My feminist icon is Michelle Obama. To me she represents the definition of a strong and intelligent woman who has used her platform for so much good.

Michelle had a strong legal career in her own right and went to Harvard, besides being married to one of the most famous men in the world. 

She has her own mind, own goals and own vision that she wants to leave the world better than she found it. She is a powerful advocate for women and girls across the world, highlighting issues on education for ALL girls and young women despite their wealth, religion or birthplace. 

Michelle’s new book Becoming is so intimate and powerful – it also shows her wit and how funny she can be (remember Carpool Karaoke!), in what must be a very pressurising public role, especially when she was first-lady for eight years.

I always find her tone very classy, and she is a great example to females, of all ages and races, that you can achieve great things whatever your story, whatever your background. She has defied expectations and what a better example of a strong female for my daughters and I to look up to.

philosophy are the official partner of Stylist’s Remarkable Women Awards 2018 and, for every day in December, Stylist is asking a remarkable woman to tell us who her feminist icon is, and why. You can see more inspiring and remarkable women here.

Confidence: The Journal by Katie Piper is out now in paperback (Quercus, £9.99). Piper is the host of the podcast Katie Piper’s Extraordinary People, available to listen to here. 

Becoming by Michelle Obama is out in hardback now (Viking, £25).

Images: Sarah Brick Photography