2008 has been a rough year for us all. And while this was truly a brilliant year for women in the realms of politics, the drunken/drugged trials and tribulations of many a rehabbed star seemed to overshadow their achievements.
If you were to sit around reading the Daily Mail and Perez Hilton this year, you would think this was a truly dark year for women. I mean, surely, all we did in 2008 was snort coke, chug vodka, check ourselves into Promises and jump from one ridiculously pathetic relationship to the next.
But, the following 10 women were there through it all. Being brilliant. Being sane. Reminding us that idiotic celebrities do not run the world, and that we are capable of so much more.
Behold BitchBuzz’s list of the top ten women of 2008!
10. Diablo Cody
While her massive vocabulary can get a bit irritating, Diablo Cody is, simply put, the shit. From winning a BAFTA and an Oscar for writing the brilliant film Juno, to creating the new TV show The United States of Tara, Diablo Cody has kicked ass this year. How refreshing it was to see a tattooed, highly intelligent women in the spotlight for once. And for writing, no less.
But, aside from being a brilliant screenwriter, Cody also has brilliant views on feminism, women in film, and sex. (And she’s on Twitter.) As she first entered the spotlight for her memoir and blog about her experiences stripping for a year, it seemed the public couldn’t quite wrap their minds around why or how an educated young woman would willingly take her clothes off for kicks...and then go on to win an Oscar.
She’s brilliant, she’s hilarious, and she’s incredibly sex positive. Clearly, a conundrum to the masses, and it only makes us love her more.
9. Amy Sedaris
Her book I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence has been out for a while, but seems to only have grown in popularity this year. Appearing on David Letterman, Martha Stewart, The Today Show, the 10th Anniversary cover of Bust Magazine and pretty much anything else you can imagine – Amy is in demand. Universally loved by feminists, crafters and funny gals everywhere, Amy has is the perfect example of how you can be a hilarious, kick-ass, independent woman and be domestic at the same time. Would we all have embraced cupcakes and playing hostess as much if it weren’t for Amy? (Or even Microsoft Office for that matter?)
Plus, Amy recently appeared on Chelsea Lately (we fucking LOVE Chelsea Handler) and showed Chelsea with a felt vagina, made and designed by Todd Oldham, how to properly cleanse your vag.
8. Britney Spears
Before you start moaning that we’ve included a woman that lost custody of her kids this year, hear us out. Britney Spears has done a complete 180 this year. Sure, she still might be healing, sure, she’s still on the road to complete recovery – but think about all she’s done this year. She’s gone from dating some douche paparazzo and being rushed to and from the hospital, to winning moon men, performing in Europe and making music and music videos that have caused us all to let out a sigh of relief that, “The old Britney is (almost) back.”
She’s set the example for other celebrities to get their shit together, and to learn what is important in life. She’s opened up. She’s grown up. And it looks like she’s woken up. While she’s not exactly perfect – she’s still inspiring.
7. Sarah Haskins
What would we have done this year without Sarah Haskins's “Target Women” series on Current.com? She’s been there throughout 2008, cleverly and hilariously making fun of all those ridiculous things that are supposed to be “for women”. Haskins has undoubtedly become the number one crush of the feminist online community, and even Bust Magazine have finally gotten round to noticing how awesome she is.
Our favourite Target Women of 2008 would have to be the yogurt edition, as nothing pisses us off more than YOGURTS that are targeted at women. You know. Because we have such problems with our digestive track. “It’s that ‘I had a Masters and then I got Married’ look!”
6. Amy Poehler
While she may always have seemed like the Christ Kattan to Tina Fey’s Will Ferrell, Amy has most certainly made a name for herself in 2008. Baby Mama may not have been the most brilliant film ever, but Poehler was hilarious in it. This year she received an Emmy nomination, entered her seventh season of SNL, has been signed on to star in a new show from the producers of The Office and, started a new webcast for feisty young girls, and – oh that’s right - had a baby.
During election season she kicked-ass, despite being heavily pregnant, playing Hillary Clinton, Katie Couric and performed a brilliant rap about Sarah and Todd Palin, sitting just a few feet away from Sarah Palin. If you didn’t know who Amy Poehler was at the start of 2008, you most certainly do now. Amy, we love you!
5. Rachel Maddow
Between her geeked out specs, chic haircut, razor sharp wit and too-cool-for-school sneakers – Rachel Maddow is fucking awesome. Her news program, The Rachel Maddow Show, has taken MSNBC and cable news by storm, and has even beat out Larry King Live, and on some days, Countdown with Keith Oblermann in ratings this year.
Her snarky, no BS way of reporting the news is incredibly refreshing, plus, she knows her shit, and is completely unafraid to take on any guest, no matter who they are. And if that wasn’t enough, Rachel describes by saying that she “shakes a mean cocktail, drives a bright red pickup, hates Coldplay, loves arguing with conservatives, spends a lot of money on AMTRAK tickets, and dresses like a first-grader.” And. AND! She’s on Twitter! *swoon*
4. Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen has been a favourite of ours for years, but this year, in the midst of all the crappy election coverage and insane celebrities losing their shit, Ellen Degeneres and her talk show were a breath of fresh air. Not only is she always funny and always incredibly generous – she’s been a voice for the LGBT community and stood up for what she believes in.
Ellen married Portia De Rossi this summer, has questioned John McCain to his face why he doesn’t approve of gay marriage, and has been incredibly vocal about being against Prop 8.
She’s political without ever been ranty or angry, she’s fun, she’s hilarious, and she’s been an absolute ray of dancing sunshine throughout the rough year that was 2008. Plus, who else could convince Britney Spears to go Christmas caroling in a hoop skirt through the streets of LA?
3. Tina Fey
This was the year of Tina Fey, was it not? From Baby Mama, to 30 Rock, to her mighty return as the Governor Sarah Palin during the election on SNL, Tina Fey took the world by storm. And we loved every minute of it. While Vanity Fair may want you to believe that the only reason she’s so successful is because she lost 30lbs – if she weren’t a complete and total comic genius, the entire world wouldn’t be singing her praises. This year has been huge for Fey, as even despite her mighty SNL comeback, she also won numerous Emmys and other awards for her writing and performances for 30 Rock.
The world is at Tina Fey’s feet. And while some of them may be trying to just look up her skirt, the rest of us truly admire her. Admire her for her wit, for her mad writing skillz, and simply because she’s so fucking cool.
2. Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama is a woman for so many of us to look up to. A graduate of Princeton, and Harvard Law, Michelle actually met Barack Obama at a corporate law firm they were both working at, where she was actually his superior! A trophy wife that simply hands her kids over to the nanny, she is not. (Plus, she blogs!)
Despite the fact that her husband is the next President of the United States, Michelle has made a name for herself in her own right. Every interview she has remained calm and cool, as well as friendly and open, and it is because of how Michelle handled herself during the campaign that people were able to see how human and real the Obamas truly are.
As of today, she only has 21 days before she is officially the First Lady of the United States of America. Woooo!
1. Hillary Clinton
She may not have won the Presidential Election, and she may still be married to the Great Womanizer of the Oval Office, but Hillary Clinton had one hell of a year. Sarah Palin may have been closer to the White House than Hillary at the end of 2008 – but the difference is, is that Hillary Clinton had to work her ass off to get there. Hillary is the one that had to deal with the landslide of sexist and misogynist comments and attitudes at the beginning of the election, as she was the first woman to have ever gotten so far in a Presidential campaign.
When losing the democratic nomination, she was graceful, and gracious, and even if deep down inside she is still bitter as hell – you never would have been able to tell. Hillary spoke to her supporters, encouraging them to support Barack Obama – and we did.
We all cheered and applauded Obama’s decision to appoint Hillary Clinton as the next Secretary of State, making her the third woman in history to hold the office of the top diplomat for The United States.
She may not be a fashion icon. She may not be overly warm, friendly, or even the most charming woman in the world. But Hillary Clinton is one tough, fierce, hard-ass woman. And don’t ever forget, bitch is the new black.