Okay, so I’m sitting here with my coffee, which I definitely just sloshed onto my shirt—classic me—and I’m thinking about these women who built empires out of nothing. Like, 10 female entrepreneurs who built empires from scratch—it’s the kind of thing that makes you wanna ditch Netflix and actually do something. These ladies didn’t just start businesses; they created whole freaking worlds, fought through all sorts of crap, and probably had their own “ugh, why am I like this?” moments. I’m gonna tell you their stories like we’re just hanging out, maybe eating some slightly burnt toast, so bear with me—it’s gonna be a little all over the place, totally real, and hopefully lights a spark under you.
Why I Can’t Stop Thinking About This
I’m no big shot. My proudest moment this month was remembering to take out the trash before it smelled like a dumpster. But there’s something about these women’s stories that just grabs you, you know? You ever read about someone who started with nada and think, “Okay, maybe I could try… something?” I’m not saying I’m about to launch a startup (I can’t even keep my succulents alive), but these female entrepreneurs who built empires make me feel like I could at least get my act together. Their resilience is bonkers, and I’m obsessed.
1. Sara Blakely: The Spanx Chick Who Didn’t Give a Damn About “No”
So, Sara Blakely—she’s the genius behind Spanx, which, let’s be honest, has saved my butt at least once when I wanted to wear tight jeans after taco night. She was selling fax machines door-to-door in Florida—gross, right?—when she got fed up with pantyhose and cut the feet off to wear under white pants. Total eureka moment. But when she pitched Spanx, manufacturers were like, “A female entrepreneurs who built empires making shapewear? Yeah, right.” She didn’t care, got a patent, and now Spanx is worth billions. She’s all about failing and laughing it off. She said her dad used to ask, “What’d you mess up today?” I tried that vibe once, but my mess-up was forgetting my lines at a work presentation, so… not exactly empire-building material.
2. Oprah Winfrey: From Rough Start to Queen of Everything
Oprah. Do I even need to explain? She’s Oprah. But her life wasn’t always sparkly. She grew up super poor in Mississippi, dealt with some really heavy stuff—abuse, you name it—and still became the queen of media. I used to watch her show as a kid, sneaking episodes when I was supposed to be studying fractions. She got fired from her first big TV job—FIRED!—and still built The Oprah Winfrey Show, OWN, and a media empire. It’s like she took every “nope” and said, “Bet.” I’m over here whining when my takeout order’s wrong, so her hustle is straight-up humbling.
3. Whitney Wolfe Herd: Bumble’s Badass Who Rewrote Dating
Whitney Wolfe Herd helped start Tinder in her 20s, but then it got messy—lawsuits, toxic workplace drama, the whole deal. Instead of throwing in the towel, she was like, “Screw it, I’ll make something better.” Enter Bumble, where women get to make the first move. I tried Bumble once, swiped right on a dude who seemed chill, then got ghosted. Shocker. But Whitney? She turned her rough patch into a $1 billion company. That’s the kinda energy I need when I’m freaking out over a flat tire.
4. Rihanna: Fenty’s Rule-Breaker Who Changed Beauty Forever
Rihanna’s not just a pop star—she’s a business beast. Fenty Beauty? Total game-changer. I got their foundation after seeing it all over Insta, and it’s the only makeup I don’t totally screw up putting on. Rihanna saw the beauty industry leaving out tons of skin tones and was like, “Nah, we’re fixing this.” She started Fenty with no business degree, just a dream and some serious swagger. Who does that while dropping bangers like “Umbrella”? (Okay, I tried selling homemade candles once, but I got wax all over my kitchen counter, so… yeah, not the same.)
5. Arianna Huffington: The HuffPost Hustler Who Started Late
Arianna Huffington moved from Greece to the U.S., wrote books, and then, in her 50s, started The Huffington Post. Her freaking 50s! I’m over here thinking I’m too old to figure out Snapchat at 31. She built a media female entrepreneurs who built empires when blogs were barely a thing, sold it for $315 million, and then kept going with Thrive Global. She’s like, “Oh, you think I’m done? Hold my latte.” I’m inspired, but also exhausted just thinking about her energy.
6. Indra Nooyi: PepsiCo’s Boss Who Shook Things Up
Indra Nooyi didn’t start a company, but she flipped PepsiCo on its head as CEO. She took a soda giant and pushed it toward healthier stuff (sorta). Born in India, she came to the U.S. with big dreams and dealt with all kinds of stereotypes. I read she’d work late nights while raising two kids—meanwhile, I’m stressed if I have to walk my dog and reply to an email at the same time. Indra’s story is like, you can climb the ladder and change the rules.
7. Melanie Perkins: Canva’s Dreamer Who Made Design Less Intimidating
Melanie Perkins was teaching design in college when she was like, “This is way too complicated.” So she made Canva. I use Canva for everything—birthday cards, random flyers, you name it. It’s so easy I can’t even mess it up (well, mostly). She pitched Canva 100 times before anyone said yes. A hundred! I gave up on my blog after, like, two posts got no likes. Melanie’s persistence is insane, and now Canva’s worth billions. She’s my hero when I’m feeling like a total flake.
8. Katrina Lake: Stitch Fix’s Data Geek Who Nailed It
Katrina Lake started Stitch Fix out of her apartment, mailing clothes to people based on a quiz. Sounds simple, but she was 28, had no fashion background, and was up against huge stores. I got a Stitch Fix box once—loved the sweater, hated the pants, but whatever. Katrina’s empire is built on data and a gut feeling, and she took it public at 34. Thirty-four! I’m just trying to remember to pay my electric bill on time.
9. Tory Burch: Fashion’s Underdog Who Made Preppy Cool
Tory Burch started her fashion line in her kitchen, kids probably running wild (I feel that). She was told her designs were “too preppy,” but she was like, “Yeah, and?” Now her company’s worth $3 billion, and her flats are my go-to when I wanna look semi-put-together without falling in heels. Tory’s story is about owning who you are, even when the cool kids say you’re not cool enough.
10. Sophia Amoruso: Nasty Gal’s Rebel Who Kept Fighting
Sophia Amoruso started selling vintage clothes on eBay from her tiny apartment. She called it Nasty Gal, and it grew into a $100 million fashion brand. I read her book, #Girlboss, during a super bad week—spilled soda on it, naturally—and it was like a friend yelling, “Get it together!” Nasty Gal went bankrupt, which sucked, but Sophia bounced back with Girlboss Media. Her story’s messy, and that’s why I dig it. Makes me feel okay about my own screw-ups.
What’s the Deal with All of Them?
These women didn’t just build businesses—they female entrepreneurs who built empires from nothing, with just grit and a dream. Some had fancy degrees, some had zip. They dealt with rejection, doubt, and probably some bad hair days (I’m still recovering from my 2010 bangs). What’s the common thread? Resilience. They kept going, even when it was rough. That’s the vibe I’m trying to steal, even if it’s just to finally clean out my fridge.
A Stupid Story from Me
Okay, quick detour. In college, I tried starting a baking business called “Muffin Madness” (I know, I’m embarrassed). I baked 50 muffins for a campus event, burned half, and forgot sugar in the rest. Total disaster. But one friend bought a muffin anyway and said, “It’s… crunchy?” That tiny moment kept me from quitting. These women’s stories remind me of that—one small win, even a dumb one, can keep you going.
