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Divas
- The Site appreciates your votes and comments. Here are some of the little gems you
chose to share with us.
J.K.
(Holland) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Where would Bette Davis and Beverly Sills have been without her?" Frank
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Oh, please! There's no other choice! Absolute power. And the way she
loved and promoted the arts. She's the only reason Shakespeare was able to
produce so many plays, and plays were finally written in English for the
common people during her time. Theatre would have lost a lot without this
diva! Bette Davis did a great job portraying her, too." Andromeda
(Greece) on Queen Elizabeth I
"... because she had morals and still led her country." Isabel
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She did not marry." Wendy
(UK) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She is the greatest ruler my country has ever had." Misty
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She had so much faith and had the heart and courage of a lion. I love
her with all my heart." Kimberly
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Queen Elizabeth I is my favorite diva because of what she accomplished
despite the times in which she lived. She meant it when she said that it was
monstrous for the feet to lead the head--a concept that was lost even her own
closest male advisors. Time and time again, they attempted to dismiss
her because she was a woman; unfortunately, they only had two previous
examples, one remote, one close, of the problems of female reign.
Empress Mathilda back in the early 12th century and Queen Mary; they were
still feeling singed by Mary's burning convictions; therefore they felt that
no woman could rule without the aid of a man. Elizabeth learned well
from the moment her mother was arrested and she was demoted from Lady Princess
to Lady Elizabeth that the only person she could count on is herself.
Elizabeth was a firm and resolute example that a level head, and a commitment
to walk straight down the center of the path is the only truly workable way to
rule a country and the hearts of her subjects. To her, to acquiesce to
the fickle whims of her male advisors would be to plunge England into civil
war, something which her grandfather finally squelched when he wrested the
crown from Richard III and married Elizabeth of York, firmly braiding the
Lancasters and Yorks into one line. She clearly had no good marital
candidate either abroad or at home; to marry abroad would subject England to
being swallowed up by the larger country. To marry locally would really
divide her court into jealous factions. She did the only thing she could
do to keep her country at peace--remain both King and Queen of England, with
the power squarely resting with and in her. Vivat Regina!" Kaitlyn
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"... because she is so brave going through her mother's death and had so
many mothers that died. She is just someone I look up to." Todd
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She was tough, smart, dedicated, and ruthless when needed. We
could use more women like her today." Paddy
(India) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Definitely responsible for the ultimate rise of Britain. No woman has
had so much impact upon the world." Ashlyn
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"First successful Queen of England and she refused to let a man come in
and take over her life or her kingdom. She reigned successfully for
decades and made a mockery of male political domination." Lucien
(UK) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She still rules England 400 years after her death!" Bill
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She is the single greatest leader in world history." Jenny
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She is the ultimate political diva! Her reign was long, prosperous, and
fascinating. She was an incredibly powerful woman and the world will remember
her name forever. She kicks butt!" Sandee
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Elizabeth I had a will of steel and an unbreakable spirit. Her life was
full of danger and conspiracies and yet she survived magnificently. Her reign
saw a flourishing of English culture and the rise of England as a world power." Maria
(Holland) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She stood up for her right to remain single, she was clever, and she
allowed herself to be flirtatious, even though it made people gossip." Luke
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"... because she was one of the most intelligent people of her age and
also one of the first people to use propaganda successfully, as a result her
legend lives on today." Jane
(Germany) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Queen Elizabeth I overcame many adversities in her life. Her mother died
and during her younger years as queen, she had to battle her sister for
control of England. She was clever in controlling public opinion, a
patron of the arts and London's theater (Shakespeare, Marlowe), and the
Spanish Armada was defeated by her navy (and a fierce storm) and she lived to
a ripe old age. No matter where you are in the world: Little Rock,
Arkansas; Paris, France; Delhi, India . . . when you see a painting of Queen
Elizabeth I you know who she is." Angel
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Queen Elizabeth is great because she was strong and smart. Also she
proved a woman could do anything as good as a man especially in a time when
women where considered inferior." Anne
Marie (UK) on Queen Elizabeth I
"A powerful politician who flaunted gender-based rules of her age and was
more effective at pulling her country together than anyone else could have
been at the time." Kristina
(Sweden) on Queen Elizabeth I
"... because she had true power and was able to use it. Everything that
should have gone against her she utilized. For keeping a gloriously vain court
and for being learned. I always wear a larger-than-life ring on my left index
finger when going out, because she would beckon people to her by a slight
movement of that finger and it probably looked utterly glorious!" Becca
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"... because she really broke the standard that women are weaker then
men. She said a woman can rule with intelligence and courage and
knowledge and that is just exactly what she did." Katherine
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She was a great strong woman, who I still look up to. And she had red
hair like me." Cornelia
(Germany) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She's a wonderful woman. On the one hand a hardy queen, on the
other hand a very lovely woman. I read a lot of books about her and I think
that I never will find a woman like her." Jennifer
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She was such a great diva of her time." Elizabeth
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"... because she brought great things to her people when women were not
supposed to be in power. Let alone the fact that she did not kill her sister
Mary, even though she was trying to kill Elizabeth." Michael
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She brought a country from the depths of spiritual and temporal despair
and made it the premier country in Europe in her reign. And this being a
mere woman!" Tiffany
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She did what no woman did before her. She outdid her odds and escaped
many attempts to kill her." Jodi
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Powerful Woman, well before her time." Lupe
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She was the first, really." Andries
(Belgium) on Queen Elizabeth I
"One of the most fascinating and astute monarchs of all time, not just of
England, but of the whole of Europe." Irina
(UK) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She was clever, awesome and exciting." Tray
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She was as good as any king and wasn't scared of anything. She really
cleaned up England and protected it with her life. One has to be impressed
with her intelligence and strength." Nicole
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Queen Elizabeth the first is my favorite diva because when she was alive
she cared about politics, diplomacy, religious struggle against
Counter-Reformation, voyages, finance, literature, and the arts. She was
determined to make a great queen. I admire her very much. This is why she is
my favorite diva." Jodi
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She embodied strength and poise in reign. She fought adversity and
rebuilt her kingdom for almost nothing. She is a role model for women with
power that are not afraid to use it." Natalie
(UK) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She was easily the best ruler of England and we may never be able to say
that again in history. She was real evidence of girl power." Joe
(Australia) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She overcame many difficulties in her life, and always stood up for
herself. More than anything she had her way, and was real to herself." Conny
(Germany) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She was the strongest woman I know - intelligent, but human (and maybe
one of the most beautiful women of the 15th century.)" Rick
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She did as she pleased when she pleased." Kristin
(Germany) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Elizabeth I is my favourite diva because she was such a strong person
and, considering the age, very tolerant and open-minded. Besides that she had
done a lot for London/England during her long reign and was a queen who loved
her people beyond anything, giving up so much of her for them. I think she'd
have made a wonderful actress in our century for these are skills that
perfectly fit this job!" Vitor
(Brazil) on Queen Elizabeth I
"I simply love her! And I'm writing a musical based on her life." Wayne
(China) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the greatest woman in the world?
Queen Elizabeth I. But far away in China, my mum is 1,000 times greater than
her." Jen
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"... because she was so powerful and down right a cool chick!" Emily
(Australia) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Good Queen Bess is my fave Diva for she is a woman who overcomes the
patriarchal society which is so evident in 16th/17th century Europe. I believe
her actions throughout her political career, place her among the elite females
in history, for her decisions maintained the law and order which her sister
Mary I could not. She was an intelligent woman and her reign, the Golden Era,
reflects the prosperity her country experienced through her wise rule. Long
live the memory of Elizabeth the 1st!" Rowan
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She was completely amazing and still is!" Maria
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"The daughter of the ill-fated Anne Boleyn grew to become Britain's
greatest monarch, and she is a strong role model for all young women, full of
wit and independence and spirit." Amy
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Elizabeth I was an extraordinary woman. She succeeded in bringing her
country back from the brink of financial ruin, kept it independent from France
and Spain, and maintained her independence in a time when the question of the
succession to the crown of England was much discussed and argued. Prudence may
have dictated that she should have married, but while Elizabeth was a prudent
woman, she would allow no one to dictate anything to her!
Her speech to the troops before the Armada victory and her last speech to
Parliament are two of the best any head of state, male or female, has ever
made to his or her people. Art, literature and exploration all flourished
under her reign, and it was through her influence that Britannia became the
empire upon which the sun did not set. She was a woman with tremendous
strength of will and intelligence. She faced her problems like a man and
solved them like a woman. She was a unique ruler in the annals of European
history and one of the most admirable women of world history." Eve
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She stood in my opinion as the first feminist. Refusing to marry
and allow a man to control her fortune and the fortunes of her people, she
single handedly brought a golden age to her people." Dawn
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She expressed a greater understanding of herself as part of the those
she ruled. She was panic free and confident. She had self control
and restraint. She knew what it took to be a woman and rule fully in her
time. She was brilliant!" Maribel
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Possibly the most powerful, intelligent, strong woman who ever lived
particularly given the fact that she lived in a time when women were still
thought so little of." Missy
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She had the independence and will to rule a country, yet maintain her
femininity. She was charming, yet firm. If she can rule a country,
then why can't the United States have a woman president?" Yanti
(Singapore) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She's brave, knows how to use her influence for the better, she's got
the strength that every woman admires, she's shown that every woman needs to
have a man to fulfill her dreams... she united a country in turmoil." Rhonda
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She was the greatest Queen of England and she had a great sense of
fashion." Elizabeth
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She managed to bring England back together and avoided a civil war.
She brought her country out of debt and was extremely talented in academics.
She defied all her counselors and never got married, yet she still played the
court "games" very well. She was a legend for all her people
and leaded England through its Golden Age. All in all she kicked some
Royal arse. 'nuff said!" Aoda
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She was so strong-minded. She had a vision of what England /could/ be,
and she pursued it and achieved it. There are many strong women, but few of
them have altered the tides of the entire world's history. Actresses? Bah --
soap opera lives, and careers in fantasy. Singers? You must be kidding. Both
of these exist in abundance, and may become notorious or famous, but they do
not impact much. Elizabeth took a third-rate backwater country and turned it
into the envy of the entire known world, wealthy and influential beyond
compare, and she did it against every prevailing opinion of women and
sometimes against the strident opposition of everybody around her including
her advisors. That's what I call a diva." Allison
(UK) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She is the best queen England has ever known." S.L.
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She was a strong woman who didn't let men rule her life. She loved her
people." E.D.
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She had intelligence, style, grace and wit. She ruled, wisely and
well; her empire was not as large as Victoria's but without Elizabeth the
Great there would be no English Empire." Ida
(Denmark) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Even taking into consideration the brutality of her time and age - the
late Renaissance in England - her conditions in early life were incredibly
hard: Mother beheaded whilst she was only 3-4 years of age, and yet forced to
live out an existence with a despotic father and later a suspicious sister
Queen, Bloody Mary. And yet she did it, survived to be at once feared and yet
loved by the British.
Learned, proud, frustrated, powerful - as truly regal as any Queen and yet so
human in her being. A poet wrote of her, "Age cannot wither her nor
custom change her infinite variety," a statement which I personally would
be happy to have for my epitaph." Evan
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"... because she handled herself with due diligence during a time when
women were not highly respected. She is a monument to human ambition and
intelligence." Elizabeth
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Great Power, Awful Sister" Langy
(UK) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Best old queen ever!" Jen
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"I love Queen Elizabeth! She managed to rule her country despite
the problems many had with her sex. She also managed to make England a
culture capital for the world" Pamela
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"... because I see her as being the independent woman of all independent women. She is the picture of female power and is a fine example of what women
can accomplish." Jane
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"... because she's awesome! And she totally led the way for all women
leaders ... she did a job that was "meant for a man" and she went
against all sexist prejudice." Linda
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"I admire her in that she stood for what she believed in and didn't give
in to the public." Danielle
(Canada) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Fortunately I share the same birthday as her. I certainly can relate to
her personality for I feel as though I have the heart of a man. She's the
Queen and I look up to her, even though she is long gone." Deborah
(Canada) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Her strength and perseverance in a man's world is truly inspirational." Jennifer
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"... because she was quite possibly the world's most powerful woman ...
and on top of that, the most intriguing." Ash
(Australia) on Queen Elizabeth I
"I think Elizabeth I was a remarkable woman, who defied the odds to
restore England as the most powerful nation before her death." Gayle
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"I liked her strength of character, leadership and her bravery in a man's
world - she was a real survivor." C.W.
(Australia) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Was very assertive and knew what she and her people wanted and was
willing to sacrifice for her ambition." Nancy
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Queen Elizabeth is my favorite because of her psychological
insight with politics, her strong convictions, her self sacrifice." Cassidy
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"Queen Elizabeth was a powerful woman when women did not have power at
all. She also knew how to use her sex to gain gifts and money without ever
giving up her throne. She truly was one of the greatest monarchs in the
history of the world - male or female." Louise
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"She didn't take crap from anyone, and that was a big deal in those days,
considering that she was a woman. She never got married because she didn't
want to and she fixed all the chaos that her father, brother, and sister
caused during their reigns." David
(UK) on Queen Elizabeth I
"I've just seen a documentary series on this great historical figure, and
I am totally in awe!"
Helen
(USA) on Queen Elizabeth I
"... because she literally lifted England into the Renaissance and
commercial economic age. She did it all in an age when women were considered
almost chattel."
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