In celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March, Stylist  reveals what life is like for 30-year-old women around the world, from Britain to Bolivia

Kate Winslet, Lena Dunham, Hillary Clinton… all have graced the cover of Stylist over the years. But this week a new face joins the hall of fame – junior doctor Roshana Mehdian.
 
In a first for Stylist, reader and trauma and orthopaedic surgery registrar Roshana fronts the cover as part of Stylist’s celebrations of International Women’s Day (8 March), marked by a 12-page special on life at 30 for women around the world.
 
Following the announcement of more planned strikes by junior doctors next week, the 30-year-old medic explains why after six years of studying and five years of working in the NHS, she’s one of many voices taking a stand against controversial government proposals which many deem “unfair”.
 
“I’m speaking out because I don’t want to have any regrets,” she tells Stylist. “The government want to increase the number of doctors working at weekends but they have no new doctors or money to invest, so they either intend to work us for longer, or spread us thinner when we are already significantly understaffed. My job involves lots of personal sacrifices and when something needs saying, I believe I should say it.”

Life at 30

Roshana’s view of life is just one of 30 fascinating testimonies that make up an extraordinary global report on women’s lives at 30 years old. Coinciding with International Women’s Day, which this year aims to draw attention to parity, Roshana’s campaigning zeal sits alongside frank and often moving testimonies from Kosovo to Kenya, Norway to New Zealand.
 
The result of months of interviews, the report – which takes over the entire features section this week – includes rarely heard stories and heart-warming insights from women near and far, from a single mother earning £35 a year in Tanzania, to a Malaysian businesswoman who argues more women in power would mean "less bloodshed in the world".  Together, they paint an inspirational, emotional and uplifting picture of what life for women aged 30 really looks like. And what’s truly fascinating is that no matter where and how the women live, they share many of the same hopes, fears and defiant optimism as each other.
 
Stylist is out Wednesday 2 March
internationalwomensday.com
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