2025 Badass Nominees

In 2024, our focus in storytelling was about “Healthy Collaborations” — a great umbrella, but it made it a little more difficult to select the nominees for the 2025 Badass Awards, which will be celebrated as part of our 40th anniversary celebration with Badass members on May 1. That is because the Badass awards tend to go to passionate individuals who are leading a light about issues that need attention and obstacles that need to be moved.

We have 13 nominees below (including a duo and one group) — selected based on being stories we featured in 2024 because they are a beacon of resilience, strength, and empowerment to others, often over a period of years. (Note: Our December Changemakers recognitions are focused on people who we had NOT profiled yet and are nominated by readers for making change happen that year.)

Badass members have until March 1 to vote on their Top 5, who will be honored at the May 1 event with special gift baskets and Badass certificates. All currently paid members are sent an invitation to this survey.

The organizers behind Women’s March MN and Indivisible will be part of the evening event, as will our founders!