Hillary Clinton said female leaders need to 'step up and speak out' in a video statement urging women across the United States to 'be bold'.

In footage from the 2017 MAKERS conference, Clinton talked about breaking glass ceilings and the Women's Marches that took place last month.

'Despite all the challenges we face, I remain convinced that, yes, the future is female,' she said.

This was Clinton's first on-camera statement since President Donald Trump was inaugurated last month.

In footage from the 2017 MAKERS conference released on Monday, Hillary Clinton spoke out about breaking glass ceilings and the Women's Marches that took place last month

She added: 'Just look at the amazing energy we saw last month as women organized a march that galvanized millions of people all over our country and across the world.

'Now more than ever we need to stay focused on this year's conference: Be bold. We need strong women to step up and speak out. We need you to dare greatly and lead boldly.

'So please, set an example for every woman and girl out there who's worried about what the future holds and wonders whether our rights, opportunities and values will endure.

'And remember, you are the heroes and history makers, the glass ceiling breakers of the future. As I've said before, I'll say again, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world.'

MAKERS is a platform that gives women the opportunity to share their stories. Their annual conference, with the theme 'Be Bold', is being held this week at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

Other female leaders who have spoken out through the site are Oprah Winfrey, YouTuber Lilly Singh, Gloria Steinem, Carli Lloyd and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

In January, the former secretary of state and first lady praised the 'awe-inspiring' women and men who took to the streets of Washington, DC, and other cities around the world to protest the newly installed Trump Administration.

Clinton, who lost the electoral college vote despite winning the popular vote, said that she had attended Trump's inauguration in Washington the day before 'to honor democracy and its enduring values.'

She said that the massive demonstrations should be just the beginning.

'We watched women and men across this country and the globe stand up, speak out, and peacefully march for those values with one voice,' Clinton told PEOPLE. 'It was awe-inspiring. We have to keep up the momentum. I will never stop believing in this country and our collective future. We are still, and will always be, stronger together.'

It was Clinton's first video statement since attending Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington, DC, last month. The former secretary of state is pictured at the ceremony with her husband Bill

Despite losing the presidential election to Trump last year, Clinton still has big plans for 2017.

She is working on a collection of personal essays that will touch on the 2016 presidential campaign, Simon & Schuster told The Associated Press last week.

The book, currently untitled, is scheduled for this fall and will be inspired by favorite quotations she has drawn upon. Clinton also will reissue her best-selling It Takes a Village in an illustrated edition for young people.

This spring, Clinton will return to her old stomping grounds at Wellesley College to give the commencement address.

When Clinton graduated from the university in 1969, most of the Ivy League schools still only admitted men. Wellesley was part of the 'Seven Sisters' - the women-only schools that were associated with the Ivy Leagues - and therefore one of the best in the country.

She will also resume her relationship with the Harry Walker Agency, the speakers bureau through which she made the paid talks that were criticized by Sen Bernie Sanders and others during the election race.

Although the fees for none of the items were disclosed, Hillary and her husband Bill made themselves multi-millionaires on the back of their previous speaking and writing contracts.

Clinton has also has received near-record advances for her previous books. In 2003, Simon & Schuster paid her an $8million advance for her book Living History.

On the speaking circuit, Clinton made about $200,000 to $225,000 per speech. Records show that she earned over $11million for the fifteen months ending in March 2015. She is also estimated to be worth $30milllion on her own, and $45 to $53million with her husband.