Define Beauty

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In celebration of World Humanitarian Day today, we're honoring British actress and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn, who has been ranked as the third greatest female screen legend in American cinema. While Hepburn is often remembered as a star of Hollywood's Golden Age for such classic films as Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday, and My Fair Lady, she was also deeply involved in humanitarian work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador -- a dedication born out of the years Hepburn spent living in Nazi-occupied Netherlands where she experienced the brutality and deprivation of war firsthand.

As a young teen, she witnessed Jews in her community being rounded up in trucks and trains; her uncle and cousin were executed by the N***s; and Hepburn herself suffered from malnutrition during a period known as the "the hunger winter" when an estimated 20,000 Dutch people died of starvation. Already an accomplished ballet dancer, she danced secretly for groups to raise money for the Dutch resistance. She once remarked that, "The best audience I ever had made not a single sound at the end of my performances." Her war-time experiences had an indelible effect on Hepburn and sparked her lifelong devotion to humanitarian relief work.

Fluent in six languages, she participated in field mission trips around the world and helped raise global awareness of humanitarian crises in countries ranging from Ethiopia to Guatemala. In describing Hepburn's ability to connect with people, in particular children, during these mission trips, UN photographer John Isaac said, "Often the kids would have flies all over them, but she would just go hug them. I had never seen that. Other people had a certain amount of hesitation, but she would just grab them. Children would just come up to hold her hand, touch her -- she was like the Pied Piper."

Though Hepburn was deeply affected by what she witnessed during her humanitarian missions -- when she went to Somalia in 1992 she called it "apocalyptic" -- she remained hopeful about the future and especially about the impact of UNICEF's work. As she once observed, "Anyone who doesn't believe in miracles is not a realist. I have seen the miracle of water which UNICEF has helped to make a reality... People in these places don't know Audrey Hepburn, but they recognize the name UNICEF. When they see UNICEF their faces light up, because they know that something is happening. In the Sudan, for example, they call a water pump UNICEF."

One year before her death in 1993, Hepburn received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian honor, in recognition of her work with UNICEF. If you'd like to help support UNICEF's humanitarian aid programs on behalf of children in need worldwide in observance of today's World Humanitarian Day, visit http://www.unicef.org/

For an inspiring picture book biography about Audrey Hepburn's life as an actress and humanitarian for ages 4 to 8, we highly recommend “Just Being Audrey” at http://www.amightygirl.com/just-being-audrey

For adult readers who would like to learn more about her remarkable life, there is a fascinating biography written by her son entitled "Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit" at http://amzn.to/1AICwhZ

For books to inspire kids to make a difference in the world -- both locally and globally -- check out our blog post “Making an Impact: Mighty Girl Books About Charity and Community Service” at http://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=10983

For hundreds of true stories of trailblazing girls and women who have worked to change the world, visit A Mighty Girl's "Role Models" biography section at http://www.amightygirl.com/books/history-biography/biography

And, for many books about girls and women living through the WWII period, including numerous stories related to the Holocaust, visit our "WWII & Holocaust" section at http://amgrl.co/1l9UWIe -- or check out our blog post, "30 Mighty Girl Books About The Holocaust," at http://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=11586

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