Disclaimer: If you’re having your weekly “It’s already Thursday?! Holy crap, where has the time gone?” meltdown, read no further. Yesterday, Time released its list of the 30 Most Influential Teens of 2016. The list ranges from political activists (Joshua Wong, Malala Yousafza) to fashion and beauty insiders (Amandla Stenberg, James Charles, Barbie Ferreira, Kylie Jenner). Each of these acclaimed adolescents have risen to the top of their various fields, impacted the globe through their social media networks and sparked headlines. (It’s nothin’.)
We couldn’t help but notice that many of the fashionable teens who made the list are vocal advocates for diversity. In the past year, Kylie Jenner has cemented her status as makeup mogul, expanding her eternally sold-out Lip Kit line and launching not one, but two KyShadow palettes. Jenner has put out-there makeup back on the map and championed a new, inclusive definition of nude. (She also starred in Alexander Wang’s latest campaign and covered beauty bible Allure and streetwear scripture Complex, to name just a few.)
Barbie, along with hosting “Body Parties” for Teen Vogue, has spent 2016 modeling for progressive brands like Missguided, Aerie and Rachel Antonoff. She’s positioned herself at the forefront of the body positivity movement, consistently calling for more representation in fashion via her social media accounts, fashion features and grassroots campaigns like the All Woman Project. Her inclusion on the list represents a serious #win for, well, inclusion.
Stenberg, a theFashionSpot and Beyoncé favorite — Bey wants Blue “to be just like her” — is wiser at 17 than a certain presidential candidate is at 70. She’s outspoken on the topics of race, representation and gender identity. We spent our hours before prom applying acrylic nails — quiet, you guys — Amandla spent them counseling Oyster readers on how to achieve self-love.
A photo posted by JAMES CHARLES (@jamescharles) on
Meanwhile, 17-year-old James Charles recently broke the Internet when Katy Perry announced him the newest face of CoverGirl. “I truly want to inspire others and help others feel confident in their skin, whether you have on no makeup or 18 pounds of it. That is my only goal,” the wunderkind told Fashionista. Did we mention the YouTube star brought a ring light to his second senior-picture shoot? Talk about #goals.
Scroll down for the full list of — to quote Charles’ cosmetics campaign costar — Teenage Dreams below, then head over to Time for the lowdown on less familiar names like Gavin Grimm, who sparked the whole transgender bathroom rights debate, and Yusra Mardini, who represented her home nation of Syria on the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team.
1. Maddie Ziegler, 14
2. Skai Jackson, 14
3. Logan Guleff, 14
4. Gaten Matarazzo, 14
5. Sasha Obama, 15
6. Rachel Zietz, 16
7. Laurie Hernandez, 16
8. Kiara Nirghin, 16
9. Chloe Kim, 16
10. Yara Shahidi, 16
11. James Charles, 17
12. Sumail Hassan, 17
13. Gavin Grimm, 17
14. Amandla Stenberg, 17
15. Ben Pasternak, 17
16. Malia Obama, 18
17. Zara Larsson, 18
18. Yusra Mardini, 18
19. Jaden Smith, 18
20. Shawn Mendes, 18
21. Luka Sabbat, 18
22. Katie Ledecky, 19
23. George Matus, 19
24. Maisie Williams, 19
25. Simone Biles, 19
26. Camila Cabello, 19
27. Chloe Grace Moretz, 19
28. Barbie Ferreira, 19
29. Malala Yousafzai, 19
30. Kylie Jenner, 19
[ via Time ]
