Written by Ysabella Yao

Phenomenal (adj.) – unusual in a way that is very impressive; extraordinary or remarkable

Maya Angelou could not have chosen a better adjective to describe what being a woman really means, for a woman – regardless of her age, gender identity, religion, or race – truly is remarkable in her own right. “Phenomenal Woman” is a poem composed by the revolutionary poet Maya Angelou alongside four other pieces in a collection with the same title and was published in 1995. The poem is Angelou’s way of paying homage to all the women whose strengths and convictions prevail over every obstacle, even to this day. Although originally written as an autobiographical piece like most of her other written and spoken works, “Phenomenal Woman” is a testament to Maya Angelou’s lifelong advocacy of empowering women of all ages and cultures.

“Phenomenal Woman” describes the very physical, emotional, and spiritual attributes that make a woman ever so desirable and attractive. The poem vividly paints the picture of not merely a woman’s physique, but as well as the beauty and vulnerability of her soul. There is a plethora of other important aspects that would make a woman extraordinary in the eyes of the people she is surrounded with.

She is a phenomenal woman, not because of the carats she wears on her neck or on her fingers, and neither is it because of the garments she effortlessly wears on her body.

She is a phenomenal woman, not because of the degree she proudly bears on her diploma, and neither will it be because of how well she attends to the needs of a man.

She is phenomenal because she is a woman, plain and simple.

Her presence speaks enough volumes to echo through every nook, every crevice, and every space she goes. She no longer needs any semblance of an introduction or a spotlight because she stands out, even when she’s just standing there. Whatever beauty a woman shows on the outside is a mere manifestation of the beauty that she possesses on the inside, as she can never be defined by her physique or talents alone. What makes a woman phenomenal is the reality that she makes all sorts of unnoticed miracles and sacrifices. She is phenomenal because she can take on a myriad of roles, and she can wear so many hats with just one body. She no longer needs flashy spandex suits to express how powerful she is; her ability to be a woman, a mother, a wife, a sister, a boss, and a friend all the same time is evidence enough that superheroes in reality don’t wear capes.

She is a phenomenal woman because she is a dichotomy on her own. She may be quiet, but she can be loud if she wants to. She may be caring, but she can put on the toughest of acts. She may be submissive, but she can be more persuasive and dominant than any other male. She is a walking, living, and breathing paradox, but she is a paradox in all the right ways possible.

But most of all, it is a woman’s strength in all aspects that makes her phenomenal. She is phenomenal because she is courageous enough to face whatever adversaries come her way. She is unafraid to fight back and resist every judgment, prejudice, and oppressive force that dares to destroy her. She is brave enough to rise up, just to finally create an environment that celebrates her worth.

She is phenomenal because no matter how much you bring her down, she will rise. She will prevail. She will break whatever barriers lay in front of her. She is a woman, and so are you. She is phenomenal, and so are you.

Phenomenal Woman
By Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
The palm of my hand,
The need for my care.
‘Cause I am a woman
Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.