What’s it mean to be a sexy mom? The moms in Babeland’s blog event will take that question in many different directions during May. I’m going to talk today about meeting the She-King of Egypt and how her legacy is getting a makeover from evil stepmom to powerful supermom.

I just toured Egypt with my 12-year-old daughter, a trip inspired by her 6^th grade lesson on ancient civilizations. Yes, she was eager to see the treasures of King Tut and the monumental pyramids built by ancient kings, but the temple she most eagerly anticipated belonged to that of Hatshepsut, a strong woman who defied political and social conventions in order to rule as king. And she did this so effectively her reign is considered one of the most prosperous and peaceful in pharaonic history.

To bring you up to speed, Hatshepsut ruled successfully as a pharaoh (aka a king, not a queen) during the heyday of the 18^th dynasty (1479 BC). She was a trailblazing cross-dresser—she wore the ceremonial garb of pharaohs, including the false beard. I was inordinately pleased that my daughter was most drawn to Hatshepsut. In a land dominated by gargantuan statues of male rulers (their wives come up to their shins if they are depicted at all), seeing the distinctly feminine face of Hatshepsut plastered all over her temple in the Valley of the Kings, was a sight neither of us will ever forget. Equally unforgettable, sadly, is how many of her images were intentionally destroyed.

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