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190RUTH DAVIDSONLeader of theScottish Conservative PartyWhen it comes to politics, we’ve learntto expect the unexpected. Few could haveforeseen that Ruth Davidson, the 39-year-old gay leader of the Scottish Conservatives,would be considered a future leader of theConservatives full stop. And yet, in a sea ofold-guard Tories, Davidson is a beacon,thanks to her relatable personality andprogressive ideas – not to mention herspectacular gains for her party in the lastScottish elections. She continues to claimotherwise, but it could be a case of not if,but when, she takes Theresa May’s place.CAROLYN MCCALL (opposite)Chief executive of ITVIn January, after seven years as the CEO ofEasyjet – a role that earned her a DBE forservices to aviation and a personal fortuneof £30 million – Carolyn McCall became thefirst female CEO of ITV. It made McCall,who also sits on the board of Burberry, oneof the most powerful figures in broadcasting,determining the face and future of Britain’smost watched commercial TV channel.From Simon Cowell’s contract to the fateof Ant and Dec, the buck stops with her.LETITIA WRIGHT ActressBorn in Ghana and raised in Tottenham,24-year-old Letitia Wright has been steadilyworking in film and TV since 2011, pickingup roles in the likes of Top Boy, BlackMirror and Doctor Who. But this is theyear she earned the title of Britain’s nexthousehold name, thanks to breakout partsin culture-shifting box-office triumph BlackPanther and Avengers: Infinity War. Herhonesty when discussing her struggle withdepression and speaking about her faithmakes her the perfect pin-up for now.MARIA BALSHAWDirector of TateTwelve months into her tenure as directorof arguably the best-known group of artgalleries in the world, Maria Balshaw’simpact can already be felt. This year shehas overseen one of the most ambitiousshows in Tate Modern’s history – theblockbuster Picasso 1932 – and launchedan important new initiative to attractmore young people to exhibitions. It’s nounderstatement, then, to call 48-year-oldBalshaw the most powerful woman in art.EDIE CAMPBELL Model (opposite)At the end of 2017, as the #metoomovement started to permeate the fashionindustry, 27-year-old Edie Campbell gavea masterclass in how a person can usetheir privilege for good. The former Modelof the Year’s widely read open letter to thefashion industry, criticising its promotionof a toxic “artist-genius” culture, wasa key catalyst in bringing about much-needed reform to working practices,and gave cover for scores of youngermodels to speak out, too.AMALCLOONEYHuman-rights lawyerAs one of the world’smost respected human-rights lawyers, andone half of Hollywood’sforemost power couple,40-year-old Amal Clooney inhabits auniquely influential position. While somecorners of the press may fixate on herfashion choices –– she co-chaired the MetGala last month – her international profilealso means the causes she champions – theplight of the Yazidi women kidnapped by Isis;the detained Reuters journalists in Burma- are afforded greater media exposure, afact Clooney uses to positive ends.HANNAHANDERSONCo-founder ofSocial ChainHannah Andersonis the greatestsocial-media influencer you’ve neverheard of. As co-founder of Manchester-based company Social Chain, the26-year-old is behind some of the mostsuccessful social-media marketingstrategies for the world’s biggest brands,including Apple and Amazon. Herpitch-perfect memes and hashtags – suchas #findit for Nike, which reached morethan 20 million consumers – make herkey to unlocking a millennial audience.VICKY FEATHERSTONEArtistic director ofthe Royal CourtArtistic director of theRoyal Court since 2013,Vicky Featherstoneis lauded for hercommitment to newwriting (The Ferryman,which swept the Oliviersin April) and attractingstar names to her stages (Carey Mulliganalready this year). But it was the 51-year-old’s rapid response to allegations ofsystematic sexual abuse in the theatreworld – listening to 150 testimonies overfive hours – and subsequent publicationof a code of conduct, which has becomean industry benchmark, that make herthe most influential woman in theatre.CAROLECADWALLADR,AMELIAGENTLEMAN,KATHARINEVINERJournalistsMark Zuckerbergsitting sheepishly infront of a United StatesSenate Committee willgo down as a definingimage of 2018. Who puthim there? CaroleCadwalladr, the Britishjournalist who spenttwo years doggedlyresearching theastonishing CambridgeAnalytica story forThe Observer. In April,its sister paper TheGuardian, edited byKatharine Viner,published intrepidreporter AmeliaGentleman’s revelations about theWindrush scandal. At a time when oldmedia is routinely written off, thesewomen proved the power that traditionalinvestigative journalism still holds.THE DUCHESSOF SUSSEXNew member of theRoyal familyFrom a teenager posingoutside the palace gatesto a grown-up actressmarrying one of theprinces within them,Meghan Markle’s story(and wardrobe) captured the publicimagination like no other this year.Almost overnight, the 36-year-old hasbecome one of the most recognisablewomen in the world. But her influencestretches far beyond the ceaselesscoverage of her style – as a bi-racialcampaigning feminist from America,she is helping to forge a new 21st-century identity for the monarchy.``````YA N A P E E L (opposite)CEO of the Serpentine GalleriesEver since she arrived in London fromCanada, Yana Peel has been one of theart world’s most effective manoeuvrers.After setting up the Outset ContemporaryArt Fund, which connects artists withpatrons, 44-year-old Peel was appointedto the Serpentine board. For the pasttwo years she has been at the gallery’shelm, applying her extraordinary vision,knowledge and networking skills as shebuilds on its reputation as one of Britain’sleading agenda-setting arts institutions.ADWOA ABOAH ModelIn December 2017, Adwoa Aboah appearedon the cover of Vogue, heralding a new erafor the magazine under editor-in-chiefEdward Enninful. The same month, Aboahtook home the award for Model of the Yearat the Fashion Awards, recognition not justfor the dozens of magazine covers, catwalkappearances and campaigns she wasaccumulating as fashion’s most in-demandmodel, but how, with herplatform Gurls Talk, she hasreinvented what it means tobe a supermodel in 2018.BRENDA HALEPresident of theSupreme CourtAt every juncture in hergroundbreaking career,Baroness Hale has madehistory: as the first womanappointed to the LawCommission in 1984 to firstfemale Lord of Appeal inOrdinary 20 years later.At 73, she continuesto inspire, with herappointment last year as the first femalepresident of the Supreme Court, thehighest court of appeal in Britain.An icon of the establishment.STELLA MCCARTNEYFashion designer“Sustainability” might be fashion’s freshestbuzzword, but Stella McCartney has beenchampioning conscious consumptionfor years. This March, shebought back the 50 per centshare of her label from luxuryconglomerate Kering to takefull control of her business.McCartney can now lay claimto running one of the mostforward-thinking and powerfulindependent houses in fashion.ANTONIA ROMEOPermanent secretaryat the Department forInternational TradeAs head of the DIT – set up inthe wake of Britain’s vote toleave the EU – Antonia Romeo,43, has a lot resting on hershoulders. The high-flyer is incharge of envisaging what trade will looklike in a post-Brexit world. Luckily, Romeois as formidable as the job is. Previously, shewas Britain’s first female consul general inNew York, as well as director-general ofeconomic and commercial affairs in theUS, where she did stellar work promotingBritish fashion and culture.COLLETTE ROCHEChief operating officer ofManchester UnitedIn April, Manchester United appointedCollette Roche to its executive board,making her the most senior female figurein its history. Now COO of the wealthiestclub in the world, Roche, a formerexecutive director of Manchester AirportsGroup and, fittingly, a Northern Powerhouse PREVIOUS PAGES: SINEAD WEARS DRESS, BURBERRY. GRACE WEARS DRESS, LOEWE. PRIYANKA WEARS TROUSER SUIT AND SHIRT, HERMES. EARRINGS, SOPHIE BUHAI. KAREN WEARS DRESS, EMPORIO ARMANI, AT FENWICK. EARRING, LOUISE OLSEN. DUA WEARS BLAZER AND SHORTS, VERSACE