Quentin Bryce made history last week when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced she'll become Australia's first female governor-general.

'What this day says to Australian women is that you can do anything, you can be anything,' Quentin says of her new role.
And we couldn't agree more. In that spirit, we've trawled the globe to find more fabulous women. Here are our top six leading ladies.

Quentin Bryce
Governor-General of Australia

Queensland Governor Quentin Bryce will become Australia's first female governor-general in September.

The 65-year-old mother of five and grandmother of five grew up in 'a little bush town' of 200 people in Queensland. Quentin's career has seen her become one of Queensland's first female barristers. She then entered academia followed by public service, becoming the federal sex discrimination commissioner in 1989.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says of the appointment: 'It has taken us 107 years. It's been a while, but it's good it's happened.' He also said that appointing a woman 'captures the spirit of modern Australia'.

Therese Rein
First lady of Australia

Therese Rein, 49, went from a being a part-time rehabilitation counsellor to founding Therese Rein and Associates - now known as Ingeus - an employment services agency with offices in Australia, the UK, France and Germany. It helps people, especially long-term unemployed, find jobs.

Hilary Clinton
US presidential hopeful

A Yale Law School graduate, 61-year-old Hilary Clinton was the first female partner at her firm and twice listed as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in the US. She's the first former first lady in the US to run for public office. Now a senator, she hopes to be the Democrats' candidate for president.

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy
First lady of France

A former supermodel, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, 39, is making headlines all over Europe for her glamorous fashion sense and quick courtship to president Nicolas Sarkozy. An Italian tyre-empire heiress, she speaks three languages and is a successful musician, having sold two million records.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner
President of Argentina

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, 55, is Argentina's second female president. A former first lady, she took over presidency from her husband Nestor Kirchner.

Dorrit Moussaieff
First lady of Iceland

Born in Israel, Dorrit Moussaieff, 58, made her fortune as a designer in her parents' jewellery business. She's a contributing editor of British magazine Tatler. The wife of President Olafur Ragnar Grimssom has also been listed by Harper's as one of Britain's Most Connected People.