Friday, Sep. 16, 2011

Johanna Sigurdardottir, Prime Minister of Iceland

After Iceland's economy collapsed in October 2008, Johanna Sigurdardottir rode a wave of discontent all the way to the premiership. It wasn't exactly surprising: the former flight attendant turned politician had won eight consecutive elections since entering Parliament in 1978, making her the country's longest-serving parliamentarian and one of its most popular. In addition to being Iceland's first female Prime Minister, Sigurdardottir, 68, is also the world's first openly gay head of state. In June 2010, when Iceland legalized gay marriage, Sigurdardottir tied the knot with her long-term partner, with whom she had entered a civil union seven years earlier.