From dogs and cats to a tree frog, a chicken and even a chinchilla, it was a tough competition, but our editors chose Cheetah as the reigning queen. See her bio at the bottom and check out our adorable 16 runners-up below.
They are educators, mentors, counselors, physicians, fundraisers, entrepreneurs, and individuals who stand up for others. But most of all they are leaders who help keep our community strong. Orlando magazine is proud to honor the 23 individuals featured on the following pages as Women of the Year. We asked you, our readers, for nominees and you responded with a wealth of recommendations, along with details on how these women make a huge difference in the lives of countless people daily. Our congratulations—and thanks—to them all.