With International Women’s Day around the corner, we are paying homage to the women that cultivate and curate the fabric of New York City.
We hand-selected the bold and the brave who are making tangible contributions to our community.
These women are not determined by their follower count; they are chosen for their trailblazing efforts to make a difference.
See Also: 9 Small Female-Owned Businesses To Support This Galentine's Day
We are here to dismantle the notion that “Women of Power” is intrinsically related to social status, popularity, and wealth.
The real women of NYC are the ones who are making our city a better place.
Alissa is the CEO and Founder of the globally renowned, fashion brand, Phat Buddha.
As if that wasn’t enough, she also doubles as the CEO and Founder of PBX Corporate Wellness, an elevated wellness program solution filling a critical gap in the health and wellness market. Alissa is the definition of a girl boss, in every sense of the word.
Alissa strives to inspire the next generation of women entrepreneurs by identifying their purpose and having them focus on their motivation and happiness.
It is said that "if you love your job, you will never work a day in your life,” and this NYC Power Player embodies that sentiment wholeheartedly.
Phat Buddha stemmed from the desire to make women feel comfortable in their own skin, regardless of size. She created a “one size fits all” model to remove stigmas oftentimes accentuated by the fashion industry.
Her belief was that if she could help just one person struggling with body image, she could shift the conversation surrounding the way women’s bodies are viewed and degraded in society.
Charity begins at home and Phat Buddha has taken this literally by supporting Feeding America, and the Jed Foundation with a percentage of sales proceeds.
Phat Buddha’s most recent photoshoot went beyond “skin deep.” The campaign included a wide diversity of influential women in the NYC community, including medical professionals, hoteliers, Miss New York, editors, and entrepreneurs.
The “Women of NYC” were shot in some of the finest eateries in our area that suffered during the pandemic, making the campaign impactful on more fronts than one
Alissa takes the city that never sleeps quite literally. She is a woman with an unmatched hustle, constantly striving to better our world, all while inspiring women entrepreneurs around her to do the same.
In all of her efforts, Alissa advocates for beauty coming from a deeper level that transcends physicality. Rest assured, Alissa is one of the most beautiful people in our city, both from the inside and out.
Grace epitomizes what it means to be a muse. She is a source of inspiration for everybody that comes into contact with her; her spirit and energy are magical.
Not only is Grace an important part of the NYC social scene, but she is an entrepreneurial philanthropist that is redefining what it means to be a successful woman in the modern era.
A wonderful mother to Terri Rose, Jojo, and Ben, Grace is the embodiment of a woman who can do it all.
She exemplifies that it is possible to be both this and that: a mom, a caring community member, and a visionary who is on her way to making a global impact.
Grace founded a jewelry line with proceeds going towards feeding the homeless and is now an advocate helping to bring NYC businesses back to life.
Truly the definition of a woman who “wears many hats,” Grace is working with many other organizations in the philanthropic space, including the Morris Franco Cancer Center, along with writing her first children’s book.
Grace has taken on an important mentor role, supporting others in launching their brands and actualizing their goals. She genuinely wants those around her to succeed, a rarity in this industry, and will go to any length to make that happen.
Grace’s existence inspires others, both young and old, to fall in love with their own lives and live their truth. As everyone’s head cheerleader, she helps others also learn to build confidence and to be their own best advocate.
Grace hopes to emanate her magic onto others and help those around her trust in the good that life has to offer. Some say she is leading the next peaceful love revolution.
Dr. Bridget Glazarov is a cosmetic dentist specializing in full mouth rehabilitation and smile makeovers.
Having been diagnosed with breast cancer at 26 years old, Bridget has made it her mission to spread awareness about breast cancer in young women.
She is proud to say she is a stage three cancer survivor, the true personification of strength and resilience.
As a women’s health advocate and breast cancer survivor, she is educating the community about the importance of self-breast exams and early detection. Alongside this, Bridget is actively fundraising for various organizations including Susan G. Komen, The Breasties, and NYU Langone.
As a dentist, Dr. Glazarov is not only restoring the oral health of her patients but also building back self-esteem that many have lost due to dissatisfaction with their appearance.
She aims to transform how women see themselves, both internally and externally, thus inspiring them to take on the world with true confidence.
Choosing to become a dentist at only 16 years old, Bridget’s goal has always been to help others. She says the greatest gift she has ever received is getting to go to sleep every night knowing, quite literally, that she is able to put a smile on somebody’s face.
Additionally, Bridget works closely with the Give Back a Smile charity, which provides smile makeovers for women who are victims of domestic abuse.
She is a critical part of the nation’s best female cosmetic dentists, who all work to educate, mentor and support one another.
Today she chooses to see the positive in her own journey, realizing that it gave her an even bigger purpose in life.
“I used to think my mission was to save the world one tooth at a time and today it is to save the world one smile at a time.”
At only twenty years old, Gia is dismantling the deep-rooted notion that social media is all about likes and comments.
A true harbinger of change, Gia is a leading childhood cancer advocate through her platform and following.
In 2016, her little sister, Olivia, was diagnosed with Leukemia. She sadly passed away a year later, leaving a permanent hole in her family’s hearts.
In 2018, Gia started a childhood cancer foundation in her honor, called the Olivia Hope Foundation. Gia has chosen to redirect her hardship into helping others, a true act of strength, courage, and grace. Her personal motto is that “helping others will help you heal.”
Not only has her social media presence spread awareness for childhood cancer, but it has also transformed into an open forum where people, including Gia, can disclose their struggles.
As somebody who battles with mental health, Gia is opening up an ever-so-important dialogue that is oftentimes seen as taboo.
Gia is powerfully changing the narrative surrounding mental and physical health, all while being a college student and employee. For that, Gia has accomplished more than most people do in a lifetime, and we are confident that she has a very bright future ahead.
Taryn Smith is a physical representation of selflessness.
Originally from Seattle, Taryn moved to New York in 2018 to pursue a life in her dream city, NYC.
A recent graduate with her master's in international communications, she stumbled into content creation last August, after her first comedy TikTok went viral. She continues to encourage others to be their authentic, silly selves online and in person.
She makes comedy videos about her life in NYC, while simultaneously advocating for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.
She illustrates the idea that women are flexible, dynamic human beings, who don’t need to fit into a rigid category. We can be funny, and we can be serious. All at the same time.
For the past six years, Taryn has spearheaded her own community called SOS, Supporting Our Shelters. She advocates for community members experiencing homelessness, particularly women and children.
She volunteers in family shelters, as well as spotlighting the important role shelters play in supporting community members in crisis. Taryn has made it her mission to speak about the critical role community resources play in saving the lives of those in need.
She believes that it is our responsibility to care for our community, as it is a collective effort to make a true change.
On top of all of that, Taryn actively competes in the Miss America Program.
She was recently crowned Miss Greater New York 2022 and is headed to compete for the State Title of Miss New York in May.
Photography by: Grace Cayre Chehebar photo courtesy of subject; all other photos by Ryan Lockard
