Introducing Fortune’s first-ever Most Influential Ladies Asia rating

Right here’s who made it onto Fortune’s first-ever “Most Influential Ladies” rating: Twelve ladies from popular culture, policymaking {and professional} sports activities, who collectively present the varied ways in which energy will get expressed throughout the Asia-Pacific.

Blackpink

Hallyu, the Korean wave, is taking on the world—and lady group Blackpink has been at its crest. Lisa, Jennie, Rosé, and Jisoo have damaged quite a few information since their debut in 2016: the primary to promote a million, then two million, album copies in South Korea; the primary Korean group to prime the Billboard 200 album chart; the highest-grossing live performance tour by a feminine artist. Blackpink, and Ok-pop and Ok-culture extra broadly, are actually a supply of South Korean “comfortable energy,” increasing the nation’s cultural affect throughout Asia and past. 

Blackpink’s particular person artists have launched their very own businesses as they attempt to change into stars in their very own proper: Lisa’s LLOUD, Jennie’s Odd Atelier and Jisoo’s Blissoo. It’s a brand new enterprise for Ok-Pop, usually dominated by massive businesses like YG Leisure (which personal Blackpink), Hybe and SM Leisure. Now, Lisa, Jennie and others are branching to new media like tv and trend.—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia editor

Graham Uden for Fortune

Josephine Teo

Appointed as Singapore’s minister for digital improvement and data in 2024, Josephine Teo is the driving pressure behind Sensible Nation 2.0, which commits 1 billion Singapore {dollars} ($780 million) towards AI for the general public good. Teo has overseen updates to the nation’s pioneering AI governance framework— one of many world’s first nationwide AI methods—introducing new requirements for generative AI and saying world security initiatives on the 2025 AI Motion Summit in France. She’s prioritized constructing an AI-fluent workforce, with sturdy coaching partnerships putting greater than 2,600 professionals in AI, information analytics, and cybersecurity roles. Teo frolicked at Singapore’s Financial Growth Board and its Company for Science, Expertise, and Analysis earlier than making her political debut in 2006. In a earlier function as minister for manpower, she applied a 10-year highway map to lift retirement and reemployment ages, championed a 30% cumulative wage improve for important employees, and expanded wage assist for Singapore’s most weak residents.—Ayesha Khanna, CEO of Addo AI

Yuriko Koike

When Yuriko Koike grew to become governor of Tokyo in 2016, she wasted no time pushing for effectivity. Considered one of her first reforms was eliminating using “chops,” or seals, on official paperwork, an archaic observe that nobody had been capable of change. Individuals who work for Koike name her a breath of recent air. I’ve recognized Koike for over 20 years. She distinguished herself in stints as Japan’s setting and protection minister. One initiative was her “Cool Biz” marketing campaign, encouraging males to ditch neckties, and places of work to show up the thermostat to preserve vitality. As Tokyo’s governor, Koike managed the COVID pandemic and the 2020 Olympics: She was on TV each evening, explaining what the federal government was doing. Quite a lot of issues in Japan have modified for the higher concerning gender variety. However what hasn’t modified sufficient is the necessity for extra ladies in decision-making positions. Whereas 70% of Japanese ladies work outdoors the house, half of these work part-time. That’s helped result in a scarcity of girls in management roles in politics and in enterprise. Koike’s profession is a robust counterexample. Her report as a reformer, communicator, and disaster supervisor helps increase what’s potential for girls and strengthens Tokyo’s capability to guide on the world stage.—Kathy Matsui, Normal Companion, MPower Companions

Amal Alhasan—Getty Photographs for Fortune Media

Michelle Yeoh

Since successful the Academy Award for Greatest Actress in 2023 for her groundbreaking function in “All the things All over the place All at As soon as”, Michelle Yeoh has change into a robust advocate for illustration within the movie business. With a profession spanning over 4 a long time, Yeoh has helped pave the way in which for Asian actors on the worldwide stage. Her journey started in Hong Kong cinema, the place she gained fame for her roles in motion movies like “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”. She has since transitioned to Hollywood, incomes popularity of her versatility and depth in various roles. Beyond performing, she’s championed causes like gender equality and environmental sustainability, leveraging her social media presence and public talking engagements to push for change.

Xin Zhilei

Contemporary off her standout function in Wong Kar-wai’s “Blossoms Shanghai,” Xin Zhilei cemented her worldwide ascent final month when she gained the Greatest Actress award on the Venice Movie Competition for “The Solar Rises on Us All.” She’s solely the third Chinese language actor to say the respect. On Weibo—China’s main microblogging platform—and Instagram, her suggestions enhance books, movies, and rising creators. Her model partnerships and red-carpet presence shapes fashion conversations throughout Asia, whereas behind the scenes, she’s championing sharper scripts and female-forward casting.

Alexandra “Alex” Eala

Alexandra Eala is a trailblazer for Filipino tennis. She reached her first WTA Tour last in June at simply 20. She then added a WTA 125 title, and now owns a junior Grand Slam singles crown. Coaching in each Manila and the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, she’s now an everyday characteristic in Grand Slam foremost attracts, and has climbed as excessive as No. 54 within the world rankings. Her success has lifted tennis’s profile throughout Southeast Asia, significantly within the Philippines. Federations and colleges are actually increasing tennis courts, teaching and women’ applications—proof that one athlete is all it takes to spice up a sport’s profile.

Eileen Feng Gu

Eileen Gu took the world by storm when she made historical past in 2022, successful three Olympic medals in freestyle snowboarding on the age of 18. Born in San Francisco to a Chinese language mom, Gu’s determination to compete for the Chinese language workforce each bridged cultures and, on the similar time, sparked discussions about identification and nationalism. Geopolitical tensions could also be making her try to straddle that cultural divide slightly trickier, but Gu has remained centered on sport and advocacy, pushing for higher consciousness of each psychological well being and environmental sustainability. Gu can be a sought-after mannequin and model ambassador, working with each home and world manufacturers like Luckin Espresso, JD.com, Estee Lauder, and Tiffany & Co.

Lintao Zhang—Getty Photographs

Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka reveals that nationwide identification generally is a fluid factor, significantly on the planet of elite skilled sports activities. Osaka, born in Japan in 1997, spent most of her life within the U.S., coaching to change into an elite tennis participant. She’s embraced her Japanese origins, representing the Asian nation in worldwide sporting competitions and lighting the Olympic torch on the 2020 Tokyo Video games. Osaka has used her platform to champion social causes and the significance of psychological well being. She’s now again on the court docket after a short break following the delivery of her youngster. 

She’s additionally embracing her function as a cultural tastemaker: She’s launched her personal expertise company and is investing in endeavors to spice up the sphere of girls’s sports activities. And Osaka continues to be driving the worldwide cultural dialog: Her personalized Labubu dolls—like “Andre Swagassi”—are contributing to the worldwide hype over Pop Mart’s buzzy toys.

Zheng Qinwen

Zheng Qinwen defines Chinese language ladies’s tennis. In 2024, she gained the Olympic gold for singles tennis in Paris and reached the ultimate of the Australian Open. By June of this yr, she’d climbed to No. 4 within the world rankings—solely the second Chinese language girl after Li Na to enter the highest 5. Her affect is seen in popular culture as a lot as in skilled sports activities: She’s impressed watch events and inspired extra Chinese language tennis gamers. And she or he’s proved to be a marketable athlete too, as a Dior world ambassador and a companion of Rolex and Audi.

Further blurbs written by Nicholas Gordon, Charmaine Ng and Ashleigh Nghiem.