Saying that a role model has to “look like them” is saying that a certain race or gender is an inherent required trait someone has to have to be considered a role model. That perpetuates identity politics and is a clear example of judging people by their race/gender (racism/sexism), the exact opposite of what we should be doing as a society. I had several black role models growing up. They didn’t look like me. And that didn’t matter.

Minorities and women have been flying commercially and in the military for a long time. If you can’t find a role model in aviation in 2021 (that is, if one of your requirements for a role model is that they have the same skin pigment and genitalia as you), then you aren’t looking.