She made history in mathematics, but math wasn’t even her first love. Born in Iran, Maryam Mirzakhani actually wanted to be a writer. But when she discovered the world of mathematical problem-solving, she never looked back. She won back-to-back gold medals in the International Mathematical Olympiad, making history as the first Iranian woman to do so. Her work in geometry and topology reshaped how we understand curved spaces, unlocking secrets of the mathematical universe. And in 2014, she became the first woman ever to win the Fields Medal, the highest honor in mathematics. A true pioneer, gone too soon at just 40, but her legacy inspires generations of women in STEM.