Cathy Freeman is Australia's Most Admired Woman

SYDNEY, Oct. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Cathy Freeman has been voted Australia's Most Admired Woman, beating off a list of contenders that includes Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Hollywood actor Cate Blanchett and a host of business women, scientists and models.

The findings are contained in the inaugural Top 100 Most Admired Women in Australia report, compiled by Million Dollar Woman.

This is the first time the country's sporting and entertainment stars have been ranked alongside our most senior politicians, academics and business figures.

The verdicts were reached by compiling the votes of more than 1,200 Australian women, who ranked each candidate on a scale of 1 to 10.

The Top 10 Most Admired Women in Australia

Million Dollar Woman CEO Lynette Argent congratulated Freeman on her unique honour, saying she was an inspiration for all Australians.

"Cathy Freeman is a remarkable Australian who carried the hopes of a nation on her shoulders at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and who has always conducted herself in a dignified and gracious way," Ms Argent said.

"This study lifts a lid on who captures our interest, who displays highly regarded qualities like grit, perseverance, integrity and honesty.

"It is a fascinating insight into the Australian psyche, and provides a contemporary view of what it is to be an Australian leader."

While the analysis ranks the country's most revered women from 1-100, it also includes the Top 10 as voted by each generation:

• Generation Z (aged 14-17)
• Generation Y (aged 17-31)
• Generation X (aged 32-46)
• Baby Boomers (aged 47-66)
• Builders (aged 67 years old and above).

Apart from the national winner, the report identifies the Most Admired Woman from each State.

The overall findings suggest we revere women with a high public profile such as musicians, actors and sports stars.

Other women to make the list include:

• Prime Minister Julia Gillard
• Westpac CEO Gail Kelly
• Models Jennifer Hawkins, Megan Gale and Lara Bingle
• Renowned feminist Germaine Greer
• Former politician Pauline Hanson
• Former tennis player Evonne Goolagong
• Politicians Anna Bligh, Kristina Kenneally and Penny Wong
• Princess Mary of Denmark
• Mining magnate Gina Reinhart, businesswomen Janet Holmes a Court and Therese Rein
• Actors Naomi Watts, Lisa McCune and Claudia Karvan
• US Tennis Open champion Samantha Stosur
• Sports stars Leisel Jones, Libby Trickett, Stephanie Rice, Liz Ellis and Lauren Jackson
• Chefs Margaret Fulton, Stephanie Alexander, and Poh Leung.

Interestingly, Australian women of different generations have distinctly different views of who they admire most.

For a full list of those in the Top 100 Most Admired Women in Australia, the breakdown by category and voting results of each generation, go to www.milliondollarwoman.com.au/most-admired-australian-women

Lynette Argent is available for interview.

Twitter: #admiredwomen

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Adam Connolly
Tel: +61-417-170-084

SOURCE Million Dollar Woman