The Most Fascinating Women Of 2012

Women were at the forefront of the national conversation in 2012--and from the halls of Washington to the covers of magazines were responsible for change in business, politics and lifestyle. Here, in photos, the 12 most fascinating women of 2012.

Susan G. Komen founder Nancy G. Brinker during an NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, in Arlington, Texas. The Bears won 34-18.

This photo provided by Facebook shows Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan at their wedding ceremony in Palo Alto, Calif., Saturday, May 19, 2012. Zuckerberg updated his status to "married" on Saturday. The ceremony took place in Zuckerberg's backyard before fewer than 100 guests, who all thought they were there to celebrate Chan's graduation.

Secretary of State HIllary Rodham Clinton addresses the Gallup "Evidence and Impact: Closing the Gender Data Gap" conference in Washington, Thursday, July 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen).

Sandra Fluke, attorney and women's rights activist addresses the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012.

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 11: Anne-Marie Slaughter, Bert G. Kerstetter '66 University Professor of Politics & International Affairs Princeton University, participates in a discussion during the 2012 WICT Leadership Conference at Hilton New York on September 11, 2012 in New York City.

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 6: Elizabeth Warren waves to the crowd after her acceptance speech after beating incumbent U.S. Senator Scott Bown at the Copley Fairmont November 6, 2012 Boston, Massachusetts. The campaign was highly contested and closely watched and went down to the wire. Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images).

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, plays hockey during her visit to St. Andrew s School, where she attended school from 1986 till 1995, in Pangbourne, England, Friday, Nov. 30, 2012. The Duchess of Cambridge has gone back to school. The royal, formerly known as Kate Middleton, played hockey and revealed her childhood nickname Squeak when she returned to her elementary school for a visit Friday. Kate told teachers and students at the private St. Andrew's School in southern England that her 10 years there were "some of my happiest years." She said that she enjoyed it so much that she had told her mother she wanted to return as a teacher.

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 28: Yahoo! President and CEO Marissa Mayer arrives at the White House for a meeting with President Barack Obama and other business leaders November 28, 2012 in Washington, DC. According to the White House, the American business executives met with Obama to discuss economic growth and deficit reduction.

TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 13: Jill Kelley leaves her home on November 13, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. Kelley, who is reported to be involved with the military community at MacDill Air Force Base, reported receiving harassing emails to the FBI, which resulted in an investigation that revealed the sender to be Paula Broadwell, who was found to be having an affair with Gen. David H. Petraeus.

British author E.L. James takes part in the TV show 'Le grand journal' on a set of French TV Canal+, on October 17, 2012 in Paris.

Courtesy: Forbes

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