Akachi had to master the art of taking back credit for her ideas, Celeste who had to protect her craft by walking away from a toxic environment, Nisa lets her talent do the talking, ensuring she’s recognized for her innovation, not just her gender. For Christine Vaugh, navigating the professional world as a black woman with tattoos and piercings meant challenging stereotypes and demanding respect in spaces that didn’t automatically offer it and Ojay learnt the hard way how uncomfortable it is to have her ideas undermined at work.
These women at different times has to carve out their space and ask the question : When is it time to stop asking for a seat at the table and decide to build one? As we celebrate International Day of the Girl Child, we reflect on the boldness, resilience, and ingenuity that often define the journeys of female creatives.
These stories are reminders of the persistent barriers women continue to face. But more importantly, they illustrate the power that comes from refusing to be silent, stepping into spaces that honor their talent, and sometimes, simply building their own tables.
Here’s what these incredible creatives had to say.
Having my ideas overlooked because of my gender has happened a couple of times. I’ve even been told that it’s because I’m too “aggressive” and that I should reintroduce my idea in a “softer” way. I’ve also seen this happen with other women I work with.
What I do—I always say “I just said that”—I take it back with “That’s exactly what I was saying,” and then proceed to expound on my idea. I also like to remind everyone that we’re working towards the same goal, so it doesn’t look like a fight, lmao.
Sometimes the situation can be different because I’m a designer/creative—they give you excuses and say it’s not possible right now. But when a man says it (sometimes after a while—not like the conditions have changed oh) it’s suddenly possible. I always remind everyone that I already designed it, or I said that or something. And then, when they’re sharing kudos, I ask for my own. I won’t be left out or forgotten.
– Akachi, designer & illustrator
What I’ve been grateful to realise is that as a creative, your actual worth is in your craft. And that’s something that’s important to protect as much as possible.
My experiences have taken me through a brief period where the company culture was really at odds with the sort of place where my creativity could thrive. It took me some time to realise but I’m glad and I think leaving when I did was the right choice. I think I was just protecting my craft.
– Celeste Ojatula, one-of-a-kind independent artiste, songwriter and producer
In creative jobs like anything in media production, people sometimes assume what kind of work women should do. While I haven’t faced this myself, I know some women deal with doubt in tech or media production. If that happens, I would let the quality of my work and skills do the talking, and find places that appreciate innovation and talent instead of stereotypes.
– Nisa Mohammed, Multimedia production & Writing, Senior at Webster University.
When it comes to being a black woman, especially a black woman who has nostrils piercings and tattoos, I am normally judged off of my appearance alone. Even if I did dress professional, I am scrutinized for having tattoos and nostrils piercings. So normally, I am not taken seriously based on my appearance, until I speak and have a resume that speaks volumes.
I was taught that tattoos, facial piercings, natural hairstyles are unprofessional in certain settings, but I have been put in settings where the most successful and richest people are not “professional” looking. So, I realized that sometimes it is not about the appearance, it’s about the person and their work ethic.
If a business treats you wrong by the way you dress, that business might come with a lot of hardships, disappointment , discomfort, etc. So I chose to be in spaces where I am accepted and if I am placed in spaces that doesn’t respect me as a human being, I demand it.
– Christine Vaugh, Storyteller & Creative Director
So, this happened during one of my first jobs as a social media manager. I pitched an idea for a video content piece, and the boss shut it down immediately. I can’t say it was because of gender, but I was a woman speaking to a man, and he rejected it outright.
A few weeks later, he brought up the same idea as if it was his own and asked what I thought. I was shocked but didn’t say anything. I just agreed because I was new and he was the owner. Later, I expressed my discomfort to my colleagues, and during my next performance review, they really spoke up for me. That support helped a lot, even though it didn’t change much—I ended up leaving after three months.
Now, if that were to happen, I’d confidently but politely remind them that we’d already discussed the idea. And I’d still rely on my teammates for support, which was key in that situation.
– Ojay, Socials and Public Relations Manager
In the end, each of these women’s stories paints a vivid picture of what it means to navigate the creative world while constantly challenging norms, stereotypes, and gender biases.
From reclaiming their ideas to walking away from environments that stifled their talents, they’ve shown that the path to success is not just about perseverance, but also about knowing when to stand up, speak out, and take charge of their narrative. Whether it’s demanding the respect they deserve or ensuring their work speaks louder than their gender or appearance, these five creatives remind us that the battle for recognition is ongoing—but it’s a fight worth taking up.
Happy International Day of The Girl Child