The BBC on Thursday unveiled its annual "100 Most Inspiring Women" list, honoring remarkable women who have overcome challenges and made significant contributions to transforming the world. They are women with outstanding achievements in the fields of sports, science, advocacy, and the arts. Among them, Xuan Phuong was celebrated for her influence in culture and education. 

According to the BBC, the 95-year-old journalist and female director has lived a “truly fulfilling life”. She joined the resistance war against the French at the age of 16 and worked as a doctor and war correspondent. After retiring at the age of 62, she founded the Lotus Gallery in Ho Chi Minh City, one of the first private galleries in Vietnam, to bring Vietnamese art to the world.

Last August Xuan Phuong released her second memoir, called “Letting Go of the Old, Embracing the New”, which recounts her journey to establish the gallery. This followed “Burden of Life”, which was a publishing phenomenon in Vietnam.

Other names on the list of "100 Most Inspiring Women of 2024" were Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, actress Sharon Stone, and Olympic athletes Rebeca Andrade and Allyson Felix.