Top Ten Most Influential Disabled Women in the UK
From content creators and educators to founders and paralympians, we have compiled a list of the most influential women with disabilities in the UK today.
‘We can’t be what we can’t see’ is a phrase often spoken around breaking barriers, and these women are making sure you can see what you want to be! With over 1.8million following their work, they are changing the game for future generations of disabled women. Smashing stigmas, raising awareness and creating much-needed space for disabled women at the top.
As a female founded business dedicated to raising awareness and breaking barriers for the disabled community, we want to celebrate and highlight their incredible work. Check it out, follow them and help support their mission to make the world more inclusive!
Katie Piper, the British television presenter and best-selling author tops our list with almost 1.4 million followers. After gaining widespread attention following a horrific acid attack in 2008, Katie became an advocate for burn victims and has used her platform to raise awareness about the impact of such attacks. She also launched the Katie Piper Foundation, a thriving charity that provides support for people living with burns and scars. Katie has also written and published several best-selling books, including A Little Bit Of Faith, Things Get Better, Confidence and Start Your Day With Katie. A profound changemaker, Katie also works with government bodies and the police by helping to reform laws and policies to better protect victims of acid attacks.
Another remarkable advocate for the disabled community is Sophie Morgan, with more than 121,000 followers. Sophie is a TV Presenter and Co-founder of Making Space, a platform designed for the media, entertainment, and advertising sectors, which facilitates accessible pathways to employment and career advancement. Through Making Space, Sophie, alongside fellow Co-founder Keely Cat-Wells, showcases a dedication to inclusivity and innovation, aiming to create opportunities for underrepresented talent pools by developing a talent acquisition and learning experience platform.
Nina Tame, Disability Consultant, Mentor, and Content Creator takes third place with more than 100,000 followers. Through her consultancy work and social media accounts, she aims to debunk outdated societal myths about disability and bring awareness to accessibility through her own experiences.
Hannah Cockroft OBE, seven-time Paralympic Champion, is one of Britain’s best-known para-athletes and has an impressive social following of more than 66,000. An unstoppable force, Hannah won the Women's 100m T34 Final at the Para Athletics World Championships in Paris in 2023 and is currently training for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Keely Cat-Wells, Co-founder of Making Space Media alongside Sophie Morgan, takes fifth place on our list of formidable heroines. With expertise in the disabled space, she has participated in discussions with notable figures including President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. A true changemaker, Keely has received numerous awards and honours including The Diana Award, Forbes 30 Under 30, and AdWeek Young Influential.
| NAME | TITLE & COMPANY | INDUSTRY | INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS | LINKEDIN FOLLOWERS | X (TWITTER) FOLLOWERS | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katie Piper OBE | Best-selling International Author, Inspirational Speaker, TV Presenter and Charity Founder | Media | 1,100,000 | 0 | 299,900 | 1,399,900 |
| Sophie Morgan | TV Presenter and Co-founder of Making Space Media | Media | 101,000 | 2,744 | 17,900 | 121,644 |
| Nina Tame | Disability Consultant, Mentor, Writer, Content Creator | Influencer | 95,800 | 348 | 4,103 | 100,251 |
| Hannah Cockroft OBE | Seven-time Paralympic Champion | Sport | 13,700 | 987 | 52,300 | 66,987 |
| Keely Cat-Wells | Founder of Making Space and Co-founder of Making Space Media | Media | 17,800 | 30,688 | 755 | 49,243 |
| Stef Reid MBE | Paralympic Champion, Motivational Speaker, Broadcaster | Sport | 23,900 | 3,311 | 14,500 | 41,711 |
| Dr Shani Dhanda | Social Entrepreneur, Disability Inclusion Specialist, Broadcaster | Influencer | 10,600 | 19,192 | 5,936 | 35,728 |
| Professor Nancy Doyle | Founder of Genius Within and Centre for Neurodiversity | Education | 2,687 | 15,477 | 9,066 | 27,230 |
| Chloe Hammond | “Wheelie Nurse with an Assistance Dog”, Winner of Lifetime Achievement | Health | 17,800 | 1,753 | 0 | 19,553 |
| Victoria Jenkins | CEO and Founder of Unhidden and Co-Chair of The Lilac Review | Business | 9,047 | 6,770 | 2,062 | 17,879 |
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