This is a list of Iranian women , of all Iranian ethnic backgrounds, including both women born in Iran and women that are of the Iranian diaspora.
Nobel laureates
Scientists and engineers
Azar Andami (1926–1984), physician and bacteriologist noted for her development of a cholera vaccineAnousheh Ansari (born 1966), first female space tourist , leading telecommunication entrepreneur , and namesake of the X Prize Niloufar Bayani (born 1986), wildlife conservation biology researcher and activist; jailed in IranAzita Emami , engineer working on low-power mixed-mode circuits in scalable technologies; Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering at Caltech Marjan Mashkour , zooarchaeologist focused on research projects in Iran and the Near East Maryam Mirzakhani (1977–2017), mathematician and the first woman to win Fields Medal Maryam Sadeghi (born 1980) Iranian-born Canadian computer scientist and businesswoman in the field of medical image analysisHoma Shaibany (born 1913), Iran's first female surgeonNahid Shahmehri , Director of the Laboratory for Intelligent Information, Linköpings Universitet , Sweden [ 1] Alenush Terian (1921–2011), astronomerSaba Valadkhan , biomedical scientist and professor
Iranian women scientists and engineers
Business
Afsaneh Beschloss , former treasurer of the World Bank , entrepreneur, and investorShahrzad Rafati , CEO of BroadbandTV Corp (BBTV)Sepideh Nasiri, founder of Persian Women In Tech (PWIT)[ 2]
Academia
Roksana Bahramitash (born 1956), sociologist, author, and professorJanet Afary , activist and researcher in history , religious studies and women studies ; teaches at University of California, Santa Barbara Lady Amin (1886–1983; also known as Banoo Amin), 20th century jurisprudent , theologian and great Muslim mysticJaleh Amouzgar (born 1939), Iranologist, professor and chair at Tehran University Noushafarin Ansari (born 1939), professor within the Faculty of Library and Information Science at University of Tehran ; Secretary General of Children's Book Council of IranMina Bissell , biochemist, Director of University of California, Berkeley Life Sciences Division[ 3] Shirin Ebadi (born 1947), lawyer, lecturer at Tehran University (2003 Nobel Laureate)Azita Emami , engineer working on low-power mixed-mode circuits in scalable technologies; Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering at Caltech Farideh Heyat , British-Iranian anthropologist and a writer; retired lecturer of SOAS, University of London and American University of Central Asia Marjan Jahangiri , professor of cardiac surgery at St George's, University of London , first female professor of cardiac surgery in the United Kingdom and EuropeFiroozeh Kashani-Sabet (born 1967), Professor of History at University of Pennsylvania; novelist[ 4] [ 5] Fatemeh Keshavarz (born 1952), Chair of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literature Department, Professor of Persian and Comparative Literature, Washington University in St. LouisElaheh Koulaei (born 1956), Professor of Political sciences, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, Tehran University; politicianAmy Malek (c. 1979/1980), American scholar, and sociocultural anthropologist[ 6] Farzaneh Milani (born 1947), Director of Studies in Women and Gender; Professor of Persian and Women Studies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville , Virginia , United States[ 7] Maryam Mirzakhani (1977–2017), mathematician, former Professor at Stanford UniversityValentine Moghadam (born 1952), Professor of Sociology and International Affairs; Director of International Affairs Program and Director of Middle East Studies Program, Northeastern University[ 8] Azar Nafisi (born 1948), former lecturer at Tehran University and Johns Hopkins University Afsaneh Najmabadi (born 1946), Professor of History and of Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Harvard University Nasrin Rahimieh , writer of Iranian culture and Persian literature; professor of Comparative Literature at the University of California, Irvine [ 9] Zahra Rahnavard (born 1945), first female chancellor of a university, Alzahra University (1998–2006) after the Iranian RevolutionPardis Sabeti (born 1975), geneticist at Harvard Medical SchoolReihaneh Safavi-Naini , cryptographer; professor of computer science; head of the Telecommunications and Information Technology Research Institute at University of Wollongong Fatemeh Shams (born 1983), literary scholar at University of OxfordSaba Soomekh , professor of religious studies at UCLA and Loyola Marymount University Nayereh Tohidi , professor and Chair of the Women's Studies Department at California State University, Northridge ; research associate at the Center for Near Eastern Studies at UCLA , US[ 10]
Iranian women in academia
Writers and poets
Masoumeh Abad (born 1962), writer, conservative politician, authorMahnaz Afkhami (born 1941), writer, politician, women's rights activistMana Aghaee (born 1973), poet, translator, and bibliographer Farzaneh Aghaeipour , playwright and novelistMahshid Amirshahi (born 1937), novelist, humorist, and translatorMina Assadi (born 1943), poet and author; winner of the Hellman/Hammett awards from Human Rights Watch in New York in 1996Sousan Azadi (born 1954), memoiristCamila Batmanghelidjh (born 1963), psychotherapist, authorNajmieh Batmanglij (born 1947), Iranian-American cookbook authorSimin Behbahani (1927–2014), poet, 1997 Nobel prize nomineeNiloofar Beyzaie , dramatist, playwright and theatre directorSimin Daneshvar (1921–2012), academic, novelist and translator of literary texts from several languages into PersianSahar Delijani (born 1983), widely translated novelist; author of Children of the Jacaranda Tree Parvin E'tesami (1907–1941), 20th century poetAkram Fahimian (born 1900), poet and photographerForough Farrokhzad (1934–1967), modernist poet and film directorRabe'e Ghazdari , poet, 10th centuryRoya Hakakian (born 1966), writer, journalist, and poetSheema Kalbasi (born 1972), poet, writerLeila Kasra (1939–1989), poet and lyricistMehrangiz Kar (born 1944), lawyer, author, Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard University (2005–2006)Porochista Khakpour (born 1978), novelistMahsati (c. 1089–1159), Medieval poetShokooh Mirzadegi , novelist,Azadeh Moaveni (born 1976), writer and journalistAkram Monfared Arya (born 1946), Iranian-born Swedish author, poet, aircraft pilot, and the second woman to earn a pilot's license to fly aircraft in IranRoza Montazemi , author of cookbooksGranaz Moussavi , poetAzar Nafisi (born 1948), writer, Reading Lolita in Tehran Shahrnush Parsipur (born 1946), novelist.Zoya Pirzad (born 1952), novelist and winner of Hooshang Golshiri Literary Award Moniro Ravanipour (born 1952), writerGulrukhsor Safieva (born 1947), national poet of TajikistanMarjane Satrapi (born 1969), graphic novelist of Persepolis , Embroideries and Chicken with Plums Hila Sedighi (born 1985), poet, painterLouisa Shafia , Iranian-American chef and cookbook writerMahasti Shahrokhi , poet, novelistFatemeh Shams , poet, authorTahereh Qorrat Al-'Ayn (c.1814–1852), poet, philosopher and theologist; seventeenth disciple or Letter of the Living of the Báb (mid-19th century)Niloufar Talebi , writer, literary translator, multidisciplinary artist, producerLobat Vala (born 1930), poetSholeh Wolpé , (born 1962), poet
Iranian women writers and poets
Actors
Pegah Ahangarani (born 1984), actress and winner of Best Actress award at the 23rd Cairo International Film FestivalMahnaz Afshar (born 1978), actressShohreh Aghdashloo (born 1952), actress, Oscar nominee 2003 for House of Sand and Fog Desiree Akhavan (born 1984), actress, in the television show Girls ,Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize, 2018Taraneh Alidoosti (born 1984), Best Actress award winner, Locarno International Film Festival , 2002Mary Apick (born 1954), actress, Best Actress award winner (1977) at the 10th Moscow International Film Festival Behnoosh Bakhtiari (born 1975), actressCatherine Bell (born 1968), actress, JAG ,Nadia Bjorlin (born 1980), American of Swedish-Iranian ethnicity, actress, singer, and modelShiva Boloorian (born 1979), playwright , actress , and both a film and theatre director , as well as a television presenter Nazanin Boniadi (born 1980), London-based actressZahra Amir Ebrahimi (born 1981), actress and social photographerGolshifteh Farahani (born 1983), actressTina Gharavi , screenwriter and director Gordafarid , (born 1977), A Naqqal (Epic storyteller) and considered to be the first female Naqqal of Iran.Googoosh (born 1950), actress, singer, songwriterAzita Hajian (born 1958), actress, Crystal Simorgh winner for Best Actress, 17th Fajr International Film FestivalMitra Hajjar (born 1977), actressLeila Hatami (born 1972), actress, was in the Academy Award -winning film A Separation Rita Jahanforuz (born 1962), Iranian-born Israeli actress and singerNiki Karimi (born 1971), actress, film director, and screenwriterMaryam Kavyani (born 1970), actressBaran Kosari (born 1985), actress, and model; 25th Fajr International Film Festival awards winnerAylar Lie (born 1984), Iranian-born Norwegian actress, model, singer, former pornographic actressYassamin Maleknasr (born 1955), actress and directorMahvash (1920–1961; also known as Masoumeh Azizi Borujerdi) singer, dancer, film actress and stage performerHengameh Mofid (born 1955), film and theatre actress, film director, dramatistFatemeh Motamed-Arya (born 1961), actressShiva Rose (born 1969), Iranian-American actress and blogger.[ 11] Nahid Persson Sarvestani (born 1960), documentary filmmakerSarah Shahi (born 1980), American actress and former cheerleader, of Iranian-Spanish ancestryYara Shahidi (born 2000), American actress, of Iranian, African American and Native Choctaw heritageBahar Soomekh (born 1975), American actress, Crash Saw III Hāni'eh Tavassoli (born 1979), actressHedyeh Tehrani (born 1972), actressNecar Zadegan (born 1982), American actressMaryam Zakaria , Swedish-Iranian actress in Bollywood and South Indian CinemaNina Zanjani (born 1981), Iranian-Swedish actressMerila Zarei (born 1974), actressIrene Zazians (1927–2012), Iranian-Armenian actress
Filmmakers and theatre directors
Narges Abyar (born 1970), film director, author and screenwriterRakhshan Bani-Etemad , film directorNiloofar Beyzaie , playwright, theatre directorPouran Derakhshandeh , film director, producer, screenwriter, and researcherAryana Farshad , cineaste and documentary film maker; winner of Audience Award, Telly Award, and Davey Award, 2008Niki Karimi (born 1971), actress, film director, and screenwriterMaryam Keshavarz (born 1975), film directorHana Makhmalbaf (born 1988), filmmaker, directorSamira Makhmalbaf (born 1980), filmmaker, film director, and script writerYassamin Maleknasr (born 1955), actress and directorTahmineh Milani (born 1960), feminist , film director, and film producerHengameh Mofid (born 1955), film and theatre actress, film director, dramatistGranaz Moussavi , Iranian-born Australian film director, screenwriterMahin Oskouei (1929–2006), first female Iranian theatre director
Fine arts
Shirin Aliabadi (1973 - 2018), multidisciplinary visual artistMorehshin Allahyari (born 1985), artist active since 2007, educator, based in BrooklynAkram Monfared Arya (born 1946), Swedish-Iranian painter late in life, but best known as the second licensed female aircraft pilot of IranIran Darroudi (born 1936), Surrealist painterMonir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian (1922–2019), best known for her mirror mosaics, sculptor, painter, textile designsParastou Forouhar (born 1962), Iranian installation artistMokarrameh Ghanbari (1928–2005), self-taught painterNahid Hagigat (born 1943), Iranian-born American painter and illustrator; based in New York CityMansooreh Hosseini (born 1926–2012), painter and art criticShirin Neshat (born 1957), conceptual artistGuity Novin (born 1944), painter, graphic artist and founder of Transpressionism movement in paintingRaha Raissnia (born 1968), best known for her painting, drawing, filmmaking and performance artBehjat Sadr (1924–2009), Modernist painterSara Shamsavari , visual artist, photographer, musical artistNiloofar Ziae (born 1962), painter, art instructor
Iranian women fine artists
Dance
Design
Fashion design
Journalists
Christiane Amanpour (born 1958), British–Iranian, CNN's chief international correspondentRudi Bakhtiar (born 1966), American television news anchorSediqeh Dowlatabadi (1882–1961), feminist activist and journalist and one of the pioneering figures in the Persian women's movement Sibel Edmonds (born 1970), Iranian Azerbaijani and Turkish ethnicity, editor-in-chief of the independent news website NewsBud; she was a former contract translator for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and whistleblowerCamelia Entekhabifard (born 1973), journalist and authorFaezeh Hashemi (born 1963), journalist, women rights activist, and former member of Iranian parliamentShadi Sadr (born 1974), feminist activist, lawyer and journalistIran Teymourtash (1914–1991), journalist and early activist; daughter of Abdolhossein Teymourtash FakhrAfagh Parsa (1898–?), director of the Women's World magazine and the first female journalist in the Iranian history to be exiledAtoosa Rubenstein (born 1972), Iranian-American founder and editor of CosmoGirl Seventeen
Musicians
Leila Arab (born 1971), musician, record producer and DJ based in LondonRoya Arab (born 1967), musician, archaeologist , singer and songwriterSima Bina (born 1945), traditional Iranian musician, singer, composer Delkash (born 1925–2004; also known as Esmat Bagherpour Baboli), singer and actressLeila Forouhar (born 1959), pop and classical singerShushā Guppy (1935–2008), writer, editor, and singer of Persian and Western folk-songsHayedeh (1942–1990; also known as Ma'soumeh Dadehbala), pop and classical singerGhashang Kamkar , musician, Setar player; in the group The Kamkars Anousheh Khalili (born 1983), Iranian–American singer-songwriterMahasti (1946–2007), Persian classical, folk , and pop music singerMarzieh (1924–2010), Persian traditional music singerParisa (born 1950; also known as Fatemeh Va'ezi), Persian classical singer, Avaz masterLaleh Pourkarim (born 1982), Iranian–Swedish singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, actressSoodabeh Salem (born 1954), musician, conductor of Iran's Children Orchestra Salome (born 1985), hip hop artistSepideh (born 1975), singerShakila (born 1962), Iranian–American singer, winner of Persian Academy Award (2006); based in San Diego, CaliforniaShohreh Solati (born 1957), Iranian–American singerMonir Vakili (1923–1983), singer of western opera and Persian folk music, the first Persian singer to popularize Persian folk songsQamar ol-Molouk Vaziri (1905–1953), radif-e âvâz singer, known as the "queen of Persian music"Farzane Zamen , musician, singer, producer, songwriter
Athletes
Forough Abbasi (born 1993), Olympic alpine skierKimia Alizadeh (born 1998), Taekwondo , First Iranian Female Olympic MedalistPadideh Boloorizadeh (born 1974), Asian Pentathlon champion, captain of Iranian National Volleyball teamLeila Ebrahimi (born 1979), former runnerNasimeh Gholami (born 1985), futsal player; on the Iran Women's National Futsal TeamVida Halimian (born 1988), compound archerMarjan Kalhor (born 1988), Olympic alpine skierJanet Kohan-Sedq (1945–1972), track and field runnerShima Mehri (born 1980), motorcyclistMahtab Parsamehr (born 1989), archerAravane Rezaï (born 1987), French–Iranian tennis playerMaryam Sedarati (born 1950), former high jumper; first Iranian woman to win a medal at an international athletics competition in 1973Laleh Seddigh (born 1977), race car driver, and rally champion of IranBehnaz Shafiei (born 1989), motocross
Politicians
Masoumeh Abad (born 1962) conservative politician, author, university professorMarzieh Afkham , Iranian ambassador to Malaysia Mahnaz Afkhami (born 1941), first Minister of Women's Affairs in Iran and second woman in the world to hold the position; former professor of English Literature at the National University and former Secretary General of the Women's Organization of IranHaleh Afshar (born 1941; also known as the Baroness Afshar), Iranian-British life peer in the House of Lords Goli Ameri (born 1956), Iranian-American businesswoman and former diploma, United States Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs (2008–2009) and under the United States Secretary General for Humanitarian Values and Diplomacy (2010–2012)Masoumeh Ebtekar (born 1960), diplomat, the Vice President of Iran for Women and Family Affairs since 2017, Vice President of Iran Head of Department of Environment (2013–2017), member of the City Council of Tehran (2007–2013); additionally former spokeswoman for the students in the Iran hostage crisis Shahla Habibi (1958–2017), Iran 's Presidential Advisor on Women's Affairs from 1995 to 1999Fatemeh Haghighatjou (born 1968), former Member of Parliament of Iran (2000–2004)Fatemeh Javadi (born 1959), Vice President and Head of the Department of the Environment (2005–2009)Farah Karimi , Iranian-Dutch politician , member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands between 1998 and 2006Elaheh Koulaei (born 1956), former Member of Parliament (2000–2008) and professor of political sciences at Tehran UniversityAzar Majedi , communist activist and politicianFarrokhroo Parsa (1922–1980), physician, educator and parliamentarian in the Parliament of Iran (1963–1968), Minister of Education (1968–1971), the first female cabinet minister of an Iranian government .; executed in 1980, following the Iranian RevolutionNasrin Soltankhah (born 1963), politician, served as Vice President of Iran from 2009 to 2013, under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Raumesh Akbari (born 1984), Iranian-American and Black politician and lawyer, Tennessee State Representative for District 91Nusrat Bhutto (1929–2011), former First Lady of Pakistan, 2nd chairperson of Pakistan People's PartyZohreh Tabatabai , diplomat and business coordinator, former chief of the "Focal Point for women for the United Nations system" in the United Nations and Director of Communications for the Director General's Cabinet for the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva
Iranian women politicians
Royalty
Turan Amirsoleimani (1905–1995), third wife of Reza ShahSoraya Esfandiary Bakhtiari (1932–2001), former queen; second wife of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Shahr-banu , princess; supposedly a daughter of Yazdegerd III , the last Sassanid emperor of Persia Boran (? – 632; also known as Purandokht), Sassanid crown princess and queen, daughter of Khosrow II Esmat Dowlatshahi (1905–1995), last wife of Reza Shah, a member of the Qajar dynasty Nur Jahan (1577–1645; also known as Mehr-un-Nissa), Empress; last wife of the Mughal emperor Jahangir Tadj ol-Molouk (1896–1982; also known as Nimtâj Âyromlu), Queen of Iran; wife of Reza Shah and mother to Shah Mohammad Reza PahlaviAshraf Pahlavi (1919–2016; also known as Ashraf ol-Molouk Pahlavi), princess; twin sister of Shah Mohammad Reza PahlaviFatemeh Pahlavi (1928–1987), the tenth child of Reza Shah PahlaviFarah Pahlavi (born 1938; also known as Farah Diba), Empress and third wife of Shah Mohammad Reza PahlaviHamdamsaltaneh Pahlavi (1903–1992), first child of Reza Shah of Iran and Maryam SavadkoohLeila Pahlavi (1970–2001), princess; youngest daughter of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Farah PahlaviShahnaz Pahlavi (born 1940), princess; first child of the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Fawzia Fuad of Egypt Shams Pahlavi (1917–1996), eldest daughter of Reza Shah and Tadj ol-MoloukParysatis , daughter of Artaxerxes I , Emperor of Persia and Andia of Babylon Shirin (? – 628 AD), Persian Queen, wife of the Sasanian Empire Shahanshah (English: the king of kings), Khosrow Parviz Stateira II (? – 323 BC; also known as Barsine), wife of Alexander the Great ; daughter of Stateira I and Darius III of Persia
Activists
Mahnaz Afkhami (born 1941), politician and human rights and women's rights activist, served in the Cabinet of Iran (1976–1978)Nazanin Afshin-Jam (born 1979), Iranian-Canadian human rights activist, author and public speaker, and former Miss World Canada Neda Agha-Soltan (1983–2009), shot during the 2009 Iranian election protests ; her name quickly became a rallying cry for the oppositionShiva Nazar Ahari (born 1984), human rights activist, co-founder of Committee of Human Rights ReportersBibi Khatoon Astarabadi (1858/9 – 1921), author and pioneer of the Persian women's movement in modern IranForough Azarakhshi (1904–1963), established the first elementary and secondary schools for girls in Mashhad , Iran Homa Darabi (born 1940–1994), political activist affiliated with the Nation Party of Iran ; professor of child psychiatry, physicianParvin Darabi (born 1941), Iranian–American author and activist; speaking out against Iran's regime and Islam Sediqeh Dowlatabadi (1882–1961), feminist activist and journalist and one of the pioneering figures in the Persian women's movementShirin Ebadi (born 1947), human rights lawyer and judge, 2003 Nobel LaureateZahra Eshraghi (born 1964), feminist activist, the granddaughter of Ayatollah Khomeini .Parvaneh Eskandari (1939–1998), Dariush Forouhar 's wife; murdered during the chain murders of Iran in November 1998.Roya Hakakian (born 1966), Iranian-Jewish human rights activist, poet, journalist and writer.Faezeh Hashemi (born 1963), journalist, women rights activist, and former member of Iranian parliament (1996–2000)Sheema Kalbasi (born 1972), human rights activist, author, poet, filmmakerMehrangiz Kar (born 1944), human rights lawyer and Iranian dissidentZahra Kazemi , (1948–2003) Iranian-Canadian freelance photographer , slain political prisoner.Shahla Lahiji (born 1942), human rights activist, writer, publisher, translatorLily Mazahery (born 1972), Iranian-American disbarred lawyer , formerly a human rights activist .Narges Mohammadi (born 1972), human rights activist and Vice President of the Defenders of Human Rights Center .Maryam Namazie (born 1966), British–Iranian secularist , communist and human rights activist , commentator, and broadcaster; the leader of the Council of Ex-Muslims of BritainMarina Nemat (born 1965), Canadian–Iranian activist, past political prisoner and memoiristMaryam Rajavi (born 1953), President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran ; leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran Shadi Sadr (born 1974), lawyer, human rights advocate, essayist and journalist .Azadeh Shahshahani (born 1979), Iranian–American human rights lawyer and former president of the National Lawyers Guild Shahla Sherkat (born 1956), writer, publisher, editor; a pioneer of the women's movement in modern IranNasrin Sotoudeh (born 1963), human rights lawyer for opposition activists and politiciansBadri Teymourtash (1908–1995), first female Iranian doctor; a founder of School of Dentistry, Mashad University; sister of Abdolhossein Teymourtash Rayehe Mozafarian (born 1986), women and children rights activist; the founder of Stop FGM IranIran Teymourtash (1914–1991), journalist and early activist; daughter of Abdolhossein Teymourtash
Prisoners and detainees
Fariba Adelkhah (born 1959), French-Iranian anthropologist, imprisoned for conspiring against national security.Zahra Bani Ameri (1980–2007), physician, died in a prison in Hamedan after being arrested for breaching modesty laws by sitting in a park with her fiancee.Zahra Amir Ebrahimi (born 1981), photographer, television actress, subject of a 2006 sex tape scandal in IranHaleh Esfandiari (born 1940), Iranian-American scholar, former Director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars , detainee[ 12] Nazanin Fatehi (born 1987), controversially sentenced to death for murderZeynab Jalaliyan (born 1982), Kurdish prisonerNazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (born 1978), British-Iranian imprisoned after being found guilty of "plotting to topple the Iranian government"
Models and beauty pageant titleholders
Nazanin Afshin-Jam (born 1979), Iranian-Canadian human rights activist, author and public speaker, and former Miss World Canada Ramona Amiri , Miss World Canada 2005, first runner up in Miss Universe Canada 2007 pageantSahar Biniaz (born 1985), Miss Universe Canada 2012Aylar Lie (born 1984), Iranian-born Norwegian actress, model, singer, former pornographic actressShermine Shahrivar (born 1982), Miss Germany in 2004 and then won the overall title of Miss Europe in 2005 while competing in FranceSamantha Tajik (born 1983), Miss Universe Canada 2008Hami Zaker, Miss Earth Iran 2021 , first Iranian delegate in the Big Four international beauty pageants [ 13] [ 14]
Others
References
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