Woman’s Hour Power List 2015: Caitlyn Jenner Among Most Influential Women in the World

Caitlyn Jenner has joined this year’s BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour Power List of top 10 influencers, alongside Nicola Surgeon, Angelina Jolie and Anna Wintour.

The list identifies women who have had an “exceptionally large impact”.

Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce, is at No 7.

Former Olympian Bruce Jenner revealed the transition to Caitlyn on the cover of Vanity Fair last month.

Caitlyn Jenner, whose famous children include step-daughter Kim Kardashian and daughter Kendall Jenner, is honored for bringing the experience of being a trans woman to a global audience.

Both the Vanity Fair photoshoot and the ensuing #CallMeCaitlyn hashtag adopted by many fans on Twitter generated huge publicity.

Angelina Jolie made number three on the list with “Angelina-effect”.

The term was coined after the actress revealed her genetic predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer, sparking other women to seek out testing.

Angelina Jolie has spoken openly about her double mastectomy and having her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed to prevent cancer.

The Guardian‘s first female editor Katherine Viner was at No 4 on the list, just weeks after taking up the job, while Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue, was at No 2.

Whistles chief executive Jane Shepherdson, who was on the judging panel, said the editor “influences the world in what to wear, how to look, and who to celebrate.

“Like the captain of almost any other industry, Wintour’s word is almost law.”

The list was counted down during a special Woman’s Hour show from the BBC Radio Theatre, hosted by presenters Jane Garvey and Jenni Murray.

The panel of judges, headed up by journalist and broadcaster Emma Barnett and including human rights lawyer Helena Kennedy QC and Radio 1 DJ Gemma Cairney, looked at well-known women’s personal ability to influence others.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is at No 1 following the Scottish National Party’s performance in this year’s general election, winning 56 our of 59 possible seats in Scotland.

Though Nicola Sturgeon didn’t stand as a candidate, the judges called her “the woman of the moment in terms of influence and hard power”.

Sia made No 6, having written for Beyonce, Rihanna, Jessie J and Katy Perry and achieving solo success with hits like Chandelier.

The 2014 Woman’s Hour Power List, entitled Game Changers, was topped by Doreen Lawrence, while Queen Elizabeth II topped the first list in 2013.

Woman’s Hour editor Alice Feinstein added: “The way power operates in today’s global, interconnected society is not straightforward – brokers of hard power like prime ministers, presidents and CEOs are no longer calling all the shots.

“What I wanted to examine in this year’s list of influencers is how women are operating outside traditional power structures to get things done.”

Woman’s Hour Power List 2015 – Top 10 influencers:

1. Nicola Sturgeon – leader of the SNP
2. Anna Wintour – editor-in-chief of American Vogue
3. Angelina Jolie – actor, director and humanitarian ambassador
4. Katharine Viner – editor of The Guardian
5. Camilla Cavendish – director of Downing Street Policy Unit
6. Sia – singer, songwriter and music video director
7. Caitlyn Jenner – high profile trans woman
8. Karen Blackett, CEO, MediaCom UK
9. Zanny Minton Beddoes – editor-in-chief of The Economist
10. Sara Khan – co-founder of Inspire