So here's the plan. I've got three fascinating women who are all rather contemporary. I've said this before and I'll say it again, Women's history, like Black history and all history is forever being made and it pays, every now and again, to examine modern individuals who can teach us something about the things people are capable of that we don't often see. All three women today are celebrities to varying degrees but also pushed themselves to pursue higher education in one field or another. Without further ado, let's get started.
First up is one of the heirs to the Prada fortune, Miuccia Prada.
Noted as being worth around 4.2 billion dollars I'd never heard of Miuccia Prada before but apparently when one does research on celebrities with advanced degress she always comes up in the list somewhere. Born in 1949 in Milan Italy, Miuccia wasn't the most likely one to inherit the family's business. In fact, knowing that she was a member of the Italian Communist party makes you wonder if she'd be the black sheep of her family. Nevertheless it isn't like she merely dabbled in politics. Miuccia's area of focus is Political Science. One of the driest subjects possible nevertheless she loved the subject enough not only to study it but to excel at it, earning her doctorate degree in the subject. Her intelligence beyond that is clearly on display as she helped lead her family's company on its creative side for years, even going so far as to revitalize the brand with no serious fashion or business training while sticking her husband with the boring financial minutea.
Moving on let's switch over to the sciences. I think by now I've demonstrated there's no shortage of brilliant women in the hard sciences but like Heddy Lamaar, sometimes such women also go into acting where their knowledge allows them to add a little extra to the characters they play. One such actress is Mayim Bialik, better known as Amy Farrah Fowler on the Big Bang Theory.
Born in San Diego in 1975 Bialik actually began her career as a child actor in the 80's and starred on a show called Blossom between 1991-1995 but graduated high school in 1993. She was accepted to Yale and Harvard but told them both "no thanks" because she didn't want to deal with the East Coast or leave her parents at the time. Instead she studied at UCLA where she got her B.S. in neuroscience. Yes that's right, the actress who plays a Neurobiologist on Big Bang Theory actually has a degree in neuroscience. It doesn't get much more qualified than that.
(I hate linking to wikipedia but it's the only place with information on her really. She doesn't have a biography.com page yet.)
Now, if you thought Ms. Bialik was hitting hte nail on the head with the character she plays the final profile for today is going to blow your mind. I present to you one Pauley Perette!
My personal favorite on this list Pauley Perette is among other things an actress, activist, writer and business owner. Born in New Orleans (a fact she shares with her character she's best known for playing on NCIS; Abby Scuito) in 1969 she didn't start off wanting to act. Nevertheless, she did get that opportunity with her first big role starting in 1996 and would as noted, eventually star in the hit show NCIS as Forensic Scientist Abby Scuito.
Pauley Perette seems to inject a great deal of herself into her character including the number of charitable and humanitarian causes for which she advocates and the nearly absurd amount of energy. She was heavily involved in the campaign against prop 8 in California and has become a staunch advocate for the homeless even though in 2015, she was attacked by a homeless man who threatened to kill her and assaulted her. Demonstrating a level of bravery and compassion that is difficult to fathom she still believes the man who attacked her is a victim as well and continues her work in this area.
But her advocacy and good will aren't the only reasons she's on here. In fact they're relatively far removed. See Pauley Perette didn't start off wanting to act as I noted. She didn't want to play Abby originally. She wanted to BE Abby. Or someone similar. At first Ms. Perette was interested in a career in Criminology. As such, she earned a Masters degree in Forensic Science from Valdosta State College. So yes, just like her character she knows EXACTLY how to kill you and leave no evidence. Remember that. I kid I kid. It's all of this I think that helps her breathe so much life into her character. There's a richness and a life there that is wonderful to see and demonstrates once again that there is so much more to people and especially women, than we're often taught to see.
And that's the show folks! Wooooo. Pitching a triple header is no easy task but this project deserves it. I'd also like to remind everyone that I always learn more about the wonderful women I create profiles for than I post. Why? Because I want folks to go and discover things for themselves and if I gave you ALL the info you wouldn't do it. There's deep rich stuff here that I suggest you check out.
Tomorrow we stop with the contemporary and fire up the wayback machine once more. Not sure exactly where we're going just yet but I hope you'll strap in and journey forth with me. Until then!
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