With the first female vice president taking office in the US, and female leaders around the world excelling despite a global crisis, it's hard to imagine why women have been wildly underrepresented in leadership for so long. Looking back at historical examples, it might be because they did a disturbingly good job whenever they actually got the chance!
From Cleopatra to Queen Victoria, there are countless women in history who proved themselves as warriors, conquerors, creators, strategists, and diplomats.
Let's take a look at some of the most fierce and formidable female leaders ever known in this gallery.
