“Since her election, the Harvard-educated economist, who spent 12 years in exile after criticizing her predecessors, has used her impressive negotiating skills and credibility to persuade the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to forgive $4.6 billion in debt. At home, she has cajoled former enemies to work together to rebuild the economy.”

In September, we selected Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, as one of our 2011 Trailblazers. Now she’s a Nobel Peace Prize winner! This shot was taken on April 30, in a helicopter, on her way to launch her re-election campaign. Read her interview.

Photograph by Brigitte Lacombe

(via expressionsrealia)