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"My family, especially my grandmother, has played an integral role in establishing my sense of self, as well as of my love for helping others. My grandmother's pearl necklace, not only reminds me of the people who made me who I am, but it also empowers me to give love to others." - Agnes Santiano ‪#‎CELEBRATEWOMEN‬[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7559" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Smiling makes me feel good about myself, because it is who I am." - You Shuting #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7558" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Cooking empowers me because it gives me passion of sharing happiness with friends through food." - Shen Yiyang #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7557" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"There’s absolutely nothing more empowering than traveling to new places, meeting new people, and breaking stereotypes about where I come from." - Tahreem Waquar #‎CELEBRATEWOMEN‬[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7556" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"This shirt empowers me because of the name of the city printed on it, Budapest. This was the city that made me into the person I am today, due to the family members, friends and experiences that I have and had there." - Orsolya Liddiard #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7555" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Painting gives me the freedom to creatively express myself without any boundaries. Art is emotional. Art is loud. Art is empowering." - Linna Ha #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7554" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Except for 'nothing to wear' days my outfits empower me. I love not having to choose between dressy and casual. I can wear 6 inch heels on one day and gym clothes on the next and feel equally good in both." - Laura Lehoczki #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7553" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Movement empowers me. With every muscle contracting and each second I push through, I feel stronger both physically and mentally." - Aleksandra Lekowska #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7552" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Arduino empowers me because it turns my creativity into reality, and because thinking as a maker makes me feel like everything is in my control." - Prudence Yao #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7551" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Eyeliner empowers me. It makes me feel like a cat and just like cats I am independent and free." - Sara Bruszt #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7550" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Music represents me when there are not enough words to express what I feel. Music empowers me." - Victoria Rusu #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7549" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"I am empowered by viewing the world with a more microscopic and intrinsic angle. Everything in the end can all be reduced to similar patterns." - Sunyi Wang #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7548" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Not having easy access to home makes me grateful for things that connect me to my roots. This wrap skirt, which was the culmination of my first ever successful bargain at a cheap street market in Mumbai, makes me feel happy and bright and very, very Indian." - Shreya Shreeraman #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7547" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

Serena Uy #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7546" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"My film camera empowers me. When the light enters the shutter, erodes the silver halides in the film, I can feel the unspeakable power of its beauty." - Li Yuqing #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7545" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Empowerment is knowing that the most important perception of me is the one I believe myself to be. I do not define what society’s standards have set for me. I do not define a role that people see to be fit for me. I have the ability, the freedom and the power to be a woman that expresses my own emotions, beliefs, opinions and personality. I define myself. I am different. I am unique. I am quirky. I am fearless. I am empowered." - Sabrina Ku ‪#‎CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7544" align="aligncenter" width="5472"]

Puja Chandramohan #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7543" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Women often forget how much we can inspire and empower each other. No one fully understands us like us." - Puja Chandramohan and AnneLi Meisel #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7542" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"My jewelry empowers me. I received them from different women in my family, who walked in different paths. Having these pieces of them with me reminds me of them and the struggles they faced, and makes me feel confident I can face my own." - Nofar Hamrany #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7541" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"My rings, and in fact any type of jewellery from my grandparents, empower me. They remind me of all the things they have achieved, and all the love I’ve gotten from them. Their memory does not let me forget my goals in life and that I still have a long way to go. I don’t want to disappoint them. I don’t want to let them down. Everything I do is partially for them." - Mira Malmosi #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7540" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Being able to travel gives me independence, and independence is empowering. I feel beautiful when I can appreciate the beauty in the world and in the people around me!" - Melody Chen #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7539" align="aligncenter" width="299"]

"Getting dressed everyday empowers me. Style is a basic form of expression and gives me the opportunity to make a statement just by being in a space. By not shying away from the world and embracing personal I get to own the attention I was bound to get anyways. It is a chance to take back power by visually introducing my own voice." - Maya Williams #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7538" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Working on logic problems and solving puzzles empowers me because it forces me to think from new perspectives. Rooting my way to the end of a logic puzzle brings me one step closer to solving other problems in our world. In my opinion, there's never been a more competitive time to live on this planet, so being quick on your feet to understand the intricacies and complexities of a problem and strategizing your way around it to beat the system is exactly the kind of skill that pushes people to the top." - Lucille Riesbeck #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7537" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"My empowerment comes from my mother because she has shown me what it is like to persevere through life. After the death of my father, my mom had to take on various burdens while raising both my brother and I. The bunny is a representation of my mother as she gave it to me when I was six years old; it now comes with me wherever I travel as a reminder of her. It is through her efforts and sacrifices that I stand where I am today." - Leidy Tatiana Tapasco #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7536" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Movement is a part of who I am, you'll never see me sitting around for too long before I get antsy. Maybe it also is a part of growing up in New York, speed and limited time. Catch me power walking through the halls or bopping my way into class. Movement empowers me." - Katherine Li #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7535" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Elegance / Pain / Power" - Joey Yang #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption]

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" Self-reflection empowers me. This is my dream journal . Collecting my dreams is one of the best (and most fun!) ways to collect myself. It helps me be more aware of hopes, fears, sorrows and joys that are hidden within me, within all of us. It is empowering to connect to myself, because it helps me to connect to others, through all these common denominators. Also, celebrating the vastness of the human mind and imagination through dreams... is joy!" - Defne Inhan #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7532" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Photography supports me to become a better human being. I get to see the world from a more subtle and aesthetic perspective with my camera in hand. Being able to capture the beauty of life is just incredibly amazing." - Cindy Hu #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7531" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"The bag I'm holding is a) quirky and weird and delightful, which is something I take pride in in my personality and style, and b) filled with letters from my family. My family has supported me my whole life, and given me my own confidence that empowers me everyday." - Catt Kim #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7530" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

Camille Legendre #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption]

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"'Wow you look really tired' In anticipation of getting my picture taken, this morning I stood in front of the mirror, makeup bag in hand, trying to decide if I wanted to wear red lipstick or gold eyeshadow. I stood there for so long until at some point, all I could think was 'to hell with this.' I now stand in front of the camera wearing not a drop of makeup and the clothes I would wear on any old day of the week, because this is me as I know myself and as everyone else knows me. Today I decided I am okay with that.

"So in response to whether or not I actually am tired today - maybe I am. But if so it is of passive-aggressive bullshit like that line, intended as such or no, which once made me self-conscious time and again. And because I know I'm likely not alone in that sentiment, to my fellow women I would like to say only this: it is your face and your body. Do with them what makes you happy, and don't let yourself be made to feel uncomfortable in your own skin - whether by your own design or anyone else's. Go ahead and put on that crop top, or that turtleneck; wear makeup, or don't, but love yourself either way." - AnneLi Meisel #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7527" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Changing my hair brings me sheer, unadulterated joy. From having long hair, to pixie cutting, to dying my hair ten different colors, I've done it all short of shaving my head(watch out). Not only do I see it as an act of defiance to expectations, but also as an act of self-ownership. It serves as a daily reminder to embrace growth, improvement, and the ever-changing, impermanent nature of life." - Angelica Castro-Mendoza[/caption]

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Dance empowers me. It helped me break out of a cocoon of personal insecurities and from there I’ve learned to love my body and myself. – Nicole Chan #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7524" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Having female authors as assigned reading in class empowers me because it puts the works and voices of females on equal standing with male voices. It's really disturbing to go through multiple classes without reading a single thing written by a woman. It's not as if the other 3.5 billion people on the planet haven't written anything worthwhile on the subject" - Anya Marchenko #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7523" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“I am empowered by writing because it reminds me that I am a story worth sharing. Poetry breaks down any walls of stoicism held during the day, letting people connect over shrieks, smiles, or sobs on the page. Writing allows me to turn overwhelming, intangible feelings to tidy, concrete images, making experiences easier to process and understand. I am empowered to control my narrative, my life.” - Hannah Treasure #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7522" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“Learning a new language empowers me because it pushes me out of my comfort zone and shows me an inspiring world.” - Gong Yuting #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7521" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“The most empowering thing that I've ever learned to do is stop disassociating beauty from intelligence. I've had a long history of men either telling me to keep quiet, or that they're surprised when they find out how smart I am. In fact, the first time I experienced romantic heart break was when my first boyfriend told me that I should stop talking about wanting to be president, to help women, to change the world. After that I just got so used to having to fight for my status in the classroom and to be recognized for my mental capacity, that I could never conceive of my mind and my body ever being one entity. My mind is empowering, my body is empowered, and I am complete.” – Natalie Soloperto #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7520" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“Studying science makes me happy. We all stand naked and humble and equal in front of the palace of truth.” – Qinrui Chen #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7519" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“Theater empowers me because there is something so pure about being present in the moment whether you are an audience member or on stage. "Eclipsed" is a play written, directed, and acted by all women of color and it inspires me because as a person of color myself, there is nothing more gratifying than having your voice heard.” - Stella Kang #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7518" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“Being my own best friend empowers me because I don't want anyone to ever define me. I don't want to be the person that needs people to be okay or feel complete; I love being the person that needs herself. It's not that I don't love my friends or family, it's that I am my own hero, support system, best friend, everything. And I think that we get so lost in trying to get people's approval that we forget to approve of ourselves. And I don't want to forget my worth or to strive for someone's validation; I want to validate myself.” - Dani California #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7517" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“I am empowered by make-believe because it allows space for possibility and exploration through another's eyes. It engenders empathy, perspective, learning, and play, as well as self-discovery once the mask comes off. Make-believe helps us see the world as it is and how it can be, from the power of our imagination and the freedom of our fantasy.” - Futaba Shioda #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7516" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“I am empowered by my parents. I grew up in a household where all people were treated equally and were laughing and following your dreams was encouraged. I learned to live and love in the moment from losing my father at 14, and I learned to be passionate about change from my mother's recent multiple myeloma diagnosis. 'Love' is a word that is used unconditionally with my family, and that empowers me.” - Amy Seidel #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7515" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“Curiosity empowers me. Whether it be the innate drive in yourself to question how and why everything has come to be or the initial act of stepping out of your comfort zone to tread into unknown territory, being curious is what propels life forward. The world is so vast that there is always something waiting to be unveiled, upturned, uncovered. From writing down thoughts onto paper or zoning out to music, I am able to learn so much about myself and my emotions. So look up, sit down, and embrace your surroundings to understand who you are. Stay curious to create your own narrative.” - Nina Jang #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7514" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"I am empowered by my voice. My voice is a means of expression, a way to share my unique collection of opinions and beliefs, hopes and dreams, memories and experiences. Whether I’m singing or writing, crafting sentences or making music, my voice allows me to be heard. More importantly, my voice gives me the ability to connect with the world.” - Erin Siu #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7513" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“My family empowers me. I wear my great grandmother's garnet ring every day as a reminder of that. Even if life gets really bad, like, so bad that every Krispy Kreme goes out of business, I know that no matter what my family is there for me.” - Maggie Walsh #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7512" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“Perfume empowers me because it makes me feel fresh and elegant. Having my favorite perfume on is like telling myself I'm fabulous and there is no need to change for anyone else just to please them.” - 庄臣 (Sherry) #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7511" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“Traveling empowers me to be a part of the world and to figure out my place. I love getting to know new people, cultures and places. I also recognize my US passport is a privilege. I love bringing my stories and experiences back to my family, and I carry these experiences with me everyday.” - Malina Webb #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7510" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“The thought of home always empowers me. No matter where we are or what we become, home is always going to be the fundamental root, and is going to stay with us forever.” - Yanyan #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7509" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“I received my gold necklace for my first communion, I wear it every day to remind me that I have power over my impulses.” – Sophia Noel #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7508" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“I have many passions, but literature resides in me. It is what I live and breathe through. It saves me in the darkest days, reminds me of my own worth. Even with people around me I can feel so alone, like I don't completely belong, but books take me to different places and different time periods, to people and thoughts that connect with me and validate my experiences. In literature there is no sugarcoating of reality, no moral or immoral, there is no Republican or Democrat, no races, no rich or poor or middle class. There is only stark humanity when you really see it. Literature never divides; it only binds. This is what I believe in. The book I am holding is "The Novel of the Future", by Anais Nin, a bohemian writer. It reflects a lot of my personal worldviews and also hints at my own future, as I hope to publish a novel but probably not any time soon as I haven't experienced enough to publish anything worthwhile. I am also a free spirit and a rebel, because I think my own way and I act the way that I want to. I am constantly trying to better myself, but only on my own terms. I live in my own world and no one else's.” - Yimin Huang #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7507" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“Playing flute makes me feel empowered because I know that once I've learned it, it is a skill that NO ONE can take away from me.” – Natalie Kuan #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7506" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“My creativity empowers me. Art is the deepest connection I have to the world; to create is the ritual, tangible execution of that connection.

It is of deep and incredible urgency that we expand our world’s representation of female artists. We must grant women of all backgrounds the space to come alive, to fully connect with themselves and their own stories, to burst wide open with expression. Art is the bridge to connection; the inclusion and celebration of female artists will lead our world to a greater and more empathetic understanding of all women’s experiences. Only with understanding can we pave the path to equality.

Since childhood, my grandmother supported me as an artist, gently guiding me through conversations about color, light, life, and the beauty of the natural world. This photo is dedicated to her memory.” - Christine Alexander #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7505" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“I am empowered by my identity as a double minority. My identity as an Asian American (represented by the pair of chopsticks) and as a woman (represented by the string of flowers) is what keeps me running the race, a race not for relative progress, but absolute equality. This empowerment is what ceaselessly drives me to pursue my agenda in media communication - to eliminate bias - as well as what sustains the fire in my gut when I write, speak, and breathe.”- Grace Moon #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7504" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“My education empowers me because it has exposed me to many incredible opportunities that have shaped and developed who I am, giving me strength and confidence in my voice and ability”- Krista Young #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7503" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Movies empower me. Film brings a large community of people together and provides common ground and conversation. I would like to see more representation in the film industry. It's always personally empowering as a young female film student to see a female director out there kicking-ass." - Madison Davis #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7502" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“Traveling empowers me. I get to meet people with different cultural background, see the history behind the world and learn about human and nature. Traveling also helps me become more open-minded and independent.” - Wang Ying #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7501" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“Remembering my presence in the universe empowers me, and I achieve this by making marks on it. I don’t see it as necessary to connect the empowerment of expression to a physical object, but a notebook—a journal—has personal significance. As a child, I rejected expectations of femininity and associated “journaling” with a feminized version of “writing.” Every journal I ever owned went unmarked. Now I mark over the words of Shakespeare: nothing, including myself, is sacred. It’s a good little ‘fuck you’ to my own internalized misogyny and a nod to my process of overcoming it.” - Elena R Ambrosino #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7500" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“Lingerie empowers me because it makes me feel confident, and so much of who a person is, and what a person believes herself to be capable of, ties into how one sees herself. I believe there is so much power in being able to look into a mirror and think 'hot damn,' because when I feel like a million bucks, I don't let myself, or anyone else, treat me as anything less.” - Hannah Johnstone #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7499" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“I am empowered by my radical feminist politics. Growing up, I never understood why I didn't fit in with the popular concept of "womanhood" in the media and even in the classroom. They were often saturated with images and narratives of middle-class white women portrayed as both the heroines of the feminist movement, as well as the harbingers of the beauty standard in the U.S. (and beyond). In many ways, I felt alienated and ugly without having other women of color represented in the spaces I was constantly exposed to.

It wasn't until I started college when I began to study postcolonial feminism--an alternative school of feminist thought that strives to expand the traditional definitions of mainstream feminism to include the intersections of race, class, gender, and sexuality. Writers like bell hooks and activists like Angela Davis and Yuri Kochiyama really opened me to a new world of radical self-love and empowerment. I began to contextualize the pain I grew up with and learned how to finally respect myself as an Asian American woman.

As an aspiring educator and media producer, I want to share these messages to widen the meanings of "feminism" and inspire individuals from all backgrounds to know that they're always worthy of strength and love.” -- Samantha Seid #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7498" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

"Education is empowering; but more importantly, learning about other cultures in other parts of the world and being inspired to travel outside of my comfort zone is what pushes me to be unique, brave, and fearless. Knowledge and understanding are powerful, and they are what inspire me to be a wonderfully feminine, youthful change maker on a macro level." - Rachel Marie McCave #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7497" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“Love empowers me because love arouses my curiosity to discover more about this world and myself. We are all lonely people who need company, understanding and support. Love connects people and allows me to enter into a new world, which is inside others’ heart and is eager to come out. Love makes me realise my own value, as an independent person who deserves to be loved and to love others. It reminds me that there is a whole new world inside me, waiting for me to discover.” - Inez Tong #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7496" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“My Judaism empowers me. I am comforted by the knowledge that curiosity, justice, and kindness are at the core of my cultural heritage, and having that heritage makes me more secure as I navigate the world around me. Being Jewish means that thousands of years of tradition has guided all of my ancestors, my fellow Jews, and myself, and now it is my chance to carry on that cultural heritage.” - Chava Schapira #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7495" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“I enjoyed the feeling of fresh air on my face and the wind blowing through my hair. It reminds me of my favorite things - singing and dancing on the stage. I feel free, energetic, happy and confident. It is also a great way to start the day, being fresh and stylish.” – Kiki Shen #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7494" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“My tattoo empowers me. It's helped me be comfortable in my own skin. It's helped me take control and ownership of myself and my body. Even though I'll never be able to actually see it with my own eyes, just knowing it is there makes me stronger--happier.” - Edeline Chen #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7493" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“Music makes me more confident because it is energizing. When I am walking down the street and an empowering song comes through on my playlist, I instantly feel like I can accomplish anything. I strut towards my future to the beat blasting through my headphones.” - Danielle Elmers #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7492" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

“My pajón empowers me because it represents the herstories of my multidimensional Latinidad.” - Chabelly Pacheco #CELEBRATEWOMEN[/caption]

All photo credits go to Nicole Chan, David Santiano, Brian Ho, and Millie Wong. On Century Avenue proudly celebrates women.