Since we didn’t get to post more earlier this week in tribute to International Women’s Day, here’s another story to help put some more stamps on the scoreboard for women all over the world. Tena Clark, Grammy Award Winning Composer and music industry veteran, presented Secretary-of-State Hillary Rodham Clinton with a commemorative song titled, “I Believed,” to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day.

“I Believed,” was written and produced by Clark and performed by Judith Hill at the 2011 International Women of Courage Awards for an audience that included First Lady Michelle Obama, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Goldman Sachs Lloyd Blankfein; Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard; Kyrgyzstan President Rosa Otunbayeva, dignitaries and distinguished guests.

Secretary-of-State Clinton explained, “The International Women of Courage Awards honors women from around the world who have truly done heroic work to advance freedom, equality, opportunity, and dignity for all. They have risked their lives. They have served in prison. They’ve been harassed and oppressed. Sometimes their own children’s lives have been at risk. They have been insulted, beaten, and tortured. And yet, each of these women has found the strength to persevere in the face of fear, isolation, or repression. And they’ve done so not just one day or one year, but day after day and year after year.”

Alright, yesterday was International Women’s Day and we didn’t make any note of it (didn’t find out till yesterday evening) via this tribute video that Kronos and Xplane created in honor of International Women’s Day. The purpose of this video is to provide viewers with a look at several interesting facts and statistics about the changes and developments that have impacted women in the workforce. Before we get too celebratory though, it’s worth remembering that gender parity isn’t all it’s cracked up to be (note the income disparity stat). HAPPY BELATED INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY to all our female readers, past present and future.

Woman warrior. Black panther. Domestic terrorist. Escaped convict.

Assata Shakur is still in exile today, living in Cuba since 2005, for her controversial reputation as one of few visible women members of the Black Panther party. She is misunderstood by many, but here at Limité we decidedly love her. Why? She is one bad ass lady. She fought unapologetically for freedom and justice, even when it took her to maximum security prisons for crimes she did not commit. In the 1970s, a time when state repression tried to wipe out all forms of black resistance, this woman (get it girl!) stood strong for her voice to be heard in the American consciousness. She brings integrity and a beautiful face to the phrase “black power.” But don’t take it from me, read her words yourself:

“The Black press and the progressive media, as well as Black civil rights organizations, have historically played an essential role in the struggle for social justice. We should continue and expand that tradition. We should create media outlets that help to educate our people and our children, and not annihilate their minds. I am only one woman. I own no TV stations or radio stations or newspapers. But I believe that people need to be educated as to what is going on and to understand the connection between the news media and the instruments of repression in America. All I have are my voice, my spirit and the will to tell the truth. But I sincerely ask those of you in the Black media, those of you in the progressive media and those of you who believe in truth and freedom to publish my story.”

A Song for Assata (by Common):

Eyes of the Rainbow documentary:

There is truly a God! V Magazine has turned the spotlight on all the lovely beautiful plus-size women in the industry in their new issue. Photographed by Sølve Sundsbø, he captured the average women and their beauty, by stomping on the “traditional” rules of fashion and finally showing curves. V Magazine‘s Size Issue will be on the newsstands everywhere January 14th 2010. View more images after the jump.

Via Hearty Magazine

Miranda July does not belong in a box. That is opposed to so many of us who can easily be catalogued and sorted by whatever banner it is we wave. Athlete. Bartender. Cardiologist. July, on the other hand, is as multi-faceted as a Swiss Army knife. Her sharp, creative prowess allows her to take the form of filmmaker, performance artist, and writer. With considerable success in all ventures, the woman who was born Miranda Jennifer Grossinger reached a certain height in 2005 with the release of her first feature film, Me and You and Everyone We Know. But that was just one rung on a rather tall ladder of artistic achievements.

The 35-year-old artist was born in Barre, Vermont to two writer parents, which undoubtedly served to build July’s imagination and interest in creative expression. She began her own writing and staging of plays in Berkeley, California, where she was raised. From there, July moved to Portland, Oregon, the setting of her manifestation into performance artist. However, it was for her work on Me and You and Everyone We Know, which she both wrote and directed, that gained her the attention of both moviegoers and critics. In fact, Filmmaker Magazine rated July number one on its list of “25 New Faces of Indie Film” for 2004.

The filmmaker developed the 2005 release in a Sundance lab, which ultimately found its way back to Utah as an official entry of the Sundance Film Festival, where it went on to win a Special Jury Prize. The film was recognized at Cannes with several awards, including the Caméra d’Or, which honors the best first feature film.

In addition to her writing and directing duties, July also stars in the film, playing a lonely artist and “Eldercab” driver who struggles to make a connection with a single father of two boys. The film is best described using words pulled directly from the filmmaker’s website, mirandajuly.com:

In July’s modern world, the mundane is transcendent and everyday people become radiant characters who speak their innermost thoughts, act on secret impulses, and experience truthful human moments that at times approach the surreal. They seek togetherness through tortured routes and find redemption in small moments that connect them to someone else on earth.

July’s previous involvement in the film medium involves working in various capacities on such short films as “Are You the Favorite Person of Anyone?” (2005 – writer) and “Getting Stronger Every Day” (2001 – editor), among others.

Running its course alongside July’s ventures into film is her life as a performance artist. Performing in venues like theatres and museums, the artisan’s shows often include interactive and multi-media elements. She typically performs individual shows over the course of a few years. Some of her most recent performances include Things We Don’t Understand and Definitely Are Not Going to Talk About (began in 2006), How I Learned to Draw (2002 – 2003), and The Swan Tool (2000 – 2002). In Things We Don’t Understand, July involves members of the audience in lead roles. How I Learned to Draw was a set of constantly changing performances that drew the audience’s attention to the present moment.

Taking a page from her parents’ book, July goes beyond film and performance art to express herself with the written word, as well. Her works of fiction have been published in The Paris Review, Harvard Review, Harper’s, The New Yorker, and several other notable publications. Her collection of short stories, No One Belongs Here More Than You, was published in 2007 and has been translated into 17 languages. July won the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award for this work.

The artist, whose imagination knows no boundaries, effortlessly leaps from film to performance art to writing to new media, as is evidenced by her Learning to Love You More website, which was launched in 2002. The site is one in which the general public submitted its own artistic pieces in response to assignments devised by July and fellow artist Harrell Fletcher. Assignments ranged from “climb to the top of a tree and take a picture of the view,” to “document your bald spot,” to the more heavy-handed “spend time with a dying person.” The seven-year “project” ended in May of 2009, though the website (learningtoloveyoumore.com) is still live and continues to display all submitted works for view. The site, its assignments, and its works continue to serve as sources of inspiration for anyone searching for that one great, elusive idea. And perhaps this endless source of ideas is a gift to the liberal of mind, given by the one person who never seems to lack ideas of her own. July is currently working on the film Satisfaction, which she wrote and is directing. It is currently scheduled for a 2010 release.

When you love something or someone, it comes from your heart, much as Oprah Winfrey’s extraordinary charity work and dedication to the mass media and communications industry.  For years her loving heart and mission to change the world has affected both national and international communities alike.  She is an international household name, an icon, philanthropist, activist, friend, caregiver, and so much more.  Oprah Winfrey is a woman we love because she is an example of karma, and that people can overcome anything.  She is a powerful self-made woman who is a role model for women and men of all ethnic backgrounds.

(Juda Ngwenya © Reuters/CORBIS)

Amongst her diverse plethora of “hats”, Oprah Winfrey is the face and CEO of Harpo Inc. and producer of the Broadway play version of the Color Purple, the Steven Spielberg film she once starred in and helped blossom her career, in addition to acting and producing television and big screen films.  Her world-renowned talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, has dominated the airwaves for over a decade, and continues to be an American favorite since the show launched in 1986. Her O Magazine is just the yummy scoop of vanilla ice cream on Winfrey’s oversized slice of media pie.  As Oprah’s resume is extensive, her humanitarian deeds triumph over her multi-media victories.  She is one of the most charitable people and female this planet has yet seen.

Oprah Winfrey has donated over an estimated 300 million dollars of her own money back to charity. In 2007, Winfrey founded the opening of the first all girls’ boarding school Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the influence of Nelson Mandela to establish leadership in the South Africa post years of Apartheid.  Currently, the Leadership Academy provide as an educational institution for 152 young girls. Through the school, Winfrey and “her daughters” have volunteered to change the community in South Africa, taking part in countless charitable functions.

Not only does Winfrey support human rights and charities, in 2008 she was named’Person of the Year’ by animal-rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).  As she uses her talk show and media stance as a platform to discuss issues that she feels are importance, non-bias to gender, race, and/or animal kingdom, Oprah has defied the international perception of a woman’s role in society.  She is responsible for breaking the color barriers that society puts on African Americans and females.

Eric Charbonneau/WireImage.com

Growing up as a black female in America in the 1960′s I am almost positive that she has surprised herself with all of her accomplishments.  Nevertheless, Winfrey has remained humble and dedicated to making an impact on the world.  She uses her prominent stance in society to benefit those around her. She has came a very long way; from a poverty stricken and troubled childhood in rural Kosciusko, Mississippi and later migrating to Milwaukee’s inner-city, to  the world’s first Black American Billionaire; Oprah Winfrey is living proof that all things are possible.

What is there to say about Olivia Munn – the multi-talented co-host of G4TV’s Attack of the show, (NON-NUDE) model in playboy’s latest issue & actress in the upcoming “Iron Man 2″. She is goofy, sexy & elegant all wrapped into 1 (She’s also very busy & couldn’t give us an interview, so this will have to do). Photo’s after the jump

Our very own Desboobs and her partner in crime, Glossy scored a Q&A with the lovely ladies from Missbehave and as always they are a hilarious duo that keeps you wondering what’s underneath the next girl shirt with their no-hold-bars content and we love them endlessly for that. Read below an excerpt from their Q&A and follow the link for the rest.

We love the sexual vibe on The Boobs. Any good sex stories for us?

Desboobs: Ahaha an ex and I used to get real into it during sex. One time we had stumbled into his place, half drunk mostly horny, and started going at it. Well halfway through it, he decided it would be a good idea to get that long wall mirror in front of us for our own personal show. But since we were drunk, he grabbed the mirror too hard and basically hit me in the fucking face with it. We had to stop, make sure I wasnt cut or bleeding, then resumed our doggystyle position. I ended up getting a black eye the next day which lasted me the rest of the week.

Check out Desboobs and Glossy blog here.

Read the rest of their interview with Missbehave here.

The “Queen of Burlesque”, sexiness, elegance, and fetish, Miss Dita Von Teese is a fair skinned beauty that we all can’t help but love.  Armed with a vintage style and enough sexual confidence for all of female-kind. Dita is one of the first names that comes to mind where modern dance is involved. As an accomplished ballerina, model, and burlesque dancer Von Teese, born Heather Sweet, is in a sex class of her own.

A fan of the 1930′s, ‘40′s, and ‘50′s burlesque shows Dita embarked on her career at the age of 18, as a stripper in California. However, the creative and innovative Von Teese was bored with the “average” costume and routine and put her costume design skills to work as she re-invented her own look.

Before becoming a burlesque dancer in 1993, she gained fame in the fetish world as a tight lacer.  She was even featured on the cover of a Japanese bonding magazine.  Dita’s careers lead her to become the first guest star at the Parisian Crazy Hoarse Cabaret Club (October 2006).  Her 1920′s inspired shows have featured a full shower, powder compact, and her signature martini glass routine, which can be seen in Ex-husband, Marilyn Manson’s music video for “Mobscene”.

Her vintage look and sex appeal has ignited the attention of the fashion world, as Dita, a fan of Dior. Marc Jacobs, and Versace, is a familiar face at all the shows.  Her unique look, slim physique, and elegant tastes make designers gravitate towards her, walking the catwalk for designers Heatherette, Giambattista Valli, and Moschino.

Dita’s resume continues to blossom as she has over three Playboy features, book and album covers, and is an author: Burlesque and the Art of the Teese/Fetish and the Art of the Teese, in which she gives her opinion on the art of burlesque dance.  She has also appeared in soft-core porn films, season 7 of America’s Top Model, and a host of other films.  Dita Von Teese is a woman we love because she is comfortable in her skin, confident, graceful, and stylish.  She does what many women and men secretly fantasize and has made history while doing so.

She’s an educated, gorgeous culinary master who has worked as both model and actress. She’s Padma Parvati Lakshmi — and she is, without a doubt — a woman we (more than) love. Some of you may recognize her as the host of Bravo series Top Chef, and as such, it’s both apropos and endearing to see her, in all her beauty, featured in the new Hardee’s restaurant commercials. We admit that Padma provides a very appetizing alternative to the product she’s representing — but at the same time, she keeps us hungry for more. Yum.

View more images and the Hardee’s commercial after the jump