One of my biggest childhood – and current – heroine icons is Audrey Hepburn, a film star active in the 1950’s through the 1980’s, as well as a humanitarian who worked for UNICEF later on in her life. Audrey Hepburn serves as a heroine for many young women all over the world and is most widely recognized for her iconic role as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
What many may not know about her is that when she was a young girl living in occupied Holland during World War II, she worked underground raising money for the resistance by participating in secret dance recitals – she also carried messages in her shoes for soldiers. One story that comes from this time period was when she was about 14 years old and was sent to deliver a message to a British soldier in a nearby forest. She picked flowers along the way as a coverup story just in case she was caught by the Germans – which she was on her way out. Full of fear but putting on a brave face, she presented the German soldiers with the flowers she picked and she was then sent on her way. Her life during the war shaped her future of working as an ambassador for UNICEF, where she went on missions around the world helping children.
“I can testify to what UNICEF means to children,” she said, “because I was among those who received food and medical relief right after World War II.”
Audrey Hepburn is also known for her grace and poise in the film industry during Hollywood’s Golden Era, and she was the face of Givenchy throughout her life and career – as well as the designer’s close friend.
It is Audrey’s grace, humility, selflessness, and passion to help others that makes her such a visionary in what girlhood means, and a reason why she stands as one of the world’s biggest role models today.
-Noelle Belanger
Junior Girl
Girl Museum Inc.