#ThisLittleGirlIsMe: Inspiring the Next Generation, One Story at a Time

What would you say to your younger self?

Would you tell her to be braver? To worry less about fitting in? To believe that her dreams are possible, even if she can't yet see the path ahead?

Every October, to mark the International Day of the Girl, Inspiring Girls invites women around the world to answer that question through our global campaign, #ThisLittleGirlIsMe.

Since launching in 2021, the campaign has become a powerful celebration of women's journeys. By sharing a childhood photo alongside a reflection on the lessons they've learned, women remind girls everywhere that every successful leader, scientist, artist, entrepreneur, athlete and changemaker was once a little girl with hopes, fears and big dreams.

The message is simple but powerful: there is no single path to success. Every story is different, and every challenge overcome can inspire another girl to keep believing in herself.

The campaign has grown into a truly global movement. Together, our contributors have reached more than 80 million people worldwide, and 92% of girls who engaged with the campaign said it positively changed how they feel about their future.

Hundreds of thousands of women have taken part, sharing honest stories about setbacks, resilience and success. Among them are globally recognised figures including Annie Lennox, Shonda Rhimes, Arianna Huffington, Billie Jean King, Melinda French Gates, and even the Inter Milan Women's football team. Their stories remind us that confidence isn't something you're born with—it's something you build through experience, perseverance and believing in your potential.

But what makes #ThisLittleGirlIsMe so special isn't celebrity participation — it's that everyone has a story worth sharing.

Whether you're a teacher, engineer, doctor, entrepreneur, artist, parent or student, your journey could be exactly what a young girl needs to hear. By showing girls that successful women have also faced self-doubt, obstacles and unexpected twists, we help make their own ambitions feel achievable.

At Inspiring Girls, we believe that role models come in many forms. Sometimes, all it takes is one story for a girl to realise that someone like her has already walked the path she's dreaming of.