Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame have appeared together on the cover of Marie Claire’s “Women of the Year” issue, with the magazine recognising them for their “bravery, honesty and smarts” this year.
Grace Tame was named 2021’s Australian of the Year for her advocacy for survivors of child sexual abuse, and former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins shot to national prominence this year after she bravely made the allegation that she was raped by a colleague at Parliament House in 2019.
Together, the two women have propelled a national conversation about sexual abuse and violence, as well as a debate about the treatment of women in parliament and the workplace.
“In the face of intense and ongoing scrutiny, they have led with compassion, embodied courage and spoken with conviction about their experiences of sexual assault and the institutional inaction they faced subsequently,” Marie Claire wrote about the cover stars.
“Since Tame’s impassioned Australian of the Year acceptance speech captured the attention of the nation on January 25, the advocate for survivors of child sexual assault has become a powerhouse of progress, her stance igniting a reckoning for the women of Australia.
“Meanwhile, Higgins will forever be synonymous with sparking a furious debate on gender-based violence and safety within Australian politics – and the workplace in general – following her brave decision to publicly allege she was raped by a colleague inside Parliament House.”
We’re honoured to unveil the cover of our annual Women of the Year issue, helmed by the inimitable @TamePunk and @BrittHiggins_ . pic.twitter.com/90D7Oik29i
— Marieclaireau (@marieclaireau) November 14, 2021
Tame and Higgins have developed a friendship this year, posting a photo to social media in the wake of the government’s Women’s Safety Summit. They said they held “our own” safety summit.
The cover has delighted social media, with many users noting what Higgins and Tame, and their advocacy, has meant to them this year.
Thank you doesn’t begin to suffice, @TamePunk @BrittHiggins_ 🙏🏽. Keep tearing shit up and holding the government to account. We all profit from your strength, courage and ferocity. What a vital force you’ve both been. pic.twitter.com/4SU8rtUj4X
— Tarla Lambert (@tarla_lambert) November 14, 2021
I love this. Powerful women, agents of change. Faith in the future! @marieclaireau @TamePunk @BrittHiggins_ @NickyBriger pic.twitter.com/51zSmv5sZd
— Natasha Stott Despoja (@NStottDespoja) November 14, 2021
Brava @BrittHiggins_ & @TamePunk – given what you’ve been endured & experienced this year alone I can only imagine how wild it is to find yourselves on the cover of Marie Claire. Iconic heroes, you both!! And props to @NickyBriger & MC team for the vision. 🔥💯🔥 #EnoughIsEnough pic.twitter.com/oNSsAgHEu8
— Georgie Dent (@georgiedent) November 14, 2021
A picture says a thousand words. And in this picture you can see integrity, courage, resilience and thousands more words like this which describe these two amazing “women of the year”
— Julia Banks (@juliahbanks) November 14, 2021
Brava Grace @TamePunk and @BrittHiggins_
👏👏
@marieclaireau pic.twitter.com/60IWx8RElN