That's quite a challenge you present in your last paragraph, lol!
It set me to thinking. First, of course, one might argue that putting together a great appearance, physically & sartorially, is itself an achievement. But I sense we're looking for something a bit deeper here.
Perhaps this?
While covering a King's County Democratic Party function in Central Brooklyn, I met a Hasidic woman who was running for King's County judgeship. We got to talking. She explained that there was precedent for women judges in the Bible. As a lawyer (not to mention mother of 4), she had already helped to arrange Ezras Nashim, an all-women volunteer ambulance corps to serve Hasidic women who would be uncomfortable with male EMTs.
Rachel Freier's campaign was a longshot, of course, until her two principle opponents' campaigns imploded on charges of corruption. Suddenly, she won. Rachel "Ruchie" Freier became the first Hasidic woman elected official in US history.
I was, I believe, the first to interview her after her victory. (Asking her: "In the 240 years of our republic, you are the first Hasidic woman elected to office. How does that feel?" was one of my favorite moments as a journalist.) One of my pieces appeared in the Times of Israel.
You could say this was my job, but as a free-lancer I developed many of my own stories, & this one in particular was important to me. Ruchie & her family & I became friends. She invited my wife & me to Shabbos dinner. Her youngest son, Moishe, keeps me updated on her every accomplishement & honor.
She was someone I admired unequivically. Naturally other media picked up on her story, & she has since become something of a celebrity, deservedly so. But when we met, I wasn't assigned to cover anything pertaining to her. I was struck by her character & accomplishments.
And that's why, as you point out, it's tough to pull off, because we seldom know anything about a person's accomplishments on short notice.
Oh, I also complimented Miki Sudo on her achievement after she consumed 31 hot dogs at Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest ... but that's probably not what you had in mind, either.
