Who was Amelia Earhart? She was a pioneer in flight, an author, a fashion designer, and so much more. Earhart was born in Kansas in 1897. She was the oldest of two daughters, and her mother didn't believe in raising her children to be proper and dainty little girls. Instead, they wore bloomers (pants) and had plenty of freedom to explore and do what they wanted. From the beginning, Earhart was a tomboy; she spent her free time climbing trees and sledding down hills. All of this set the scene for what came later, when she broke through the traditional wall of male-dominated aviation.