Members of the music group Pussy Riot finally revealed themselves to the American public on NBC's Today show and at the 5th Annual Women of the World summit this week.

After two of the all-female 11 members of Pussy Riot revealed themselves, they showcased their time in prison, their purpose against Russian President Vladimir Putin for a new Russia, and their hopes for a brighter future.

On Today, both Pussy Riot members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina, spoke about their activism. Veteran magazine editor Tina Brown, who is involved in the summit, was also part of the interview, as well as an interpreter for Pussy Riot. Brown called Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina "game changers."

Pussy Riot wanted to point out ills of the Russian penal colony system, The Hollywood Reporter reported. On December 23, 2013, the ladies were released in an early "exoneration." Reuters reported that the two protesters were released in December, three months before completing their sentences, under an amnesty to mark the 20th anniversary of Russia's constitution.

In August 2012, the ladies were given a two-year prison sentence because of an anti-Putin performance in a cathedral. Since Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina's arrest back in 2012, two other members from the group fled Russia fearing prosecution; one was arrested, and another was denied bail. Meanwhile, three others were charged with "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred," and another was put on probation.

The women staged their performance in a cathedral to protest the Orthodox Church's close ties with the political regime.

"We understood what Jesus Christ would have done in such a situation," Tolokonnikova said, the Daily Beast reported.

They both also served their prison terms doing hard labor and were forced to sew military and police uniforms for up to 14 hours a day.

"It wouldn't be for the people, who really were saying everything they could about us to support us, things would be completely different," Alyokhina said through a translator. "And it might have been that we wouldn't be healthy and sane and alive."

Following Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova's release from prison, they were cleared of their religious hatred charge in Russia. Since their release, they have performed on stage with Madonna.

On Friday, Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova appeared at the 5th Annual Women of the World summit in New York alongside Masha Geeson, author of the book Words Will Break Cement: The Passion of Pussy Riot. The panel discussion with the Pussy Riot members was moderated by Charlie Rose.

Speaking about their time in prison, Tolokonnikova stated that prison exposes "the way the weakest person in society is treated."

"It demonstrates the whole essence of the government mechanism," she added.

Pussy Riot's long term goal is to work on their new NGO, Zona Prava, which advocates for prisoner's rights. With Zona Prava, they want to petition to cancel hard labor in Russian prisons.

Charlie Rose asked how, as mothers, they saw their future and the risks of their political activism.

"Our children, as opposed to Putin's children, live in Russia," Alyokhina responded. "We're trying to build a good future for our children."

Tolokonnikova added that a different Russia already exists; she pointed out the large anti-war rallies that Russian citizens held last month in Moscow to protest their government's policies.

"A great Russian culture can grow and develop without an authoritarian regime over it. No to censure and oppression," Tolokonnikova said.

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