It's an age-old question, a question that many women have been ruminating about?What does it take to be a female icon? Ages ago, people had only the mythological goddesses to idolize. Centuries ago, women had the likes of the Virgin Mary to consider an icon. ?And decades ago, they had the members of the royalty to look up to (think Queen Victoria). ?The female icons of the past were distant images. ?They were beyond the realm of the common and ordinary.

Modern Female Icon

Fast forward to the future, iconic women are still anything but ordinary and common. ?They stand out. ?They inspire awe. ?They make women want to be just like them. ?They make people look beyond their imperfections and consider them worthy of praise and undivided attention.

Making Something Extraordinary Out of the Ordinary

But unlike female icons of long ago, they are within your grasp. ?They are one among the common bunch who has managed to make an impact, to make something extraordinary out of the ordinary. ?And this has made them beloved by even more women. ?Now more and more members of the female species are vying to be like them, watching their every move, emulating even their gross mistakes.

One such modern female icon is Oprah Winfrey. She's not of a royal descent. She's not even a member of the nobility, nor is she born of a middle class family. But why, she's part of the minority, of the African American race that has suffered centuries of demoralization and unfair discrimination. Yet she managed to rise above all. White Americans flock around her to hear what she has to say.

And there's Alanis Morissette. She wears her hair as if it never experienced the touch of a comb. ?She appears naked in her music video even if she has none of the prefect curves to speak of. ?She speaks her mind through her music. ?She tells a story of her imperfect self through her songs. ?And yet, she's idolized by many, even emulated.

So What Does it Take?

The message is clear. ?Even you can become a female icon. ?So what does it take? ?It's about making colorful stories out of the person that you are. ?And it does not even matter if you have grave imperfections for a true icon is desired and admired uncritically. Being an icon is accepting your genuine self and being comfortable about it, being ready to scream out even the horrid facts about you.

Zippo Lighters?Beyond Functionality

And there are your favorite Zippo lighters. ?The brand has stood the test of time and has managed to make a lasting statement. ?At the onset of its popularity, it carried the image of functionality. ?Called windproof lighters, Zippo lighters were known to stand against windy weathers with its efficient fuel delivery and its nifty windscreen.

But Zippo lighters have gone beyond functionality. ?It's now an embodiment of what an icon is?stylish, admired and emulated. ?And so is the rise of Rippo and Zappo lighters, the Zippo fakes.

You can try and carry one of those matte-finished personalized Zippo lighters in screaming shades of red and watch heads turn your way as you light your cigarette. ?Yes, you can be a female icon too.