Possible Clues:

• Writer ___ St. Vincent Millay
• Funny "dame"
• Woman hasn't succeeded in climbing mountains
• ___ Mode, female character in 'The Incredibles'
• 2010 New York City Marathon winner Kiplagat
• Aussie 'Dame'
• Ferber who wrote "So Big"
• Dame __ Everage
• Cross-dressing 'Dame' of humor
• "The Country Girls" writer O'Brien