FRIDAY, March 8 is one of the most important dates on the global calendar — International Women's Day.

International Women's Day celebrates women's achievements — without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political — as well as raising awareness about discrimination and in helping to take action to drive gender parity.

To celebrate it, we want to hear your stories about Isle of Wight women who have inspired you — and why?

Maybe it is a figure from the past, such as brilliant engineer, mathematician and naval architect, Blanche Coules Thornycroft, who was a great role model for Island girls; or perhaps archaeologist and writer Jacquetta Hawkes, one of the figures instrumental in the founding of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

Perhaps, in more modern times, Ann Preston, would be a worthy candidate.

She set up and ran the Island Disabled Action Group — helping Islanders with disabilities gain access to help they couldn't get from health professionals, and to become able and fight towards being recognised in the workplace as equals.

International Women's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world and always annually on March 8.

It can be traced back to a pivotal event in New York in 1908, when thousands of women who were garment workers, went on strike and marched through the city to protest against their working conditions.

Please email the County Press with your women who have been an inspiration in your life.