It’s International Women’s Day today (March 8), which is a day to acknowledge the women in your life along with their achievements.
To celebrate, we have rounded up five of East Lancashire’s most inspirational women.
From television stars to women who are campaigning for change, these women are fantastic role models for the younger generation.
Here are five of East Lancashire’s most inspirational women:
AJ Odudu
Blackburn presenter, AJ Odudu, has carved out a successful career as a presenter despite having “no connections” to the industry beforehand.
AJ, who grew up in Devonport Road, is best known for her TV roles – notably co-hosting ITV’s Big Brother reboot and for her turn as a Strictly Come Dancing contestant.
AJ has previously been a contestant on a string of challenge shows including Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, Cooking With The Stars and The Chase.
She burst to fame in 2021 after representing Blackburn on the hit BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing.
AJ, 34, made it to the final of the 2021 but had to pull out due to an ankle injury.
In the past she has opened up about the “geographical challenges” that faced her in the industry.
Speaking to a magazine she said: “The obstacle was geographical: how do I get from this corner of Blackburn to London, and then stay there? And that was just step one.”
Nicola Nuttall
Barrowford mum, Nicola, has spent years campaigning and raising awareness of the rare and aggressive brain cancer that took her daughter’s life in 2023.
Her daughter Laura had been battling a highly invasive type of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme since 2018
She campaigned with Laura while she was alive and continued the endeavours since she has died.
At the start of the year she, and other campaigners, handed over a petition, with more than 80,000 signatures, to Downing Street calling for increased government funding into brain tumour research.
"It broke her heart every time she heard of another young person diagnosed with a brain tumour.
"It’s eight months since we lost our beautiful daughter, we miss her every minute of every day but I know campaigning for change is what she wanted us to do, so that in the future, other families don’t have to endure the same devastation that we have.”
Earlier this week, Nicola announced that she is set to release a memoir called ‘The Stars Will Still Be There: What My Daughter Taught Me About Love, Life and Loss’.
It is described as “a raw but beautifully written account of helping her daughter make the most of her remaining time, while dealing with her own pain along with that of her younger daughter, Gracie, and husband, Mark.”
It is set to be released in May.
Keira Walsh
Former Haslingden High School pupil, Keira Walsh, helped the Lionesses to victory in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022.
She is a true role model to young girls hoping to make it as professional female footballers.
Keira, who played her junior football at Pearson Juniors before being signed by Blackburn Rovers, even received the official Player of the Match award, presented by Visa, for her display in the final.
Keira completed her youth training at Blackburn Rovers and was picked up by Manchester City in 2014.
Her former P.E teacher, Nikki Berko, said she was an “outstanding all round sportswoman” from the moment she arrived at the school.
She said: “Her footballing ability was unrivalled. She is the best young female footballer I have ever seen and I used to say to her mum she would 100 per cent make it as a professional.
“We are immensely proud of her and the Lionesses and she serves as a role model for all young people to look up to.
“She rightly takes pride of place as our most famous ‘Wall of Famer’.
“She’s an absolute inspiration to all young girls up and down the country, but someone our girls can absolutely relate to.
“Hopefully this is just the start for the women’s game and it now gets the support it’s always deserved!”
Recently, she was named as an ambassador for Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Edenfield.
She currently plays for European giants FC Barcelona, and was part of the England team that reached the 2023 Women's FIFA World Cup final, where England suffered a heart-breaking loss to Spain.
Julie Hesmondhalgh
Former Coronation Street star, Julie, has not forgotten her Lancashire roots and often gets involved in projects in her home town, Accrington.
In December she created a writing trail competition in the town.
Local primary and secondary school children were invited to take part in a creative writing competition, to write a story or poem up to 300-words, on the theme of winter or Christmas.
Julie played Suzanne Sercombe in Mr Bates vs The Post Office which aired this year.
After it aired, she used her platform to bring about some change in the postal industry.
Julie has also backed campaigns to save the NHS.
The 54-year-old is a patron of charity, Maundy Relief, often turning up to the charity’s events and promoting fundraisers on their behalf.
Julie, known for playing Hayley Cropper in more than 1,400 episodes of Coronation Street, is also the author of ‘An Actor’s Alphabet, which was published in 2022.
She has also appeared in other small screen hit series, including Happy Valley, Broadchurch and Doctor Who.
Lisa Goodwin-Allen
Lisa, chef patron of Northcote in Langho, is the perfect role model for anyone starting out life in the hospitality and catering industry.
She has carved out an award-winning career in fine dining, rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s finest chefs and even bagging some television appearances.
Lisa has been leading the kitchen at Northcote since the age of 23 and has appeared as a judge on BBC cooking competition, The Great British Menu, in the past.
She helped Northcote retain its Michelin star, for the 28th year, in the 2024 Michelin Guide.
Lisa, and the team at Northcote, have also done their fair share for charity.
At this year’s Obsession festival, where 18 chefs come to Northcote to cook up a feast, £110,000 was raised for three charities.
What is International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day takes place on March 8 each year.
The day “marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity” and recognises “the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women”, the International Women’s Day website explains.
It also aims to educate people and raise awareness about women's equality and fundraise for women-focussed charities.
The IWD website explains: “Everyone, everywhere can play a part in helping forge gender equality.
“From a wide range of IWD campaigns, events, rallies, lobbying, and performances - to festivals, parties, fun runs, and celebrations - all IWD activity is valid.
“That's what makes IWD so inclusive.
“So make IWD your day and do what you can, in your own way, to help forge a gender equal world.”
Each year, International Women’s Day has its own theme and this year’s is Inspire Inclusion.
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