Fast facts about Vigdis Finnbogadottir, the most famous Icelander woman, born on this day

- Vigdís Finnbogadóttir was born in Reykjavik on April 15, 1930.

- She was the world's first democratically elected female president. She also remains the longest-serving elected female head of state of any country and Iceland’s only female president to date.

- Her first victory at the Presidential Elections in 1980 was narrow. She received 33.8% of the vote against her rival who got 32.1%. But as she became popular, subsequently on the next three electoral cycles in 1984, 1988 and 1992, she was unopposed and reelected with 94.6% of the votes.

- Even though the Icelandic presidency is largely a ceremonial position, Vigdís took an active role in promoting the country abroad. On this journey she had used the motto: “Never let the women down”.

- Answering to a journalist’s questions during an interview, once had said: “ I have three granddaughters and people sometimes say, oh, you have only girls, and I say, oh, yes, I’m collecting girls because I think, if the world can be saved, it will be by women with the help and friendship of men.”

- She has received numbers of honorary degrees, both, national and international.

- Currently, she is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, a member of the Club of Madrid (an independent non-profit organization created to promote democracy and change in the international community) and a member of the Foundation Chirac’s honour committee (the foundation launched in 2008 by former French president Jacques Chirac in order to promote world peace).

- Vigdis Finnbogadottir is one of the most famous Icelanders women of all time, and she enjoys a lot of respect around the world. She is also a role model for equal rights in the world.