The BBC has unveiled its annual list of the world’s most inspiring women.
The introduction to the list says that the “BBC 100 Women Project highlights women who have shown remarkable determination to drive change in a year marked by global upheaval.”
Alongside figures such as Nobel laureate Nadia Murad, actress Sharon Stone, Olympians Rebeca Andrade and Allyson Felix, singer Ray, artist Tracey Emin, climate activist Adenike Oladosu, and writer Cristina Rivera Garza, the list of nominees includes two women from Central Asia. They are:
Dilorom Yuldasheva (Uzbekistan)
@BBC| Dilorom Yuldosheva, Uzbekistan
A seamstress and entrepreneur, two years ago Dilorom Yuldasheva lost both legs in an accident. Undeterred, she pursued her dream of empowering young women in Uzbekistan to earn livelihoods and develop new skills.
Yuldasheva established a tailoring business after studying entrepreneurship and resource management. In a short time, she trained over 40 students, offering free classes as her business grew. She secured contracts to produce clothing for workers and schoolchildren, creating income opportunities for herself and dozens of other women.
Zhanylsynzat Turganbayeva (Kyrgyzstan)
@BBC| Zhanylsynzat Turganbaeva, Kyrgyzstan
Zhanylsynzat Turganbayeva is devoted to preserving and restoring Kyrgyz cultural heritage. She runs an ethnology museum in Bishkek, showcasing unique national artifacts.
Her charitable efforts focus on safeguarding Kyrgyz literature, including the epic Manas. This UNESCO-recognized work spans approximately 500,000 lines—20 times the length of Homer’s Odyssey—and recounts the story of a hero who unites 40 Kyrgyz tribes. Turganbayeva creates resources and opportunities for “manaschi,” the traditional performers of the epic.
These women exemplify courage and perseverance, inspiring others to bring positive change to their communities.
