Here it is again! In honor of March being Women’s History Month, I’m posting my list of women I admire. Mostly it’s a list of public women who I find myself drawn to, either because I love what they’re doing for women or just for being the essence of awesome. Last year’s list included Laura Bush, Tina Fey, my aunt who has kicked cancer’s ass and Ruth Graham. There’s always at least one woman from my personal life who makes the cut though. And here they are, the women I admire for 2009:

The ladies I interviewed for a Vox Magazine article on Women Authors in Mid-Mo: The claws came out in the meeting when this issue’s stories were assigned. Nothing was going to stop me from writing this incredible article. Once I started interviewing these women, however, I was so bummed that I was only allowed 100 words per writer. Each of them were so amazing and so insightful. I had 1000 words easy from every interview. I just wanted to sit at these women’s feet and bask in their writing wisdom.

Meghan McCain: The more I read this girl’s writing and listen to her during TV interviews the more I like her. Some people say she’s just a rich valley girl who knows nothing, but I disagree. She’s an intelligent normal person who has the guts to say what needs to be say. I love that she’s trying to save her party and make them more relevant. I love that she stands up to those who bring up her body and encourages women to love their bodies the way they are.  I am definitely following her on Twitter.

Kristen Wiig: She is by far my favorite cast member on SNL right now. She. is. hilarious. She dominates every sketch she’s in. I love her as Nancy Pelosi and Penelope the One-Upper. If you aren’t watching SNL right now, watch it to see what I’m talking about.

Elizabeth Banks: This gorgeous actress has an incredible range of acting ability. After seeing her on Scrubs as the mother of J.D.’s son at the end of last season and Definitely, Maybe, I was blown away when I just randomly watched Seabiscuit for the first time in years and realized that she plays Seabiscuit’s owners wife! After that serious role, to find out she’s also The Daily Bugle secretary in all three Spidermans, a sex-maniac in The 40-year-old Virgin, one of the leads in Zack and Miri, and Laura Bush in Oliver Stone’s W. blew my mind. Yes, some of her choices in movies are raunchy (just look at the plot of Zack and Miri), but this woman is hilarious, talented and very down-to-earth. She joins Keira Knightely and Natalie Portman as one of my favorite young actresses that I wish I could be friends with.

My Mom: As always, she has to be on this list. I try to live my life like she lives hers. She’s so smart and so cool, and she always seems to react the right way during life’s tough situations and knows what to do. I miss her and wish we could hang out all the time.

One of my BFFs Ashley Geiger: I’ve been struggling a lot on the spiritual front, and Ashley is an inspiration to me. When she talks about God, whether she’s struggling or on top of the world, it always sounds sincere and genuinine. When she says things that would make me gag coming from myself or someone else, it’s the most beautiful thing ever because I know she means it. She’s not trying to impress; she’s being honest. Wish I could be that way, but I always feel like I’m trying to “sound spiritual.”

Lady I’m Keeping an Eye on: Rachel Maddow: She has recently grabbed my attention after seeing her on The Colbert Report and actually watching her show when Meghan McCain was on it. I appreciate her style from what I’ve seen so far. She definitely has me intrigued and will possibly be full-fledged woman-i-admire status next year.