Stylist.co.uk contributor, Alexandra Hayward, meets three women who fight for a living, and uncovers the struggles and sexism they faced to succeed.

Across most of the western hemisphere, competitive female fighting long existed only as a taboo.

While men in the ring have been idolised for decades, it was illegal for women to fight each other professionally in Britain right up until the mid-90s.

1998, however, saw the beginning of a sea-turn in attitude.

With Girl Power in full tilt, the first sanctioned UK women’s fight took place in south London, and by the millennium, the first women's European Cup and World Championships were taking place.

Today, here and internationally, annual figures of women taking the leap to go pro are on the rise, thanks to celebrity advocates and increased funding for the sport.

The runaway success of Britain's Olympic boxing champion, Nicola Adams, at London 2012 accelerated this effect (“I'm always getting tweets from girls saying they've taken up boxing because they've seen me win,” she later recalled). And it's reflected in a more positive approach by the Powers That Be towards women in sport in general.

“We are proud to support male and female athletes equitably,” Liz Nicholl, Chief Executive of UK Sport – a governing body that champions women in the ring - tells Stylist.co.uk.

“Successful athletes can have a really positive, motivating and empowering influence. Since London 2012 (where 92 of our female athletes won Olympic and Paralympic medals) our athletes have been active in local communities, sharing their experiences and skills to inspire others.”

We hear from three women who fight for a living, and the challenges and triumphs they've faced along the way:

“You should be in the kitchen, not in the ring”: meet the women battling sexism to fight for a living