Tributes have poured in from around the world for journalist and feminist activist Gloria Steinem, who has been remembered as a trailblazer for women’s equality following her death at 92.

Steinem died on Wednesday in New York City after spending decades campaigning for women’s rights and equality.

Born in Toledo, Ohio, she began her career as a freelance journalist in New York and rose to prominence in 1963 after going undercover as a Playboy Bunny.

Her investigation for Show magazine exposed the poor working conditions, low pay and sexist treatment faced by women working as waitresses at Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Club.

Steinem later became a columnist for New York magazine, covering politics and social issues before becoming one of the most prominent voices of the women’s liberation movement.

Her work helped bring issues including workplace discrimination, reproductive rights and gender equality into the mainstream.

Among those paying tribute were the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, actresses Jameela Jamil, Mariska Hargitay, Naomi Watts and Brooke Shields, as well as US broadcaster Oprah Winfrey.

Meghan described Steinem as a “friend and mentor” who “helped shape the world for women and all people”.

“‘We are linked, not ranked,’ she would tell me, and the bracelet she gave me said exactly that. I still wear it with pride,” she said.

“Privately, she was even better than you would imagine — spending Thanksgiving with our family, introducing me to one of my best friends (forever the champion of female friendship), loving our children with her whole heart, counselling me during hard times, and giving extraordinary advice and perspective with a cup of tea and an unrivalled cheekiness and wit.”

Jamil remembered Steinem as a guiding influence in her own life and recalled spending hours talking with her about feminism, politics and social change.

“Gloria was a guiding light for me. She supported and encouraged me from the very first time she saw me give a speech about feminism,” Jamil said.

US marathon runner Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon in 1967, said she had lost “one of my biggest heroes”.

She said the “world has lost a giant and women have lost one of our greatest leaders”.

CNN international anchor Christiane Amanpour described Steinem as “one of the most important activists of all time”.

“She lived a long and passionate life dedicated to this vital and basic cause,” she said.

“She did it with intellectual precision, emotional awareness, humour and beauty. May she rest in peace and may the cause thrive.”

Brooke Shields described Steinem as a “role model, mentor, inspiration, fighter, friend”.

“You made women feel seen and helped them understand their value. It was a huge blessing in my life to know you, to ruminate with you, to make you laugh, and to call you a friend,” she wrote on Instagram.

“To honour you, may we all continue to fight for change. My heart hurts to say goodbye but your impact and legacy will live on forever in all our hearts.”

Naomi Watts said she was “deeply grateful” to have known Steinem, recalling sitting with her in her living room alongside generations of women who had gathered to share ideas.

“Whether it was turning pages of your books, watching you speak, or being lucky enough to sit in a circle in your living room where so many people have congregated and shared truths and exchanged ideas … I feel immense gratitude,” she said.

“Your legacy lives in every woman who speaks up, takes up space, chooses her own path, and believes she doesn’t have to ask permission to become who she is.

“I’m deeply grateful to have known you. Even just a little bit.”

Oprah Winfrey also paid tribute to Steinem, saying she had left the world with “more freedom than she inherited”.

Images: Instagram