who is the toughest woman in history?

[BeyondGeography]

55. So many great ones...Oriana Fallaci, my weakness

Gorgeous and tough. Who can resist?

Plus, anyone who can throw a chador in the Ayatollah Khomeini's face merits a mention:

<snip>OF- I still have to ask you a lot of things. About the "chador," for example, which I was obliged to wear to come and interview you, and which you impose on Iranian women. [...] I am not only referring to the dress but to what it represents, I mean the apartheid Iranian women have been forced into after the revolution. They cannot study at the university with men, they cannot work with men, they cannot swim in the sea or in a swimming-pool with men. They have to do everything separately, wearing their "chador." By the way, how can you swim wearing a "chador"?

AK- None of this concerns you, our customs do not concern you. If you don't like the islamic dress you are not obliged to wear it, since it is for young women and respectable ladies.

OF- This is very kind of you, Imam, since you tell me that, I'm going to immediately rid myself of this stupid medieval rag. There !.<snip>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriana_Fallaci