It’s International Women’s Day today (8 March) which is a is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
To celebrate, we have rounded up five of Blackburn’s most inspirational women.
Some of these figures have cemented their place in the history books, while others are currently paving the way for young people in the modern world and acting as their role models.
Chief Executive at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Denise Park, said:“During my time at the council I have worked with some formidable women. Women in every area and department that have inspired and influenced my work and environment.
"I have always felt that the Council is an inclusive and diverse place to work. A place where my career has thrived and where the achievements of women are recognised and celebrated.
"As Chief Executive, I have been responsible for driving forward the vision for the future of Blackburn with Darwen and how both the public and private sector can work together to create a stronger, brighter future for the area.
"This would be an impossible task without the women that continue to support me and the council in each area of work that we undertake."
Here are five inspirational women from or with links to Blackburn:
AJ Odudu
AJ Odudu, who grew up on Devonport Road, is best known for her presenting roles – notably co-presenting Channel 5’s Big Brother’s Bit On the Side in 2013.
AJ has previously been a contestant on a string of challenge shows including Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, Cooking With The Stars and The Chase.
She burst to fame in 2021 after representing Blackburn on the hit BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing.
Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph at the time, she said: “I definitely want to do my hometown and the whole of Lancashire proud.
“Things like this don’t normally happen to people like us. It’s a working class area and to say you’re going be on the most popular show on the telly is a real dream.”
AJ, 34, made it to the final of the 2021 but had to pull out due to an ankle injury.
However, the tenacious Lancashire lass hasn’t let that stop her and has gone from strength-to-strength ever since.
The former St Bede’s High School pupil has taken on several presenting roles this year including Channel 4’s The Bridge and The Baftas.
Later this month, she will host The Great Comic Relief Prizeathon alongside comedian, Joel Dommett.
Barbara Castle
Barbara Castle was an MP for Blackburn from 1945 to 1979 and was said to have been instrumental in putting the town on the map.
She was even tipped as the future Prime Minister before Margaret Thatcher came to prominence.
She was originally a journalist, but swapped to a career in politics in 1944.
She was selected to hold a seat for Blackburn and held that seat until her retirement in 1979.
She was considered by many to be a major figure in the Labour movement, serving as MP and MEP, as minister and Cabinet minister, and, after leaving politics, as a campaigner for pensioners.
When the politician died in 2001, the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair said: "She was courageous, determined, tireless and principled, she was never afraid to speak her mind or stand up for her beliefs.
"She was loved throughout the Labour movement and recognised as an outstanding minister in the many high offices she held."
Last October, councillors unveiled a statue of Baroness Castle on Jubilee Square, Blakey Moor Ewood.
In a BBC Radio 1 clip, which was played at the unveiling, Barbara said: “I never wanted a woman’s job.”
Camilla Ainsworth
Camilla Ainsworth is a true role model for budding businesswomen.
The Blackburn-born woman appeared on The Apprentice in 2018 and was the youngest ever finalist to appear in Lord Sugar’s boardroom.
Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph at the time and said it has always “been business over boys” throughout her life.
Following her success on the show, the CEO of Holland & Barrett was impressed with her vegan Nut milk M+LKPLUS range and she went ahead to launch the dairy alternative into 645 of their stores nationwide.
The Former Westholme School pupil was listed in the ‘top 10 women to watch list’ of 2020 and ‘top 10 female entrepreneurs’ in Business Insider.
Currently, she also runs a business consultancy website called Camilla Consultancy.
Speaking recently about International Women’s Day, Camilla said: "I’ve been thinking long and hard about what I wanted to say for international women’s day and I’m going to try my best to condense it and not write a J.K. Rowling novel (a difficult task!)
"Although there is no denying that there is lots to be done when it comes to narrowing the gender gap, I feel like it’s important to say that the shoots of positive change are beginning to be seen.
"On a more personal level, I have felt a real shift in the paradigm over the last few years when it comes to championing other females - there is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise and rallying and elevating other women whilst doing so.
"I have never felt more proud to be female- the last six months have been completely transformative."
Josephine Cox
This Blackburn-born author penned dozens of best-selling books before she died in 2020, aged 82.
Josephine wrote more than 60 books and her works include Two Sisters, The Beachcomber and Her Father's Sins.
According to her website, Cox was born in Blackburn in a family with 10 children.
She often spoke about how she grew up in poverty, barely able to afford food and clothes, let alone books.
She married her husband, Ken, at the age of 16, and had two sons.
Once her children started school Cox began studying at college. She earned a place at Cambridge University but was unable to accept as it would have meant living away from home.
She instead went into teaching and began writing her first novel, Her Father’s Sins.
She was once given the ‘Superwoman of Great Britain’ award and found herself at the top of the Sunday Times best seller list on more than one occasion.
Kathleen Ferrier
Kathleen Ferrier was a world-renowned opera singer and talented pianist, who hailed from the humble town of Blackburn.
She was born in 1912 and died in 1953 of cancer, aged 41.
During her career, she went on to perform on some of the world’s biggest stages and even rubbed shoulders with royalty.
She originally lived at Bank Terrace, Higher Walton, before the family moved to Lynwood Road in Blackburn when she was a toddler.
Her father was head teacher at St James’ Primary School in the town and Kathleen attended Blackburn High School for Girls.
Aged 14, she left school to become a trainee telephonist with the GPO in Blackburn.
She would remain a telephonist for nine years eventually moving from Blackburn to Blackpool Telephone Exchange in 1934 in order to be closer to her future husband, Herbert Wilson.
She made her stage debut in 1946 in the Glyndebourne Festival premiere of Benjamin Britten's opera, The Rape of Lucretia.
In 1948 Kathleen embarked on her first concert tour of North America – she would make two more trips in subsequent years –and the three years from 1948 to 1951 were probably the peak of her career.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here