Historic First: TIME Magazine Names ‘Girls of the Year’ — Inspiring Young Leaders from Around the World

Chas Pravdy - 14 August 2025 17:15

A groundbreaking event took place in the history of the American magazine TIME, as for the first time ever, the publication announced a list under the symbolic title ‘Girls of the Year’.

Included are ten young women aged from 12 to 17 from all over the globe, recognized for their courage, leadership, and determination to break stereotypes, fight for equality, address social and scientific challenges, attain athletic heights, and inspire their peers to act within their communities.

This list is more than just a compilation; it is a vivid example of how change is possible thanks to the bravery and perseverance of young women who dare to challenge established norms.The idea to create this list was born in Diana Sarkisova’s mind, senior editor of TIME, who, after returning from maternity leave, decided to seek out girls embodying bravery, intelligence, and kindness — qualities she personally values and hopes to see in her daughter.

Her goal was to showcase young leaders who not only adapt to the times but also shape the world around them by opening new opportunities and overcoming obstacles.Hidden stories from the list showcase fearless girls from all corners of the world, each demonstrating their unique strength and resilience.

For example, 9-year-old Rutendo Shadaya from New Zealand and Zimbabwe penned a fantasy novel as a gift for a friend and later published two books that inspire young writers to overcome difficulties.

Japanese athlete Koko Yoshizawa, who won a gold medal in street skateboarding at the Paris Olympics, began skateboarding at age 7 and now seeks to motivate youth of all ages to take up sports.

Valérie Chiu from Hong Kong started the initiative Teen Animals da Scientists during the pandemic, promoting science among children from low-income families across ten countries through seminars and cultural exchanges.

French singer Zoé Cluzor, winner of Eurovision’s Junior competition, fights bullying through her music and is the youngest ambassador of The Non-Violence Project.

German researcher Klara Proksh studied contaminated sandbox soil, developing cleaning methods approved by Munich city authorities.

Mexican racing driver Ivanna Richards is the first woman from her country in the Formula 1 academy, holding a professional license.

Polish innovator Kornelia Vechorek co-created biodegradable fertilizers and researches medical applications, planning to pursue dual degrees in neurology and medicine.

Turkish 16-year-old Dufne Ozcan, who achieved her country’s youngest solo flight, aims to inspire women in STEM fields and plans a career as a biomechanical engineer.

British Rebeca Yang designed a solar-powered backpack and electric blanket for the homeless, which received an engineering award and has already been distributed in Glasgow shelters.

American Naomi S.

DeBerry authored a children’s book about organ donation inspired by her father’s illness and actively advocates for donation, aspiring to become a transplant surgeon.

According to Sarkisova, these stories prove that you don’t need to wait until adulthood to change the world — simply recognizing a problem and taking action can make a difference.

She also emphasized that ‘these girls challenged stereotypes, confronting issues directly and seeking to find solutions from scratch,’ which is why they made the list.

The compilation is created in partnership with LEGO Group, which in June launched the campaign “She Built It” to combat sexist stereotypes and expand opportunities for girls.

EuroNews reports that surveys across 21 countries found that 72% of parents believe girls still lack visible female role models in creation and change.TIME magazine is well-known for its influential rankings — from “Person of the Year” to the Top 100 Most Influential People.

In 2019, it published 89 covers dedicated to remarkable women from 1920 to today, and since 2022, it annually announces “Women of the Year” in various spheres.

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