Take a look at the most powerful women of 2017

Angela Merkel - She occupies first place in the Forbes ranking of the world's most powerful women. In September, the chancellor of Germany was re-elected for her fourth consecutive term. As leader of the European Union's most healthy economy, she is also the most influential politician in the economic block.

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Theresa May - In second place on Forbes' list of the world's most powerful women is the prime minister of the United Kingdom. She has held the position since July 2016, and is currently negotiating the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union.

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Melinda Gates - Melinda Gates is co-president of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has the objective of improving global healthcare and fighting poverty. She is third in Forbes' ranking.

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Sheryl Sandberg - Sheryl Sandberg has been the COO of Facebook, the biggest social media network in the world, since 2008. In June 2012, she was also elected to its board of directors. Sandberg is fourth on Forbes' list.

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Mary Barra - In fifth place on Forbes' list is the Chairperson and CEO of General Motors. She has been CEO since 2014, and is the first woman to hold the position in a big automobile company.

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Susan Wojcicki - In sixth position on the Forbes list is the CEO of YouTube, the biggest online video platform in the world. Wojcicki has held the post since February 2014.

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Abigail Johnson - The American president of Fidelity Investments Personal and Workplace Investing is seventh on the Forbes list. The company was founded by Johnson's grandfather in 1946. The Johnson family has a 49% stake in the company. Abigail Johnson herself has a 24% stake and has $2.1 trillion in managed assets.

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Christine Lagarde - Christine Lagarde is the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, the highest position in the multilateral organization. She is the first woman to occupy the position and the French native appears in eighth position on Forbes' list.

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Ana Patricia Botín - Since 2014, she has been the president of the Santander Group. The Spaniard is in ninth place on Forbes' list.

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Ginni Rometty - Ginni Rometty is the current CEO of IBM and the first woman to lead the company. The American sits in 10th place on Forbes' list.

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Indra Nooyi - Indra Nooyi was born in India but holds American nationality. She is the Chairperson and CEO of PepsiCo and comes in at 11th place on Forbes' list.

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Meg Whitman - Meg Whitman is an American executive and politician. She has been an executive of various big companies, including The Walt Disney Company and DreamWorks. In the Forbes ranking she comes in at 12th place.

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Angela Ahrendts - The 13th most powerful woman in the world according to Forbes is the Senior Vice-President of Retail at Apple.

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Laurene Powell Jobs - Laurene Powell Jobs inherited $20 billion in her shares in Apple and Disney, according to Forbes. She placed 14th in the list.

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Tsai Ing-wen - The president of Taiwan made 15th place on the list. She was the first woman to become president of Taiwan, which has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. She is also the first president of Hoklo descent and the first president not to have served as Mayor of Taipei beforehand.

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2017's most inspiring stars - People magazine chose a list of influential female celebrities in 2017.

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Alicia Keys - The singer became a symbol of empowerment after criticizing the physical beauty standards women that women are held to. The coach of 'The Voice' defines beauty as individuality and knowledge.

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Madison Ferris - At just 25, the actress broke down barriers as the first wheelchair-bound Broadway star. The star of 'The Glass Menagerie' suffers from muscular dystrophy. She says that her mantra is to do what you love and find people who also love the craft.

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Viola Davis - In 2017, Viola Davis became the first black actress to received the three most prestigious acting awards: an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony.

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Adele - The British pop star proved you can be a smash hit while defying the industry's beauty standards.

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Oprah Winfrey - Despite considering herself unattractive in the past, the presenter and head of a media conglomerate says that she now considers herself a beautiful woman for her joy, positivity, self-confidence, and her feeling of fulfillment with life.

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Emma Stone - One of the biggest stars of young Hollywood,Emma Stone even won an Oscar for Best Actress in 2017, but she's not letting the fame go to her head. Emma told People magazine that achieving your dreams is great, but that it's important to keep your feet on the ground to be sure you're on the right path.

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Chrissy Metz - The actress became a role model for women of all sizes when the series 'This Is Us' premiered and she refused to be bound by stereotypes.

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Taraji P. Henson - The star of 'Empire' has inspired many women with her self-confidence and self-esteem. The actress stated that "you don't need to do anything to please other people."

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Emma Watson - The actress is also a UN women's ambassador and has become an icon in the fight for women's rights.

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Claire Foy - 2017 was Claire Foy's year. The star of 'The Crown,' was nominated for an Emmy for playing Queen Elizabeth II.

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Selena Gomez - The actress and pop star was executive producer of the hit series '13 Reasons Why.' She also showed her vulnerability and human side while tackling health problems.

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Michelle Williams - The actress made People's list for being a celebrity who stays quiet but steals the show with her performances. The star once declared that it is in her work that she takes the most risks.

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Manny Gutierrez - The 26-year-old beauty influencer (also known as Manny MUA) was the first man to feature in a Maybelline ad campaign.

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Janelle Monáe - Brave and fearless. The singer wowed in her first roles in 'Moonlight' and 'Hidden Figures'. She has also became an icon for her attitude, creativity, and for not caring what other people think.

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Meet the women who made a mark in 2017 - Take a look at some of the most powerful women in the world as listed by Forbes and People magazine!

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