Ahilia Munna 
The Montclair Girl is celebrating Women’s History Month by highlighting noteworthy women from Essex County. From actresses to singers to athletes, these incredible women represent the best of the Garden State and have the achievements to prove it. Whether they were born here or moved to the County as a child, or as an adult with their families, Essex County is proud to be their home. Read on to learn more about these 22 outstanding women.
Alison Stewart (b. 1966-)
Alison Stewart is an author and journalist who is currently the host of WNYC’s afternoon show All of It with Alison Stewart. Born in Glen Ridge and raised in Montclair, Alison later attended Brown University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and American literature and discovered her passion for working in radio. Alison earned a Peabody Award for MTV News’ “Choose or Lose” campaign, a 1992 presidential campaign coverage that she reported and produced. Over the span of two decades, she has worked with NPR, PBS, ABC, and MSNBC and published two books. Now, Alison is the host of WNYC’s daily live afternoon radio program, All of It with Alison Stewart, where she covers topics about New York City and culture.
Bebe Neuwirth (b. 1958-)
Bebe Neuwirth is an actress, singer, and dancer most well-known for her role as Dr. Lilith Sternin on the sitcom Cheers and for her Broadway performances, such as playing Velma Kelly in the 1996 showing of Chicago. She has been lauded with several awards, including two Emmys and two Tonys. Bebe was born in Newark and raised in Princeton due to her father working as a mathematics professor at Princeton University. At five years old, she took ballet lessons, dreaming of being a ballet dancer, until the age of 13, when she saw Pippin on Broadway. From thereon, she wanted to be a Broadway musical dancer and dedicated herself to singing and jazz classes. Bebe performed with the Princeton Ballet Company in a few ballets and in some community theater musicals before making her Broadway debut in 1980.
Bobbi Brown (b. 1957-)
Bobbi Brown is a professional make-up artist, founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, founder of Beauty Evolution LLC, and author. Bobbi was born in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from Emerson College, Boston, earning her degree in theatrical makeup and photography. She is most well-known in the beauty industry for creating ten natural-shade lipsticks in 1990, emphasizing a natural look when makeup trends leaned bright and colorful in the 1980s. While not originally from Essex County, Bobbi and her husband Steven raised their family in Montclair, where her children attended public school. Notably, she has held charitable events in Montclair, and she and her husband redesigned the boutique hotel, The George, in 2018.
Read More: A List of Women-Owned Businesses in Montclair
Christina Ricci (b. 1980)
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Christina Ricci is an actress known for her gothic acting style and roles such as Misty Quigley on Yellowjackets and Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family (1991), often plays characters with a darker edge. She debuted as a child star at age 9 in the film Mermaids (1990), where she worked alongside Cher and Winona Ryder. Born in Santa Monica, California, Christina’s family moved to Montclair when she was a child. She attended grade school in Montclair, including Montclair High School. Aside from acting, Christina has been the national spokesperson for the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) since 2007 and is passionate about advocating for victims of sexual violence.
Cissy Houston (b. 1933-2024)
Cissy Houston was a soul and gospel singer and the mother of Whitney Houston. She was born and raised in Newark, where she attended South Side High School and the New Hope Baptist Church. Her father’s family is from Georgia, where they owned land before they sold it over time and moved to Newark during the Great Migration. Cissy’s best-known singles include “I’ll Be There” and “Think It Over,” and she’s earned many accolades for her work in gospel, soul, and rhythm and blues music, including the Stellar Award of Excellence, induction into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, and induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Having been in hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, Cissy died in Newark on October 7th, 2024, at 91 years old.
Dionne Warwick (b. 1940-)
Dionne Warwick is a singer, actress, and television host known as one of the greatest artists of all time. With many hit songs, such as “Walk On By”, “Alfie”, and “Don’t Make Me Over”, Dionne is one of the most charted vocalists ever and has made Billboard’s Hot 100 more than 50 times. She was born and raised in East Orange and attended East Orange High School and New Hope Baptist Church in Newark. As a contralto, Dionne is praised for her wide vocal range and unique, warm singing voice. Her many achievements include six Grammys, such as the Lifetime Achievement Award and induction in the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame, National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Apollo Theater Walk of Fame. The city of East Orange honored her by renaming her former elementary school to Dionne Warwick Institute in 1996.
Ginny Duenkel (b. 1947-)
Ginny Duenkel is an Olympic champion and a former competitive swimmer and record holder. She participated in the Tokyo 1964 Olympics at 17 years old and won gold in the women’s 400-meter freestyle and bronze in the women’s 100-meter backstroke. 18 days before the Olympic final, Ginny set a world record for the 100m backstroke, making her one of six record holders to be in the final. Ginny was born in Orange, raised in West Orange, and attended West Orange High School. The “Ginny Duenkel Pool”, open to West Orange residents, was named in her honor.
Ibtihaj Muhammad (b. 1985-)
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Ibtihaj Muhammad is an Olympic medalist in fencing, an entrepreneur, author, and activist. Born and raised in Maplewood, Ibtihaj attended Columbia High School, where she began fencing at 13 years old. From 2011 to 2015, Ibtihaj earned five medals as part of the United States women’s sabre team in the World Fencing Championships. In the Rio 2016 Olympics, she won bronze in the women’s team sabre event. Notably, Ibtihaj was the first American woman to compete in a hijab, the first Muslim-American woman to win a medal, and the first Black woman to win a medal in the sabre event. In 2014, she founded Louella, a clothing company, and in 2017, Mattel modeled the first hijabi Barbie doll after her. As an author, Ibtihaj published her memoir in 2018 and a series of children’s books about two Muslim sisters.
Jess Perlmutter (b. 2009-)
Jess Perlmutter is a snowboarder who represented the United States at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics in two events. Although she didn’t advance to the finals in the big air event, she later finished in sixth place in the slopestyle event. Jess was born in Millburn, but moved to Killington, Vermont, where she developed her love for snowboarding. Her snowboarding style is marked by her creativity, technical precision, and constant progression, which has led to many achievements in her young career, including the women’s slopestyle national championship title at the U.S. Grand Prix in Aspen. Nominated to join Team USA at 15 years old, Jess was one of the youngest athletes on the team. She’s also an established skateboarder and balances both snowboarding and skateboarding throughout the year.
Joetta Clark Diggs (b. 1962-)
Joetta Clark Diggs is a retired track and field champion who represented Team USA in four Olympics: 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2000. Joetta was born in East Orange and attended Columbia High School, where she began competing under her brother’s coaching, never losing the 800-meter race and winning the state Meet of Champions for four consecutive years. Her 28-year-long career highlights include nine collegiate titles, winning five US Champion outdoors titles, and winning seven US Indoor titles. Joetta was ranked in the world’s top 10 six times, earning her highest ranking of fourth place in 1998 at 36 years old. After retiring, Joetta launched her career as an author and motivational speaker, incorporating her experience as a track and field athlete into strategies for success.
Kelsey O’Driscoll (b. 1994-)
Kelsey O’Driscoll is a Para Alpine skier who represented Team USA at the 2026 Milano Cortina Paralympics. Kelsey is a Caldwell native who grew up skiing at Gore Mountain, New York, where she eventually worked as a ski patroller after moving to the Adirondacks. Kelsey became a registered nurse in 2019 and balanced her two careers until 2021, when she suffered a major spinal injury. After weeks of rehab, she returned to Gore Mountain and began skiing again with adaptive skis. Soon after, she was skiing competitively, joined Team USA, and in the 2026 Paralympics, participated in all five Para Alpine Skiing standing events.
Keshia Knight Pulliam (b. 1979-)
Keshia Knight Pulliam is an actress and director best known for her role as Rudy Huxtable in The Cosby Show, for which she became the youngest person to be nominated for an Emmy Award at six years old when she was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Keshia was born in Newark and began her role as Rudy at five years old, winning it due to her maturity and memorization skills. Aside from The Cosby Show, her film debut was The Last Dragon (1985), and she was cast in the main role of Miranda Lucas Payne in Tyler Perry’s House of Payne in 2007. For her role as Miranda, Keshia has been nominated four times for the NAACP Image Awards Best Supporting Actress in the Comedy Series and has won it three times.
Lauryn Hill (b. 1975-)
Lauryn Hill is a rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, composer, and actress. Born in East Orange and raised in South Orange, Lauryn began her music career as the frontwoman of the New Jersey-based hip-hop group, the Fugees; the group was formed when Lauryn and groupmate Pras met at Columbia High School in Maplewood. She is known as a prolific artist who made breakthroughs for female rappers and for the genres of hip-hop and neo-soul. Her accolades include eight Grammy awards and nineteen nominations, the ASCAP Golden Note Award, the NAACP President’s Award, and inductions in the Grammy Hall of Fame, the National Recording Registry, and the Black Music + Entertainment Walk of Fame.
Martha Stewart (b. 1941-)
Martha Stewart is an entrepreneur, television personality, and author, most well-known for her lifestyle content. She was born in Jersey City and raised in Nutley, and throughout her childhood, she learned skills like cooking, baking, and sewing from her mother. Martha created her platform based on these skills, starting with the magazine and television program Martha Stewart Living in the early 1990s. In 1996, she founded Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and branched out into broadcasting, publishing, and merchandising. For her innovations and extremely successful career, Martha has been recognized with honors such as an Edison Achievement Award and induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
Melba Moore (b. 1945-)
Melba Moore is a singer and actress recognized for her Broadway performances and music in the rhythm and blues genre. Melba was born in New York City and raised in Harlem until her family moved to Newark, where she attended Newark Arts High School. She earned her BA in music from Montclair State College. While she originally started with a recording career, Melba found more immediate success on Broadway. In 1970, she won the Tony for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Lutiebelle in Purlie. Melba continued to expand her career throughout the 1970s and 80s, also earning three Grammy nominations. Her other accolades include induction into the National Rhythm + Blues Hall of Fame and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Live Theatre/Live Performance category.
Michelle Thomas (b. 1968-1998)
Michelle Thomas was an actress known for her roles on The Cosby Show, Family Matters, and The Young and the Restless. She was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, and raised in Montclair, and graduated from West Essex High School in 1987. Her father, Dennis Thomas, was one of the founding members of the band Kool + the Gang. In 1997, Michelle was diagnosed with a rare cancer, leading her to retire from her career in 1998. After undergoing surgery on December 23rd, 1998, Michelle passed away from a desmoplastic tumor with her loved ones by her bedside. In 1999, Michelle was posthumously nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series at the NAACP Image Awards for her role in The Young and the Restless.
Mikie Sherrill (b. 1972-)
Mikie Sherrill is the 57th governor of New Jersey and the state’s second female governor. While she may not have been born and raised in New Jersey, she has represented the state since 2018, when she was elected to the House of Representatives for New Jersey’s 11th congressional district. Before her political career, Mikie first served as a Naval Aviator for nine years, piloting a helicopter and earning the rank of lieutenant. From 2007 to 2016, Mikie earned her Juris degree and worked in law, eventually becoming a federal prosecutor for New Jersey. Since 2010, she has lived in Montclair with her family and represented a large portion of Essex County in the 11th congressional district, with her congressional office in Livingston. Elected in 2025, Mikie now serves as the Governor and was sworn in at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, which was notably the first gubernatorial inauguration held outside of Trenton since the term of New Jersey’s first governor, William Livingston.
Queen Latifah (b. 1970-)
Queen Latifah is a rapper, songwriter, and actress. She was born in Newark, raised in East Orange, attended Catholic schools in Newark and Irvington, but graduated from Irvington High School. She found success in hip-hop, but throughout the early 2000s, she changed her genre to soul and jazz for a few years before making a return to hip-hop. Latifah’s career grew as she took on many acting projects, starting with her role in Best Picture winner, Chicago. Her legacy includes her work in elevating feminism and Afrocentrism as opposition to Eurocentric ideals, challenging the status quo in the entertainment industry. Queen Latifah’s numerous accolades include a Grammy, an Emmy, and a Golden Globe, and she was the first hip-hop artist to earn a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Retta (b. 1970-)
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Retta is an actress and comedian, and is known for her roles as Donna Meagle in Parks and Recreation and Ruby Hill in Good Girls. She was born in Newark and raised in Edison and Aberdeen. Retta started her career in stand-up comedy in the late 1990s and performed as an opening act for many comedians. Originally, when she was cast as Donna Meagle, it was a minor role with guest appearances, but upon the third season, Retta was made a regular, and in the sixth season, was upgraded to the main cast. She starred in NBC’s crime comedy drama series Good Girls, which aired for four seasons, as Ruby Hill alongside Christina Hendrick and Mae Whitman. Since 2024, she has been the host of HGTV’s television program, Scariest House in America.
See More: 26 Hoboken + Jersey City Women to Watch in 2026
SZA (b. 1989-)
SZA is a singer-songwriter recognized for her major impact on influencing R+B. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but raised in Maplewood, where she attended Columbia High School. SZA’s debut album Ctrl received critical acclaim, and her success continued with many collaborations. Her second album, SOS, also received acclaim, leading SZA to become the first woman to stay on the Billboard 200’s top-ten for 100 weeks. She has often collaborated with rapper Kendrick Lamar, and in 2025, they co-headlined the Grand National Tour. Her many accolades, a total of 81 awards, include 7 Grammys, a Brit Award, six Billboard Music Awards, and three American Music Awards.
Whitney Houston (b. 1963-2012)
Whitney Houston was a singer, actress, film producer, and model. Nicknamed “the Voice”, she is one of the most awarded performers of all time and a cultural icon known for her artistic style of opposing gender and racial barriers. Whitney was born in Newark and raised in East Orange; she attended New Hope Baptist Church in Newark and Mount Saint Dominic Academy in Caldwell. Some of her most famous works include her role in The Bodyguard, the Grammy-winning album made to promote it, and the lead single “I Will Always Love You.” With a diverse career in the entertainment industry, Whitney produced films such as The Princess Diaries (2001–2004) and The Cheetah Girls (2003–2006). In 2012, Whitney passed on February 11, 2012, and there was a tribute for her on the following day at the 54th Grammy Awards. As seen by her 437 award wins and 564 nominations, many of which are posthumous, her legacy as a pop culture icon continues to grow.
Vera Farmiga (b. 1973-)
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Vera Farmiga is an actress, singer, and director, known as a scream queen for her roles in horror films such as Orphan and The Conjuring series. She was born in Clifton, raised in Irvington, and attended St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic School in Newark. Aside from horror films, Vera has acted in a wide variety of television and film genres such as dramas, biographical works, and superhero action-adventures. She most recently started in the 2025 military comedy drama television series, Boots. Vera has received many accolades, including nominations for an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, two Emmys, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. She has won four film critics’ awards and thirteen others, including one Sundance Film Festival Award.
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