▁Mary ▁Mc A le ese , ▁Ireland ▁( 1 9 9 7 – 2 0 1 1 ): ▁The ▁first ▁time ▁that ▁a ▁female ▁president ▁directly ▁succeeded ▁another ▁female ▁president , ▁Mary ▁Robinson . ▁Ellen ▁Johnson ▁Sir leaf , ▁Liber ia ▁( 2 0 0 6 – 2 0 1 8 ): ▁Africa ' s ▁first ▁elected ▁female ▁head ▁of ▁state . ▁Jó h anna ▁Sig ur ð ard ó tt ir , ▁I cel and ▁( 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 3 ): ▁As ▁prime ▁minister , ▁she ▁was ▁the ▁world ' s ▁first ▁open ly ▁les bian ▁world ▁leader , ▁first ▁female ▁world ▁leader ▁to ▁wed ▁a ▁same - sex ▁partner ▁while ▁in ▁office . ▁Elizabeth ▁II , ▁United ▁Kingdom ▁( 1 9 5 2 – present ): ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 5 , ▁she ▁became ▁the ▁longest - re ign ing ▁queen ▁reg nant ▁and ▁female ▁head ▁of ▁state ▁in ▁world ▁history . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁she ▁became ▁the ▁longest ▁currently ▁serving ▁head ▁of ▁state ▁and ▁longest ▁currently ▁reign ing ▁monarch . ▁The ▁first ▁woman ▁to ▁be ▁President ▁of ▁the ▁European ▁Commission ▁was ▁Urs ula ▁von ▁der ▁Le yen ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 9 . ▁ ▁Racing ▁▁▁ 1 9 4 9 : ▁S ara ▁Christian ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁woman ▁to ▁race ▁in ▁NAS C AR . ▁▁ 1 9 7 6 : ▁Jan et ▁Gut hr ie ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁woman ▁to ▁qual ify ▁and ▁comp ete ▁in ▁the ▁Indian