Anne Hidalgo, the ambitious 62-year-old has changed Parisian history in 2014. Back then, she was elected as the first female mayor of Paris and by achieving this, she has become the role model for many women all over the world. Since taking over the office term, she has managed to keep her position by introducing many great projects which have transformed the city into a much greener place that is only moving towards a bright future. After graduating from university, mayor Hidalgo worked as a labor inspector before becoming an advisor to former labor minister Martine Aubry. Before serving as mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo was elected councilor in the 15th Arrondissement, winning 26.5% of votes in the first round in 2001. She also joined the Council of Paris and was appointed First deputy mayor of Paris. On June 28, 2020, Hidalgo was re-elected as mayor of Paris, winning 48.5% of ballots cast. Her campaign is focusing on turning Paris into a 15-minute city. The aim is to make neighborhoods more self-sufficient within each arrondissement in Paris thanks to its grocery stores, parks, cafes, sports facilities, health centers, schools, and offices accessible in 15 minutes by foot or bike. Anne Hidalgo is also focused on green transition. She is working hard on reinventing the city as a green metropolis and more environmentally friendly by making some bold decisions like freeing the streets of Paris from cars and making more room for pedestrians and cyclists. Hidalgo has created over 400 kilometers of bicycle lanes throughout Paris, arguing that cycling is good exercise and a more ecological and faster mode of transportation. Mayor of Paris Hidalgo has scooped up awards for her leadership in the fight against climate change and was named one of the 100 most influential people by Time magazine in 2021. According to the United Nations, the city of Paris cut carbon emissions by 20% from 2004 to 2018, which is a huge success and major step towards a greener future. As The city is hosting the Olympics in 2024, Hidalgo has another chance to advance her vision. She has declared she wants to make Paris a “100-percent cycling” capital and turn the Champs-Elysées into “an extraordinary garden” by the time the games begin. (photo: wikimedia)