Can I be real?
This is the first article I have written for Skool Girl Online that reminded me of why I started this platform in the first place. Be inspired girls…
(In no particular order)
1. Malala Yousafzai, 16 – Cofounder of The Malala Fund
‘Education is our basic right’…a right that young Pakistani Malala Yousafzai was prepared to die for. In 2012, she was shot in the head by the Taliban, for campaigning for girls’ rights to go to school. Think this could stop Malala from her mission? Nope. In fact her journey was only just beginning. From this moment on, the world recognised the brave and noble Malala as a courageous hero. Not only has she received dozens of awards, appeared across our tv screens and penned an inspiring autobiography (I Am Malala), but she still continues to invest her time in furthering the education of girls in developing countries. The Malala Fund aims to empower girls to raise their voices, to unlock their potential and demand change. – Yes to girl power Malala!
2. Tavi Gevinson, 18 – Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Rookie Magazine
In 2008 Tavi founded her blog ‘Style Rookie’ at the age of 12. Fast forward six years…this 18-year-old Writer, Magazine Editor, Actress and Singer now stars as a ‘Special Guest Voice’for ‘The Simpsons’, oh and casually rocks up on the front row of New York’s Fashion Week! Honestly Tani, you are genius…the type that makes me want to poke my eye out, for no reason! Rookie Magazine attracts more than 4 million page views a month and Gevinson seems to just be getting started, as she continues to build a media empire that speaks to teen girls. The super teen has managed to inspire a whole generation of teen bloggers, ‘The goal has become to make people feel included, that they’re cool enough or smart enough.’ says Tani…I’ll say, mission (too right) accomplished!
3. Lorde, 17 – Grammy Singer With A Message
I’ve seen a lot about Lorde being an influential teen in the media, but when I read upon the reasons why I couldn’t have been more disappointed on the TYPICAL points made on her successful music career (by the way congratulations on the Grammy). I know ‘Royals’ is the most obvious thing to sing her praises for, what can I say, girls got pipes…However, Lorde’s influence is more than just a great one hit wonder. What truly inspires me about this New Zealander is her ‘no nonsense’attitude, her ability to speak up and shout out about women being demoralised and portrayed as objects of desire in the media. Heck, Lorde was even prepared to challenge Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus on their behaviour…which may I add, it’s about blooming T.I.M.E. I am proud to say, I’m totally #TeamLorde – any celeb who is willing to choose morals over money certainly gets my vote.
4. Talia Leman, 18 – Founder of RandomKid
What were you doing at the age of 10? While you and I were busy doing goodness knows what? Talia Leman was raising $10 million in response to Hurricane Katrina. I know, who is she? *Pokes out second eye*. At age 18 Talia has worked with12 million young people across 20 countries providing support and resources for those who are eager to make an impact. Her non-profit organisation ‘RandomKid’has been the talk of practically every international town, the subject of New York Times and has guided 11 million dollars’ worth of initiatives. Oh and there’s more… Leman also leads ”power”assemblies, organises web-conferences across the globe and mentors her peers in success strategies for achieving their goals to benefit others. She definitely deserved to win the National Jefferson Award for global change. Am I the only one secretly wishing she was my friend at 10?
5. Beth Reekles, 18 – Author of The Kissing Booth
At age 15, Beth Reekles simply picked up a pen, simply created a novel entitled ‘the kind of book I wanted to read’and then simply put it up on the story-sharing website Wattpad. Pretty simple right? 19 million views later, she won a three-book contract with a young adult division at Random House to publish ‘that kind of book…’, The Kissing Booth, and (recently published) Rolling Dice, appeared on national TV; sold the film rights for ‘that kind of book…’, The Kissing Booth; and earned a spot on TIME’s list of the most influential teens of 2013 (casually alongside Malia Obama and Justin Bieber). It’s amazing what you can achieve when you “simply”just take a chance. There’s no doubt that Beth is simply amazing for such an achievement, she has even been dubbed the next ‘Stephenie Meyer’! But what’s truly inspiring about this young lady is her humility and focus, you would assume this ‘much in-demand writer’ would be splashing out on the latest glossy hand-bag, but no she has graduated from school, completed college and is currently at the University of Exeter planning to major in the world of physics. I would really love to sit down and have a Starbucks with you one day Beth, seriously how more down to Earth can you get?
