While the Left prides itself on preaching the ideals of feminism and equality, conservative women across the country have been working to defy the stereotypes, strengthen themselves as leaders, and shatter the glass ceilings put in place by the Left. Many of these women are the leaders of our YAF chapters. As the Left claims oppression and victimhood, our YAF chapter women work hard and champion individual empowerment. Each YAF leader has a different story, different inspiration, and different lessons they’ve learned. Abby Streu As a strong conservative woman, Abby Streu actively practices her Second Amendment rights when she goes to the pistol range to shoot or shoots some rounds with her dad in the backyard. While Abby serves as the chair of UW-Madison YAF, she also loves to hike, swim, read, and even play the piano. As a YAF leader, Abby says that she works to do more than “merely sit and tap out a tweet on my keyboard. I want to go out, say something, write an article…I want to do all I can,” to advocate for her belief in “God-given rights and liberty…Being a conservative means that I promote the equal treatment of people, protecting God-given rights and liberty above all else,” Abby says. Her leadership and experience has not come without challenges. As a conservative woman, Abby says her biggest challenge has been failure, but she has used her beliefs as a conservative Christian to learn that “my success is not due to me but is due to God working through me.” Abby consistently uses her faith to help her grow as both a leader and a young woman and understand that “disappointment builds character by humbling the person who fails.” [pullquote]Disappointment builds character by humbling the person who fails.[/pullquote] Whether it be the Left pushing stereotypes on who she is as a woman, other students fighting against her hard work, or simply making a mistake, Abby says that she perseveres not for herself, but because she has discovered that “working for God and His glory is far more fulfilling than working for myself.” When asked what conservative female she most admires, Abby said Ida B. Wells. Keeping with Abby’s theme of persevering and rising above, she says that she most admires Ida B. Wells because “she faced so many obstacles, and yet she rose to being one of the most influential fighters for freedom during her lifetime…she fought for Second Amendment rights for African Americans, to give women a voice…she lived a very productive and significant life.”Jaime Hahn Outside of her YAF activism, Jaime Hahn has a soft spot for kids and serves as a dedicated volunteer in her church nursery. For as long as she can remember, her dream has been to be a mom, so spending time with kids is where she finds her joy in life. Jaime currently serves as the co-chair of the YAF chapter at Kennesaw State University. She constantly dedicates herself to advancing the Conservative Movement on campus, even when the university administration and faculty do nothing but work against her. As a conservative, Jaime explains that she advocates for “having the right to choose my own path in life and letting others choose their own, but still passionately advocating for the traditional American values on which our country was founded.” For Jaime, passion is a key ingredient to being a conservative, being a leader, and being a strong woman. Her passion has led her to become a leader that “always strives to be…moving things along, despite all of the opposition.” To her, conservative leadership doesn’t necessarily mean being in front of the crowds or having everyone know her name, but it means being the one behind the scenes doing the work that no one else will. While selflessly serving her community, her YAF chapter, and the Conservative Movement as a whole, Jaime says that humility is the number one thing she has learned. Despite her experiences having to deal with people who disagree or work against her, Jaime explains that she has had the opportunity to learn “an incredible lesson in the fact that it is much less important for me to be right or gain attention than it is for my message to get through.” Her desire to be a mother and make a difference in the world around her has led to her admiration of Rachel Campos-Duffy. Jaime says that while “she’s married to a U.S. Representative and has a huge family” she still manages to simultaneously have her dream career, “advocate for school choice, and represent traditional family values. Rachel Campos-Duffy is living my dream life,” Jaime says. Clare McKinney Clare is a senior at St. Mary’s College and serves as chair of the YAF chapter. The roots of Clare’s beliefs as a conservative go back to her value of “individualism and [understanding] that our rights come from God, not the government.” Fearless in her pursuit of what she believes, Clare says that “owning your principles” is the most important part of being a conservative leader. To her, being a leader isn’t about advancing herself, but it means that she is “willing to support others in their fight to preserve [what] makes the United States a beacon for liberty.” Because the Left constantly uses her beliefs and ideals to attack who she is as a person, Clare has continuously used her experiences as a conservative woman to “learn how to critically think and have well-developed positions on a variety of issues.” After constantly being told that she is “wrong, not a ‘real’ woman, and won’t be successful” because she is a conservative woman, Clare has turned these challenges into valuable lessons that have made her “develop a stronger work ethic and the confidence necessary to be a leader in the…Conservative Movement.” Just as Clare is never afraid to stand up to the Left despite their harsh words and criticisms, she most admires the 37th United States Treasurer, Bay Buchanan, because she is “not afraid to stand up for a variety of issues.” Clare explains that she is “inspired by her advocacy of strength and leadership” and her advice to “be a voice for the conservative women who are still too afraid to speak up.”Alexia Rodriquez Alexia, a photographer and writer, serves as the chair of YAF at West Allis Central High School. [pullquote]Being different in the sense that I am conservative has helped me grow more confident and comfortable with myself.[/pullquote] Being a young conservative leader, Alexia has always found it difficult to fit in with other girls. While she has views that differ from most women, she has used her experience as a young female leader to learn that it’s not necessarily a bad thing to stand out from the crowd. “Being different in the sense that I am conservative has helped me grow more confident and comfortable with myself” Alexia says. To her, conservatism is about far more than policy, but it is a lifestyle in itself. For Alexia, being a conservative means “being fearless in the process of working hard to make our country a better place.” As a fearless conservative woman herself, Alexia most admires Rachel Campos-Duffy. Rachel Campos-Duffy is, like Alexia, a Hispanic conservative woman. Despite the left claiming that conservative women are anti-women, Rachel Campos-Duffy continues to be a strong woman, a great mother, and a genuinely kind person to those around here – just a few of the reasons that Alexia is so inspired by her. Regina Barton Outside of her incredible YAF activism, Regina is a tennis player, loves to travel to learn about different cultures, is pursuing her scuba diving certification, and is whole heartedly dedicated to her studies as a Biological Sciences major. Regina leads the YAF chapter at the University of Cincinnati in which she works to “champion the rights and freedom of the individual and the founding ideas” that she believes make the United States of America the best country in the world. As a conservative leader and a woman, Regina values the opportunities she has been given to “inspire others…to learn more about the Conservative Movement” in a place that “the conservative message is underrepresented and often not given the light of day by professors and fellow students.” This semester, Regina and her chapter brought pro-life advocate Star Parker to campus. Reflecting on this opportunity, Regina explains that “seeing the discussion and changes that it sparked at the highest levels of administration was amazing.” Beyond just that, they were able to stimulate discussion between members of the audience and truly change the way the Conservative Movement was talked about on their campus. Serving as the head of an executive board that is primarily female, Regina’s challenges as a conservative woman have been exacerbated by the leftists on campus. “Many people think that women are and should support the liberal ideology. They believe women who support conservative views are ill-informed. This couldn’t be further from the truth,” Regina says. Despite the Left’s stereotypes working against her and her chapter members, Regina has learned that it is “important to stand strong in your convictions…it is possible to respect authority while advocating for what you know is right.” As a woman who is subject to constant judgement from the Left for her leadership in the Conservative Movement, Regina admires U.N. Ambassador Niki Haley for the way that she “stood up for Israel and didn’t back down even when the rest of the countries voted against [her].” “She is the definition of a strong conservative leader,” Regina says. Morgan Bailey A sister of Delta Delta Delta and a strong advocate for St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital, Morgan Bailey is the definition of a strong female leader. Morgan serves as the chair of Clemson YAF and constantly strives to be the kind of leader who is “never giving up when people try to get you down.” Advocating for “low taxes, respecting the Constitution, and [the] rights that come in the Constitution,” Morgan believes that being a strong conservative leader means “being strong in your beliefs while still educating yourself and your fellow students.” Through her time as a YAFer and a conservative female leader, Morgan says she has learned to “become stronger in my beliefs but also listen to people from the other side.” She explains that the key is to “act with grace and class” when people act out against her due to her beliefs, but also that it is always “okay to ask for help or to go to a professor if the problems continue to exist.” A fellow Clemson alumna and South Carolinian, Morgan most admires U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Morgan finds it exceptionally admirable the way that Nikki Haley “made South Carolina history when she became the first female and minority governor.” Just as Morgan has learned to stand up for what she believes in, she looks up to Nikki Haley for inspiration because “She never backed down or let those who didn’t want her in office destroy her.” On top of that, she still leads a normal life and “puts her family first and brags on her kids like any other mom.” Nikki Haley is a leading conservative female that manages to balance her goals as a businesswoman and her goals as a mother and wife. As seen through each of these women, the Conservative Movement is full of powerful leading ladies who, despite all odds continue to fight for what they believe in and make waves. Whether it be through their YAF chapter, their hobbies, or their studies, these women practice courage, bravery, class, and grace to shatter glass ceilings in everything they do. These women are the definition of #LadiesWhoLead.
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Abby Streu As a strong conservative woman, Abby Streu actively practices her Second Amendment rights when she goes to the pistol range to shoot or shoots some rounds with her dad in the backyard. While Abby serves as the chair of UW-Madison YAF, she also loves to hike, swim, read, and even play the piano. As a YAF leader, Abby says that she works to do more than “merely sit and tap out a tweet on my keyboard. I want to go out, say something, write an article…I want to do all I can,” to advocate for her belief in “God-given rights and liberty…Being a conservative means that I promote the equal treatment of people, protecting God-given rights and liberty above all else,” Abby says. 
Her leadership and experience has not come without challenges. As a conservative woman, Abby says her biggest challenge has been failure, but she has used her beliefs as a conservative Christian to learn that “my success is not due to me but is due to God working through me.” Abby consistently uses her faith to help her grow as both a leader and a young woman and understand that “disappointment builds character by humbling the person who fails.” [pullquote]Disappointment builds character by humbling the person who fails.[/pullquote] Whether it be the Left pushing stereotypes on who she is as a woman, other students fighting against her hard work, or simply making a mistake, Abby says that she perseveres not for herself, but because she has discovered that “working for God and His glory is far more fulfilling than working for myself.” When asked what conservative female she most admires, Abby said Ida B. Wells. Keeping with Abby’s theme of persevering and rising above, she says that she most admires Ida B. Wells because “she faced so many obstacles, and yet she rose to being one of the most influential fighters for freedom during her lifetime…she fought for Second Amendment rights for African Americans, to give women a voice…she lived a very productive and significant life.” 
Jaime Hahn Outside of her YAF activism, Jaime Hahn has a soft spot for kids and serves as a dedicated volunteer in her church nursery. For as long as she can remember, her dream has been to be a mom, so spending time with kids is where she finds her joy in life. Jaime currently serves as the co-chair of the YAF chapter at Kennesaw State University. She constantly dedicates herself to advancing the Conservative Movement on campus, even when the university administration and faculty do nothing but work against her. As a conservative, Jaime explains that she advocates for “having the right to choose my own path in life and letting others choose their own, but still passionately advocating for the traditional American values on which our country was founded.” For Jaime, passion is a key ingredient to being a conservative, being a leader, and being a strong woman. Her passion has led her to become a leader that “always strives to be…moving things along, despite all of the opposition.” To her, conservative leadership doesn’t necessarily mean being in front of the crowds or having everyone know her name, but it means being the one behind the scenes doing the work that no one else will. 
While selflessly serving her community, her YAF chapter, and the Conservative Movement as a whole, Jaime says that humility is the number one thing she has learned. Despite her experiences having to deal with people who disagree or work against her, Jaime explains that she has had the opportunity to learn “an incredible lesson in the fact that it is much less important for me to be right or gain attention than it is for my message to get through.” 
Her desire to be a mother and make a difference in the world around her has led to her admiration of Rachel Campos-Duffy. Jaime says that while “she’s married to a U.S. Representative and has a huge family” she still manages to simultaneously have her dream career, “advocate for school choice, and represent traditional family values. Rachel Campos-Duffy is living my dream life,” Jaime says. Clare McKinney Clare is a senior at St. Mary’s College and serves as chair of the YAF chapter. The roots of Clare’s beliefs as a conservative go back to her value of “individualism and [understanding] that our rights come from God, not the government.” Fearless in her pursuit of what she believes, Clare says that “owning your principles” is the most important part of being a conservative leader. To her, being a leader isn’t about advancing herself, but it means that she is “willing to support others in their fight to preserve [what] makes the United States a beacon for liberty.” Because the Left constantly uses her beliefs and ideals to attack who she is as a person, Clare has continuously used her experiences as a conservative woman to “learn how to critically think and have well-developed positions on a variety of issues.” After constantly being told that she is “wrong, not a ‘real’ woman, and won’t be successful” because she is a conservative woman, Clare has turned these challenges into valuable lessons that have made her “develop a stronger work ethic and the confidence necessary to be a leader in the…Conservative Movement.” 
Just as Clare is never afraid to stand up to the Left despite their harsh words and criticisms, she most admires the 37th United States Treasurer, Bay Buchanan, because she is “not afraid to stand up for a variety of issues.” Clare explains that she is “inspired by her advocacy of strength and leadership” and her advice to “be a voice for the conservative women who are still too afraid to speak up.” Alexia Rodriquez Alexia, a photographer and writer, serves as the chair of YAF at West Allis Central High School. 
[pullquote]Being different in the sense that I am conservative has helped me grow more confident and comfortable with myself.[/pullquote] Being a young conservative leader, Alexia has always found it difficult to fit in with other girls. While she has views that differ from most women, she has used her experience as a young female leader to learn that it’s not necessarily a bad thing to stand out from the crowd. “Being different in the sense that I am conservative has helped me grow more confident and comfortable with myself” Alexia says. To her, conservatism is about far more than policy, but it is a lifestyle in itself. For Alexia, being a conservative means “being fearless in the process of working hard to make our country a better place.” As a fearless conservative woman herself, Alexia most admires Rachel Campos-Duffy. Rachel Campos-Duffy is, like Alexia, a Hispanic conservative woman. Despite the left claiming that conservative women are anti-women, Rachel Campos-Duffy continues to be a strong woman, a great mother, and a genuinely kind person to those around here – just a few of the reasons that Alexia is so inspired by her. Regina Barton Outside of her incredible YAF activism, Regina is a tennis player, loves to travel to learn about different cultures, is pursuing her scuba diving certification, and is whole heartedly dedicated to her studies as a Biological Sciences major. Regina leads the YAF chapter at the University of Cincinnati in which she works to “champion the rights and freedom of the individual and the founding ideas” that she believes make the United States of America the best country in the world. As a conservative leader and a woman, Regina values the opportunities she has been given to “inspire others…to learn more about the Conservative Movement” in a place that “the conservative message is underrepresented and often not given the light of day by professors and fellow students.” 
This semester, Regina and her chapter brought pro-life advocate Star Parker to campus. Reflecting on this opportunity, Regina explains that “seeing the discussion and changes that it sparked at the highest levels of administration was amazing.” Beyond just that, they were able to stimulate discussion between members of the audience and truly change the way the Conservative Movement was talked about on their campus. 
Serving as the head of an executive board that is primarily female, Regina’s challenges as a conservative woman have been exacerbated by the leftists on campus. “Many people think that women are and should support the liberal ideology. They believe women who support conservative views are ill-informed. This couldn’t be further from the truth,” Regina says. Despite the Left’s stereotypes working against her and her chapter members, Regina has learned that it is “important to stand strong in your convictions…it is possible to respect authority while advocating for what you know is right.” As a woman who is subject to constant judgement from the Left for her leadership in the Conservative Movement, Regina admires U.N. Ambassador Niki Haley for the way that she “stood up for Israel and didn’t back down even when the rest of the countries voted against [her].” “She is the definition of a strong conservative leader,” Regina says. Morgan Bailey A sister of Delta Delta Delta and a strong advocate for St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital, Morgan Bailey is the definition of a strong female leader. Morgan serves as the chair of Clemson YAF and constantly strives to be the kind of leader who is “never giving up when people try to get you down.” Advocating for “low taxes, respecting the Constitution, and [the] rights that come in the Constitution,” Morgan believes that being a strong conservative leader means “being strong in your beliefs while still educating yourself and your fellow students.” 
Through her time as a YAFer and a conservative female leader, Morgan says she has learned to “become stronger in my beliefs but also listen to people from the other side.” She explains that the key is to “act with grace and class” when people act out against her due to her beliefs, but also that it is always “okay to ask for help or to go to a professor if the problems continue to exist.” A fellow Clemson alumna and South Carolinian, Morgan most admires U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Morgan finds it exceptionally admirable the way that Nikki Haley “made South Carolina history when she became the first female and minority governor.” Just as Morgan has learned to stand up for what she believes in, she looks up to Nikki Haley for inspiration because “She never backed down or let those who didn’t want her in office destroy her.” On top of that, she still leads a normal life and “puts her family first and brags on her kids like any other mom.” Nikki Haley is a leading conservative female that manages to balance her goals as a businesswoman and her goals as a mother and wife. 
As seen through each of these women, the Conservative Movement is full of powerful leading ladies who, despite all odds continue to fight for what they believe in and make waves. Whether it be through their YAF chapter, their hobbies, or their studies, these women practice courage, bravery, class, and grace to shatter glass ceilings in everything they do. These women are the definition of #LadiesWhoLead.
