Looking for the next big thing? Keep an eye out for these rising female stars set to send shockwaves through their industries in 2022. 

The Fantasy Series Star 

Madeleine Madden 

You may not recognize her yet but we predict you’ll soon know Madeleine Madden’s face. She stars in the next fantasy series by Amazon Prime, The Wheel Of Time, which, if other fantasy TV series are anything to go by, could see fame as big as Game Of Thrones. 

The actor admits she’s terrified of fame, and has always been passionate about equality and justice. Madden says, she was born with a “fire in [her] belly,” that may have come from her grandfather, a prominent activist in the ‘60s. 

Aged 11, she addressed six million Australians on live TV with a speech on the future of Indigenous communities in her country. She now volunteers with Australia’s first Indigenous youth climate network and says that Rosamund Pike, her The Wheel Of Time co-star, has taught her to speak her truth and stand up for herself.  

The Musician 

Tems 

With a Grammy nomination, three million downloads of her debut single, and fans like Drake, Adele and Rihanna, Tems is the rising music star we won’t be able to get out of our heads. 

Born Témìládè Openiyi, the 26-year-old singer-songwriter, propelled to fame featuring on Wizkid’s “Essence”, a song that Justin Bieber remixed and Barack Obama tipped as one of his favorite songs of last year. 

Later, she collaborated with Drake on “Fountains”, a popular track on his Certified Lover Boy album. NME says she set for a “global takeover.” Rolling Stones call her “the future”. We challenge you to listen to her catchy yet chilled R&B beats and not bop your head.  

The TV Newcomer 

Alison Oliver 

Oliver stars in the hotly anticipated TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s first novel, Conversations With Friends, alongside Girls’ and Sex Education star Jemima Kirke. This is her first major acting role aside from theatre productions so she’s a newcomer, but attended the same Dublin drama school as Normal People’s Paul Mescal. 

If the success of the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People, especially the spotlight of stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal, is anything to go by, Alison Oliver is set to be a face and name you’ll know very soon. 

The Founder 

Valentina Milanova 

Valentina Milanova is the founder and CEO at Daye, the brand behind the world’s first pain-relieving CBD-infused tampon, taking on Tampax to close the gender pain gap. 

She advises anyone who wants to start a business to read Shoe Dog by Phil Knight. 

“Be bold, but also choose your battles. It's not on you alone to change the world for the better and beat the patriarchy by educating it. It can be so exhausting to point out every single sexist comment you get when building your company or fundraising,” she said. 

“The advice I always give female founders is two-fold: First, when you have moments of doubt or low self-confidence, ask yourself if you would still feel low or insecure if you were a man. And second, you don't need to engage with every form of sexism that comes your way to be a good feminist. Shield your energy to help it grow.” 

An innovation in women’s health, Milanova is currently scaling her tampon production and planning to launch in the US. 

What keeps her working at her best? “My absolutely favourite wellness ritual is waking up to a 10-minute meditation, which I have automated so it starts playing as soon as my alarm goes off. I usually sleep in my gym gear, so that I can go exercising straight upon getting out of bed.” 

The Aesthetician 

Dija Ayodele 

Last year, aesthetician and author Dija Ayodele released her debut book, Black Skin, hailed as “the ultimate skincare guide for Black women”. She also runs West Room Aesthetics, a skincare destination for women of colour. 

With ten years in the industry, Ayodele is an expert in her field, and runs the award-winning Black Skin Directory which connects people of colour to skincare brands and experts. 

Ayodele advises on a number of reputable beauty boards and journals. We hope Ayodele’s rising success is the start of the beauty and skincare industry becoming more equal and accessible. 

The Skincare Influencer 

Dr Michelle Wong 

Dr Michelle Wong is a beauty and skincare educator and influencer who has made it her mission to explain the science behind beauty products. 

She is a chemistry PhD and cosmetic chemist who loves science, honesty, sunscreen, and chocolate, and dislikes, as she puts it, “fear-mongering, hype, one-size-fits-all and detoxing.” She sounds like our kind of woman! 

Wong myth-busts everything you need to know about beauty and more and was recently featured in the UK’s The Sunday Times Style magazine as a skincare expert. 

The British Star 

Simone Ashley 

She’s starred in two of Netflix’s wildly successful and innovative series, Sex Education and Bridgerton, and with the second series of the latter due out in March, you’re going to be seeing a lot more of British actor Simone Ashley. 

With a fragrance campaign for Loewe, an appearance in British Vogue, and having been spotted on the front rows of Prada and Chanel, Ashley is tipped for 2022 success. 

The Presenter 

AJ Odudu 

Since her appearance on the UK’s Strictly Come Dancing competition and entertainment TV show, AJ Odudu has won over the hearts of many with her fun, bubbly, upbeat spirit.  

She’s already been announced as the host for the BAFTA EE Film Awards and rumours are circulating that she could be the next Love Island host or even be making an appearance as a presenter on breakfast TV. Watch this space.