as a woman

The most powerful women throughout history were never the most beautiful. They just knew how to wield their power over everyone else.

Cleopatra controlled one of the richest kingdoms in the world and seduced 2 kings.

Zsa Zsa Gabor was a Hungarian socialite in the 1950s and wife to several wealthy men, but her true power was making people feel more elite by being near her.

Despite being fat and a rumored lesbian in the 1920s, Elsa Maxwell became a socialite, professional hostess, and social gatekeeper.

Their energy was enthralling. Their attention was intoxicating. Their love was fleeting.

The world hated them but would do anything to be near them. But why?

These women were self-possessed & self-validating. They didn’t seek your approval. They didn’t need you to like them.

They didn’t have to. Their power was wielded, not given by anyone else. The most powerful women don’t appear to need anything from anyone. That’s what makes the world want to give her everything.

It’s what makes powerful men want to possess her.

It’s what makes businesses want to pay her.

And it’s what makes other women admire her.

The best part of all is that any woman can do this.

This secret superpower is why the world feeds unrealistic beauty standards from a young age: to make you insecure.

It’s why the world gives women social rules that demand her to be supportive of everyone but herself: so you never pour into yourself.

It’s why schools teach about powerful men but negate the women who shaped our world: so you forget who you are.

The world knows your power, you don’t.

How to wield your own power:

1. First, stop making your looks your main source of value.

Your appearance should just get you in rooms. Your value is what keeps you there. Now more than ever, women are told their looks are the MOST important. Do you get better treatment based on your looks? Absolutely. But true power isn’t in free drinks and bags. It’s in your ability to influence decisions and shape the world around you. In affluent spaces, value is the currency. You must be useful or you’ll be dispensable.

This can be derived from your way of thinking, taste, cultural intelligence, or ability to disarm people. It’s likely the trait you’ve had since you were a kid.

Pamela Churchill appeared to be a typical political socialite but became the top Democratic Party fundraiser. Her ability to bring rich people in a room, captivate them emotionally, and raise money for a cause made her an asset to the men around her.

There will always be a woman prettier than you, but real power comes from being needed. The woman who is respected isn’t the most beautiful. She’s the most valuable.

2. Don’t be afraid to take up space.

Cliche? I know, but just hear me out. Women are taught to stay quiet. Don’t be vulgar. Be nice. Be liked. Be palatable. Care what people think. Yet the most powerful women do none of those things.

Kim Kardashian is one of the most hated women in America, yet has the most fans. There’s no one that won’t pick up the phone for her. Her business deals are always in her favor because they know she wields her power, gets attention, and takes up space. She built a billion-dollar family dynasty from leveraging one of the most vulnerable moments in her life.

To do this, you’ll have to get rid of your fear of being disliked and the need to be understood. The more space you take up, the less people will actually know you. They’ll only observe and admire you. You must be content with that. In fact, learn to embrace it.

3. The final advice I’ll leave you with is to worship yourself.

Depending on your religious background, this may turn you off. But it’s not what you think. Throughout history, the most powerful women weren’t seen as women at all, but deities. Rather than looking at external figures or men for your power, you place your higher self on a pedestal. You worship yourself. You become devoted to your vision. You commit to the life you say you want. You begin to see yourself as worthy.

Cleopatra aligned herself with deities by presenting herself as the living embodiment of Isis, the Egyptian goddess of motherhood, magic, fertility, kingship, and divine protection. She appeared in religious clothing associated with Isis, used temple imagery, participated in sacred rituals, and allowed herself to be shown as a goddess queen rather than just a political ruler.

By doing this, you don’t replace the God you believe in, but you embody it to the fullest.

✨Your body becomes your altar.

✨Your mind becomes a temple.

✨Your environment is the church.

You stop putting power in outside sources and realize it was in you the entire time. You just never gave it your full attention. Treat yourself like a goddess, and watch the world follow suit.

Your Turn

People don’t respect the most beautiful woman. They respect the woman who believes in her own power so deeply that everyone else starts adjusting around it.

The reason the world has admired these women for centuries is because they admired themselves. Their ability to be captivated and aware of their own power was so undeniable that the rest of the world followed suit. It’s time for you to do the same.