Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End. Photo by Roger Mastroianni

Erma Bombeck (1927-1996) was a wife, mother, journalist, humorist, author, TV personality and women’s rights advocate. Her nationally syndicated columns recounted the daily lives of the suburban housewife with wit, wisdom and keen insight into the trials and tribulations of managing a household.

Her story is now onstage in the Garner Galleria Theatre in Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End. Told with self-deprecating humor and the one-line zingers that made her famous, the show is a loving tribute to the woman who questioned: If life is a bowl of cherries, why am I stuck in the pits?

Whether they know it or not, today’s comedians, journalists and DIYers were influenced by Erma, legions of housewives and their career counterparts who laid the foundation for today’s “Domestic Demigoddesses.” The following individuals stand on the shoulders of generations of women who came before.

DIY

Lisa Chun
892k Instagram followers @ourhome.becoming
Whether you’re cleaning out your closet, upgrading your landscaping or enhancing your lighting, Lisa Chun has a clever DIY solution…on a dime.

• Notable: Liz Marie Galvan – Author, Blogger, Interior Decorator

HOME RENOVATION

Hilary Farr
311k Instagram followers @hilary_farr
HGTV darling, Hilary Farr, co-hosts “Love It or List It” and her own show, “Tough Love with Hilary Farr.” Take her advice or leave it (we suggest take it) to transform your house into a castle.

• Notable: Elsie Hunter – Turning cookie cutter architecture to custom homes

FASHION

Andrea Lavinthal
27.4k followers @andilavs
As Editorial Director of PEOPLE Style and Beauty, Andrea Lavinthal manages content across all channels leading people.com to trounce the competition in monthly website visitation.

• Notable: Camila Coelho — Fashion tips plus hair, color trends, skincare, makeup and travel

FITNESS

Kayla Itsines
15.9M Instagram followers @kayla_itsines
Australian-based Kayla Itsines is not only a personal trainer, she also is the co-creator of the Bikini Body Guides fitness ebooks and the Sweat with Kayla meal-planning and workout app.

• Notable: Cassey Ho – Founder/CEO and head designer of @popflex_active and Blogilates

FOOD & LIFESTYLE

Tieghan Gerard
5.5 M Instagram followers @halfbakedharvest
Food blogger and cookbook author Tieghan Gerard pals around with celebrities in between posts on halfbakedharvest.com where she shares wholesome recipes for the whole family.

• Notable: Yumna Jawad — Blogger, cookbook author and founder of Oath Oats

JOURNALISM

Emma Tucker
18.1k followers @emmatuckerWSJ
As the first female Editor-in-Chief of The Wall Street Journal, Emma Tucker leads all global news gathering and editorial operations of the country’s most widely circulated daily newspaper.

• Notable: Kara Swisher – Vox Media/Podcaster covering the tech industry

POLITICS

Kat Abughazaleh
25.7 followers @kabughazaleh
While clearly there is an elephant in the political influencer room, we’ll highlight TikTok video creator Kat Abughazaleh who was just tapped to by Mother Jones to join their war on disinformation.

• Notable: Imani Barbarin – disability justice warrior and creative writer

WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Melinda Gates
1M followers @melindafrenchgates
While Melinda Gates may be stepping down as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, she’s stepping up her efforts to move women’s rights and health on a global scale.

• Notable: 10 Women to Watch in 2024 according to the World Economic Forum