The fictional superhero Wonder Woman was named an Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls. Two actors who played her, Gal Gadot and Lynda Carter, spoke at the world body’s headquarters on October 21 at an event that also celebrated the 75th anniversary of the crime-fighting demigoddess.

“Wonder Woman seeks to promote strength, wisdom, leadership, justice and love. Qualities that combined make us the very best that we can be,” Gadot told the UN. “Sometimes we need something or someone to inspire us . . . a character like Wonder Woman or a real live superhero in your own world.”

Championing women’s rights is something Gadot, a former Miss Israel, has been doing since she was chosen to play Wonder Woman in 2013. The actress-model-mom participated in a video clip celebrating accomplished young Israeli women, and has spoken publicly about shifting the princess role model into a strong, kindhearted role model who can stick up for herself.

Carter, who played the DC Comics heroine in a 1970s television series, said she “couldn’t think of a more perfect role for [Wonder Woman],” noting that the character can be “smart and beautiful and strong and wise and kind and brave.”

UN officials hope their new campaign for women’s empowerment will draw in a younger audience.

“Wonder Woman is an icon,” said UN Undersecretary-General Cristina Gallach. “We are very pleased that this character will help us reach new audiences with essential messages of our empowerment and equality.”

(via Israel21c)

[Photo: SciFiBear / YouTube ]