100 Women We Love

100 Women We Love 2011

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The 100 Women We Love – out artists, elected officials, business leaders, athletes, community activists – are role models for us all. Many are up-and-coming movers and shakers; some are at the zenith of their careers. Some of their achievements change our world and, just as importantly, others improve the world’s perception of out women. They all strive tirelessly to increase our visibility and continue our incredible progress toward equality and justice.

We proudly present the class of 2011, in random order, so each gets her well-deserved turn in the spotlight.

JASIKA NICOLE

Actress Jasika Nicole stars as Junior FBI Agent Astrid Farnsworth on Fox’s innovative sci-fi series Fringe, where her fictional areas of expertise include computer hacking, Latin and code-breaking. In real life, the Birmingham, AL native is just as multitalented: After studying theater, voice and dance in college, she used her skills in her debut feature film, the ballroom-dancing flick Take the Lead with Antonio Banderas; Law and Order: Criminal Intent; and other projects for TV, film and musical theater. A freelance illustrator as well as a performer, Nicole writes and draws an autobiographical comic entitled High Yella Magic, which she’s developing into a graphic novel. She contributed work to The Letter Q, a forthcoming book of prose, poems and artwork to reach out to LGBT teens. “By being visible and vocal, I hope to have as substantial an impact on the straight community as the queer one,” Nicole says. “As a queer woman of color, it would also be a considerable success to raise awareness in the black community, which has historically [had] negative views about queer folk…Celebrating our diversity can only strengthen our community.” –KL

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