Iris Apfel was known as a textile designer within her field for decades. But it wasn’t until The Metropolitan Museum of Art hosted an exhibition of her wardrobe in 2005—13 years after she retired and well into her 80s—that she achieved broader recognition as an influential tastemaker.
Owner, board chair and publisher of The Washington Post for decades
Playwright Eve Ensler, who would later go by V, debuted her ground-breaking The Vagina Monologues in 1996.
French-Tunisian ophthalmologist most known for developing the picosecond, ophthalmic Nd:YAG laser for eye surgeries.
Edie Windsor was in her 80s when she sued the U.S. government. Her wife, Thea Spyer, died in 2009. The following year, Windsor received a $363,000 tax bill—estate taxes that, had the government recognized their marriage, would have been nonexistent.
Early 20th century Irish artist
Hungarian-born Jewish, Canadian businesswoman
Australian feminist musician
Polish-Canadian organized crime boss
20th century Greek immigrant to the U.S.