From women fighting for their rights in the Middle East, to politicians, to beach volleyball Olympians, to CEOs, this year’s "Women of the Year" triubute by Glamour magazine includes 10 extraordinary and inspirational winners who have made unprecedented contributions to the worlds of entertainment, usiness, sports, fashion, science and politics.

The 2008 Women of the Year are profiled in the December issue of the glossy monthly, which hits newsstands today. The awards ceremony was held Monday, with a special performance by recording artist Fergie. You can see pictures here.

This year’s Women of the Year are:

Nujood Ali and Shada Nasser — With the help of human rights lawyer Shada Nasser, 10-year old Yemeni child bride Nujood Ali took the stand against her husband in court, and was granted a historic divorce. Nasser and Ali have committed themselves to saving other little girls from early marriage.

Tyra Banks — One of television’s fiercest female-power icons, Banks promotes diverse beauty and realistic body images on her shows. Her charity, the TZONE Foundation, funds organizations that encourage and support young women.

Hillary Clinton — This year the New York Senator, already the first first lady of the United States elected to major public office and the first woman elected independently statewide in New York State, became one of the first female candidates for President of the United States, earning 18 million votes. In addition to inspiring generations of women and girls with her presidential run, she continues to advocate for improved health care and opportunities for women and children.

Maureen Chiquet — As global CEO of the Chanel brand, and one of the few female CEO’s of a major international corporation, Chiquet has pushed the company to new heights by extending the Chanel legacy.

Jane Goodall (Lifetime Achievement) — Revolutionary primatologist, Goodall has devoted her life to bridging the human and animal worlds starting with the groundbreaking chimpanzee behavioral research she began nearly 50 years ago, which continues today. Through the global Institute that bears her name, she has established community-centered conservation and development programs in Africa. A UN Messenger of Peace, Goodall also created Roots & Shoots, an international humanitarian and environmental youth program.

Nicole Kidman — The Oscar-winning actress uses her star power as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNIFEM, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, where she is dedicated to raising awareness about violence against women, a human rights issue that affects as many as one in three women and girls worldwide.

Nobel Women’s Initiative — The NWI is made up of six of the seven living female Nobel Peace Prize laureates: Shirin Ebadi, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Wangari Maathai, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Betty Williams and Jody Williams. Since 2006, these women have been using their clout with world leaders to get them to take a stand against violence and to work for peace and human rights for all people - especially women and children.

Condoleezza Rice — As U.S. Secretary of State, Rice has championed the rights and health of women around the world, and put women’s issues on the front burner of U.S. foreign policy. In 2008 she announced The One Woman Initiative, a $100 million effort to empower women in Muslim countries.

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh — These women have game! The beach volleyball duo have dominated the sport as the only beach volleyball players in history to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals, which they did without losing a single set.

Kara Walker — A world-renowned artist, Walker wrestles with this country’s legacy of slavery in her provocative black paper silhouettes that have been seen in museums around the world.