When Hatshepsut became Pharaoh around 1479 BCE, she was about thirty years old—living in a world where kingship was reserved for men. But she didn’t wait for permission or acceptance. She simply claimed the throne herself. She placed the royal crown on her head, took on the full regalia of a king—including the ceremonial false beard—and stepped into power with a confidence that defied every expectation of Ancient Egypt. Her reign didn’t just function—it flourished. For more than two decades, Egypt enjoyed peace, stability, and prosperity under her rule. Trade expeditions reached the Land of Punt. Temples rose in her honor. Her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri remains one of…