Chimamanda is the glamorous and bravely outspoken novelist that holds a place in our hearts only rivaled by Zadie Smith.

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Her essay, 'We Should All Be Feminists' percolated into popular culture and made it's way into's Beyoncé's song Flawless and Dior's infamous tee's.

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She has always been forthright in her opinions and fierce about feminism. She has spoken openly about how Beyoncé's feminism is not her own, as well as speaking to us about the importance of make-up in her life.

In an interview with the New York Times about her new book, 'Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions' Chimamanda spoke about some people's reluctance to call themselves feminists.

Even friends of mine — people I love — wrote, 'why yes, we kind of agree, but why call it feminist? It's just common sense.' And I'm like no, it's feminist...Or, 'oh it's just humanism'. Or someone said, 'these are just democratic ideals.' And I thought, what? It's everything but to acknowledge the fact that gender is a problem.

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The glamorous writer (she is, look!) landed herself in hot water recently over her comments about Trans-women.

She told a journalist that,

My feeling is that Trans-women, are Trans-women. I think I've you've been through the world as a man, with the privileges the world accords to men and then sort of change, switch gender, it's difficult for me to accept that then we can equate your experience with the experience of a woman who has lived, from the beginning in the world as a woman. Who has not been accorded those privileges that men have. I don't think it's a good idea to conflate everything into one. I don't think it's a good thing to talk about women's issues being exactly the same as the issues of trans-women. What I'm saying is that gender is not biology, gender is sociology.

Certain people took umbrage with her statement.

Chimamanda has responded twice on her Facebook page to the criticisms aimed at her.

She has hoped to clarify her meaning, without being defensive.

[facebook ]https://www.facebook.com/chimamandaadichie/photos/a.469824145943.278768.40389960943/10154893542340944/?type=3&theater[/facebook]

Though, a large part of Chimamanda's feminism is the rejection of the female need to be 'liked'. The New York Times reported, 'She is concerned with how society responds to powerful women across the political spectrum. 'I don't even like talking about it, because I get very upset,' she said while describing the media's focus on Mrs. Clinton's 'likability.' (One of the suggestions in her book is for mothers to teach daughters to 'reject likability.')'

Liked or not liked, Chimamanda is an exciting voice in feminism, even if she is, like most of us, still learning and discovering how to navigate the choppy waters of gender identity.

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Daisy Murray
Digital Fashion Editor

Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.