Time 100: Deepika Padukone To Jennifer Lopez, These Women Are Forces To Reckon With

TIME's annual list of the world's 100 Most Influential People is out. Like every year, the 2018 list consists of men and women from around the globe who are pioneers, artists, leaders, icons and titans - and have made a mark on the world in their own ways. Talking about how the 2018 TIME 100 List of the World's Most Influential People was chosen, Edward Felsenthal, editor-in-chief of Time, wrote, "TIME's annual list of the world's most influential people is a designation of individuals whose time, in our estimation, is now." Felsenthal also wrote about how "Influence increasingly knows no single zip code and no minimum age," in an attempt to explain how the list spanned all ages and genders.

45 out of the 100 on the list this year are women. "While we remain much too far from gender parity in global leadership, there are more women than ever on this year's TIME 100 - proof that there are ways of changing the world beyond traditional power structures," explained Edward Felsenthal.

Edward Felsenthal made many remarkably revealing points in his write-up about what goes into choosing the TIME 100 List of the World's Most Influential People. Each person on the list, no matter their purpose there and the reason they made it onto the list, has a story to tell and a voice that matters. Some, like the Supreme Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, are not on the list for their positive impacts; quite the opposite. Others have made their voices count in the world and parlayed their talents into careers that have granted them influence across the world. Many among these influential people are women. Women who have fought to make a place for themselves in the world and fought to have their voices heard. Each person on the list has been written about by a guest contributor; someone they also happen to know personally.

While there are many powerful and successful women on the list, we have listed a few that really stood out for us. Here are the women and a few lines from their write ups by their guest contributors.

1. Deepika Padukone (by Vin Diesel)

"Making that movie (xXx: Return of Xander Cage), Deepika took committed to a whole other level. That's who she is as a performer. She wants the whole movie to shine, which is a rare thing. Anyone could talk about how beautiful she is, and anyone could tell you about her unmatched comedic timing. But she isn't just a star. She's an actor's actor, dedicated to the craft."

2. Cardi B (by Taraji P Henson)

"When I first came up, people said, "She's too edgy." But I can do Shakespeare in the Park! You can't judge me based on where I come from or the colloquialisms that I speak with, because that's who I am. And when you are cool with who you are, no one can use it against you. I identify with Cardi B, because she knows that too."

3. Peggy Whitson (by Thomas Pesquet)

"Peggy has almost single-handedly redefined the role of women in space exploration. She is now the most successful astronaut in the history of the United States, having spent a record-breaking 665 cumulative days in space and contributing to hundreds of scientific experiments while she was there."

4. Gal Gadot (by Lynda Carter)

"Wonder Woman has helped transform how women and girls see themselves since she emerged on a TV show in 1975. She represents what we know is inside every one of us: fierce strength, a kind heart and incredible valor. Gal understood and captured the spirit of this complex, independent, fully feminine persona. I applaud her for all of her success."

5. Millie Bobby Brown (by Aaron Paul)

"The moment we started speaking, I realized we were in the wrong setting. I had thought, Oh, she's 12, let's get ice cream. No. She may have been 12 in years, but her spirit and mind were timeless. A wise woman was speaking from her cherubic face. It was like speaking to a future mentor with a perspective and groundedness that I could only have dreamed of at that age. Or at any age, if I'm being honest."

6. Meghan Markle (by Priyanka Chopra)

"Somewhere among biryani, poutine and endless conversations, I realized just how deeply Meghan Markle cares for the world. With her, what you see is real, and what you get is a relatable young woman with her heart and mind in the right place."

7. Rihanna (by Adele)

"Whenever I've met her, she's been the most gracious, loyal and funny goofball of an icon. She glows like when someone's taken a picture with a flash and you're dazed for a few minutes after. But it's also very clear in that glow that she genuinely doesn't give a f**k; she's fearless and full of all the right kind of attitude to be everything that she is and will be forever."

8. Jennifer Lopez (by Kerry Washington)

"Jennifer Lopez is an iconic performer. She's the first Latina actor to earn over $1 million for a film and the first woman to have a No. 1 album and a No. 1 movie in the same week. But she's also a mother, an entrepreneur, an activist, a designer, a beauty icon, a philanthropist and a producer. She is an undeniable force and a powerful example-not just for women of colour but for anyone who has been made to feel "other" and for everyone who carries the burden and the privilege of being a first."

9. Daniela Vega (by Michelle Bachelet)

"When Daniela made history as the first openly transgender person to present at the Academy Awards, she said this onstage: "I want to invite you to open your heart and your feelings, to feel the reality, to feel love." I also want to invite people to empathize with others and respect them, because diversity allows us to understand humanity even more."

10. Sinta Nuriyah (by Mona Eltahawy)

"The self-identified Muslim feminist has degrees in both Shari'a law and women's studies; she understands how politicized religion is particularly cruel to women and minorities. She has counseled transgender women, supported a Christian former governor of Jakarta who was convicted of blasphemy and more - choosing to support the vulnerable rather than settle into a risk-free life as a former President's widow."

11. Tarana Burke (by Gabrielle Union)

"When you've been sidelined for so long, it's exhilarating to know that such a powerful voice is finally breaking through. Tarana will continue to do this work, but the stage will be bigger and the microphone turned all the way up. She will inspire legislation and new crops of voters. She will sway old voters. She will open eyes. She's not even going to bring more seats to the table-she's going to turn the table over and build a new one."

12. Tiffany Haddish (by Kevin Hart)

"Tiffany is bringing a whole new level of fresh to the comedy scene. She's just so authentic and unfiltered. You never know what's going to come out of her mouth. And you can tell she's having fun-she's seen a time when things couldn't get any worse, and she's giving it all she has. When we were on set for our upcoming movie, Night School, our shared history helped us play off of each other. That chemistry translated like fireworks on screen."

13. Nicole Kidman (by Naomi Watts)

"Dead Calm was released in 1989. Big Little Lies was released in 2017. In the interim, Nicole Kidman has never once left our consciousness. And even after decades, she continues to break new ground."

You go, girls. Each one of you.