Are there women who have defied and triumphed over incredible odds, and adveristy?

Obviously, many more men have defied the odds than women for many obvious reasons. Few men have the skills, the tools, and the heart in the world to defy and overcome the odds. As for the women who have done so are obviously even fewer. Have women in the martial arts overcome the odds before when they had to? Are there women who overcame the odds at whatever job, or activity they do?