissioner and the first be elected Mayor Emeritus. Besides those accomplishments, Harvey served as the Conch Republic’s ambassador meeting with several presidents and foreign leaders. She even host The Queen of England at Dry Tortugas National Park. Read more about Wilhelmina Celeste Goehring Harvey at The Florida Women’s Hall of Fame.

 

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Judy Blume

We couldn’t create a list of inspiring women from Key West without including Judy Blume. Although she technically isn’t from our tropical island, she has called Key West Home for many years. Blume is an author best known for writing children’s and your adult fiction. Her books helped young girls during their transition from childhood to adolescence and on. Not only does she write inspiring books, she is involved in many advocate organizations like the National Coalition Against Censorship, The Key West Literary Seminar and is a co-founder of Books & Books @ The Studios of Key West.

 

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Suzie dePoo

While you may not recognize the name, you will certainly recognize her work. Suize dePoo was an eclectic artist known for her romantic style and unique use of materials. She was also the lead designer at Key West Hand Print Fabrics and worked closely with Lilly Pulitzer. Her colorful, island inspired prints were commissioned by Pulitzer and helped set the vibe for the Lilly Pulitzer brand we know and love today. Her work can be viewed at The Gallery on Greene and you can pick up a custom print designed exclusively for Key West Aloe on our website.

 

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Diana Nyad

While she’s not from Key West, her epic swim from Havana to Key West did bring national attention to the island. In 2013, this 64 year old swimmer broke records and fulfilled her lifelong dream of swimming, without a shark cage, 111 miles across the Florida Straits. She had already failed twice but was determined to finish the last swim strong. Nyad reminds us that we should never give up and that we are never too old to achieve our dreams. Check out this video from her historic 111-mile swim! 

These are just a few of the women from Key West that inspire us every day. Who inspires you? Let us know in the comments or join the conversation on  Facebook and Instagram. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more skin care tips & tricks.

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