This Pilot Is Posting Selfies to Inspire and Empower Other Women

Maria Pettersson, a 32-year-old pilot for Ryanair, has become an Instagram sensation with nearly 300,000 followers by posting cheery selfies of herself on a plane, doing yoga, swimming, and basically living a happy, healthy life. Pettersson, who worked hard to achieve her dream of becoming a pilot, hopes to use her platform to inspire other women to pursue their goals.

Pettersson, who is originally from Sweden and now lives in Sicily, became a pilot at just 25 years old. She started posting selfies for friends and family to document her life as a pilot, and things grew from there. “I loved the positive feedback I was getting and all the curious questions from young aviators asking about how to become a pilot or flight simulator pilots asking about a specific procedure,” she told the Daily Mail.

Since becoming a pilot is expensive, Pettersson thought her dream was out of reach at first. “I never thought becoming a pilot was an option for me due to the high costs and the fact that most pilots were men,” she said. “The more I thought about it, the more I wanted it, and I knew it was the perfect fit for me. I was 24 at the time. I worked hard to save for the costs of flight training and studied even harder. Hard work pays off and my dream became reality.”

She added: “For me so far the toughest challenge has been to get that first flying job. Competition was tough and many unemployed pilots fighting for the same job. It took me years. I’m very lucky to be where I am today flying a young fleet of Boeing 737 around Europe.”

Pettersson hopes to encourage other women to go for their goals — and to realize that the sky’s the limit. “My story is about strong females in a male dominated environment,” she said. “Proving that we are just as good as them. Believing in ourselves and keeping a positive attitude towards life.”

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