Top Women's Interviews of 2016

EDGE reached out to women in many different fields this year, bringing you news on celebrities, trailblazers and innovators! Among the big names are Melissa Etheridge, Sandra Bernhard, Shakina Nayfack, Carmen Carrera, Marina Rice Bader and more!

Melissa Etheridge Gets into the Holiday Spirit
Academy- and Grammy Award-winning artist Melissa Etheridge returned to The Ridgefield Playhouse stage for a night of her fan favorites and holiday classics. Etheridge, who just released the new album "Memphis Rock and Soul," is best known for her massive hits "I'm the Only One" and "Come to My Window," a searing song of longing that brought her second Best Female Rock Grammy. As Etheridge toured her new album, she took a few minutes to chat with EDGE about her fans, her music, and how she celebrates the holidays. Click here.

Sandra Bernhard Brings 'Sandra Monica Blvd: Coast to Coast' to LA
The inimitable Sandra Bernhard will debut her all new show "Sandra Monica Blvd: Coast to Coast" at The Sorting Room at The Wallis in Beverly Hills. In "Sandra Monica Blvd: Coast to Coast," Bernhard is traversing the country taking audiences on a journey to find the soul of America... the back roads and the byways on a gas station map while weaving in the soundtrack you might hear on an AM radio station you pick up from Oklahoma. Speaking about her inspiration for the material, Bernhard told EDGE, "I have many times traversed this great country of ours, the southern route, right through the Midwest and even north. I have seen pristine waters, arid deserts, snowcapped mountain peaks, trailer parks, truck stops, a thousand gas stations, wheat fields, apple orchards, silos filled to the brim, cows resting, goats, sheep, llamas trotting along, children exiting school buses, economy hotels and private airstrips, barbecue joints and burger stands, faded confederate flags limply adorning the windows of back road shacks, bright lights shining on football fields. I've seen America and she has seen me. There are always surprises though, no matter how many miles you cover." Click here.

Trans Trailblazer Shakina Nayfack Talks About Life, Lola and Holy Rollers!
Acting, directing, performing, teaching, producing, singing, choreographing, blogging -- is there nothing that Shakina Nayfack can't do? She's been recognized as the first transgender woman to win the Lilly Award and the first in a TV comedy role for her work on "Difficult People." This blonde badass shared her world with EDGE in this in-depth interview. Click here.

Women in Wine: Kat Doescher Blends Tradition with Innovation
There's a new generation of women winemakers transforming California's burgeoning industry. This spring, Kat Doescher took over winemaking for Madrone Estate Winery, Valley of the Moon and Lake Sonoma. By working directly with trusted vineyards, Doescher ensures that each bottle fully expresses the characteristics of terroir, climate, and style of their provenance. But it wasn't her degree in chemistry and microbiology from Humboldt State University that led her into winemaking. It was having family in Sonoma, and being introduced to it while living in wine country. "This was an opportunity to come back and be part of the romantic thing we do here," she said. "I make wines that I would love to drink, and I hope other people like them as well." Click here.

Out Real Estate Entrepreneur Avantika Shahi Launches Haus
When real estate entrepreneur Avantika Shahi began to look for a new home for her wife and two sets of twins, she was frustrated by how many websites she had to cross-reference in order to find out about the neighborhood, the school district, and local amenities. So she decided to be the change she wanted to see. She founded Haus, which she dubs, "online dating for real estate." Click here.

Dapper Boi Launches New Run of Gender-Neutral Blue Jeans
A little over a year after they launched their first run of slim-straight, gender-neutral Dapper Boi jeans, co-founders Charisse and Vicky Pasche are back with their second run of masculine-looking blue jeans made to fit a woman's body. And for every pair of jeans sold in this latest campaign, they'll donate $4.99 to families of the Orlando victims.

"We are now�just about sold out of the first production of jeans.�People are�genuinely loving them, and have already ordered their second and even third pairs of this same style and�wash," said Charisse Pasche.�"But without cash flow to invest in�additional productions or products we've decided to change our�business model�completely. In order to build some traction, test the market and produce our collections faster,�we've decided to�turn to crowdsourcing through our own website, launching a product every month for 3 weeks, at wholesale pricing." Click here.

Marina Rice Bader Releases 'Ava's Impossible Things' at OutFest LA
Writer/director/producer Marina Rice Bader is set to world premiere her new feature film,�"Ava's Impossible Things," at this year's Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival. The film will screen at the DGA 1 on Saturday, July 16 at 4 p.m. with Bader and the cast in attendance. � � � � � � � �

"I love Vimeo's 'Everyone is welcome, come be part of our vibrant community, create your vision and share it with the world' mentality. I'm honored, and can't wait to share Ava's journey," said Bader. In keeping with the "do-it-her-way-ethos" Bader is known for, she will give�the film its worldwide release as a rental on Vimeo on July 17th, the day after its Outfest screening. Click here.

Where in the World Is Carmen Carrera?
Carmen Carrera first made her name as a competitor on Season 3 of "RuPaul's Drag Race," where she showed her mettle -- and lots of skin -- in barely there drag costumes. Her success on the show inspired Carrera to start the gender reassignment process, and gave her the courage for her continued fight to become the first transgender Victoria Secret model.

EDGE first met up with Carrera in 2014 in Cleveland, as she performed a show during a press junket for the 2015 Gay Games. We spoke again recently about her marriage, motherhood and her fight for HIV prevention and transgender rights. Click here.

Me and Ms. Jones, We've Got a Thing Goin' On: WE tv Premieres Powerful Black Female Lawyers in 'Sisters in Law'
WE tv recently launched its new legal docuseries "Sisters in Law," following a group of powerful black female lawyers in Houston as they tackle tough cases, fight community injustice and battle controversy while struggling to maintain their decades-long friendship. They may differ in points of view as criminal or civil lawyers, but their ability to win cases in a traditionally white, male-dominated profession is a bond that can't be broken. EDGE spoke with openly lesbian cast member Jolanda Jones about the new show, being a role model and the barriers that women of color face to becoming a lawyer in the South.

"I hope that young aspiring women see they can be who they are, embrace themselves and achieve any goal they put their mind to," said Jones. "Being LGBTQ is a part of me and adds to the fabric of me and helps me be the best me I can be." Click here.

Designer Azin Valy's Got the Whole World in Her Handbag
In 2013, New York City architect Azin Valy participated in an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art about urban planning in the face of high foreclosure rates. Gazing at satellite imagery, she was struck by how beautiful these cities and coastlines appeared from a distance. Before long, her career in urban planning took a U-turn, and Valy was designing couture featuring these alluring images for her line, Cityzen by Azin.

"I thought this would be a great way to raise awareness of the issues of individual cities, while also showing their beauty," Valy told EDGE. "It was a way to unite the world around certain causes, and promote peace and culture." Click here.

A Winning Pair: Julia Jones and Doreen Chila -- Maplewood Women Expand Family via Foster-to-Adopt Program
When actress Doreen Chila met stage manager Julia Jones nearly 20 years ago during a touring production of "Peter Pan" starring Cathy Rigby, they opened the book on a real-life fairy tale. Introduced by a mutual friend, sparks flew for the pair from the get-go, and after three months of chatting on the phone, Chila returned to her Park Slope, Brooklyn, home and started dating Jones. It wasn't long before both were ready to take the next step.

"We 'dated' long distance since she was still on tour, really getting to know one another and seeing one another whenever her tour schedule brought her close to New York City," said Jones. "By the time she was back in the city full-time, the U-Haul was packed." Click here.

Kara Ross: Supporting Female Empowerment Through Diamonds Unleashed
When we talk diamonds, we are looking for gems that are brilliant, multifaceted, beautiful and unbreakable. When we're looking at women, the same measures hold true. That's why certified gemologist Kara Ross has partnered up with Canada Mark Diamonds to produce Diamonds Unleashed, a line of diamond jewelry with a very distinctive design symbol, whose sale will directly benefit women and girls.

"I'm an expert in diamonds, and I'm taking the hardest substance on earth, and using it to symbolize women's strength," said Ross. "Women now control 80 percent of household finances, so having to wait to be given something like a diamond seems antiquated. There's nothing wrong with love and marriage, but let's take that symbolism and extend it."

Enter Canada Mark diamonds. Canada is the world's third-largest diamond producing country, behind Botswana and Russia, but they were only discovered there about 25 years ago. And Canada Mark presents some of the finest quality white diamonds currently on the market -- without any of the guilt usually associated with the gem. Click here.