teen ★★★★☆

30 Most Influential People under 20 ...

Sabrina

30 Most Influential People under 20 ...
30 Most Influential People under 20 ...

Whoever said our generation was lazy should really think again! Teens and young adults around the globe make the world a better place every day by inventing new technologies, inspiring other young people, developing charities, and much more!

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1. Rowan Blanchard, 15

hair, person, hairstyle, photography, beauty, You might know her as the spunky star of Disney Channel’s “Girl Meets World" but since accruing more fame, she's put her popularity to good use by raising awareness about the importance of intersectional feminism. Well-known feminists such as Emma Watson have also shown Rowan support, and in 2015 she spoke at the UN’s Women Annual Summit. And get this—she was only 14!

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Rowan Blanchard is an inspiring young woman who is making a positive impact on the world. At only 15 years old, she has already achieved more than many adults. As the star of Disney Channel’s “Girl Meets World,” she has used her fame to advocate for intersectional feminism. Rowan has been praised by well-known feminists such as Emma Watson, and in 2015 she was invited to speak at the UN’s Women Annual Summit.

Rowan is a passionate activist and is dedicated to making a difference. She is a strong voice for young women, and she has used her platform to speak out on important issues such as racism, sexism, and gender inequality. She is an advocate for intersectional feminism, and she is encouraging young women to stand up for their rights and be heard.

Rowan has also used her fame to bring attention to important causes. She has partnered with organizations such as UNICEF, The Humane Society, and the ACLU to raise money and awareness for various causes.

Rowan Blanchard is an inspiring young woman who is making a difference in the world. She is a role model for young women everywhere, and her dedication to making a positive impact is admirable.

2. Ahmed Mohomad, 15

person, man, people, male, senior citizen, Last year, this boy genius made news when school authorities assumed the home-made clock he had created was actually a bomb. The outrageous accusation sparked a national conversation about racial profiling in schools. Ahmed stayed strong throughout the process, and eventually got accepted into a prestigious school in Qatar.

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3. Amandla Stenberg, 17

hair, face, person, woman, black hair, She may have lost in The Hunger Games, but Amandla is winning in life! Like Rowan, she uses her fame to raise awareness about an issue that’s important to her: appropriation of black culture.

4. Bindi Irwin, 17

koala, mammal, vertebrate, nose, marsupial, Do you remember everyone’s favorite Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin? Well, at age 17, his daughter is following in his famous footsteps. While Bindi isn’t hunting any crocodiles, she is advocating for conservation efforts and last year she shined on Australia’s Dancing With the Stars.

5. Olivia Hallisley, 18

hair, face, person, nose, blond, This brilliant teen is helping make the world healthy again. She discovered a treatment for Ebola that doesn’t require refrigeration—much more effective for victims of the virus in rural Africa. Her accomplishments didn’t go unnoticed; Olivia was recognized in the 2015 Google Science Fair.

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Olivia Hallisley's groundbreaking innovation involves a silk-derived compound that stabilizes blood samples without the need for cold storage. Her silk fiber matrix is proving to be a game-changer in the medical field, particularly for transporting viral pathogens like Ebola. Her ingenuity could save thousands of lives by simplifying the diagnosis and treatment process in remote areas. Hailed as a prodigy, she has set the bar high for young scientists around the globe, showing that age is but a number when it comes to making a significant impact on global health.

6. Katie Ledecky, 19

sports, With the olympics behind her, this female Michael Phelps is Stanford-bound! Beauty, talent, and brains!

7. Zendaya, 20

eyebrow, hair, face, cheek, nose, Due to her time with Disney, Zendaya has become a household name. She’s an icon of beauty and fashion, and the epitome of grace and charm. She even has a Barbie designed after her!

8. Flynn McGarry, 17

person, cook, professional, chef, profession, This young man turned something we do every day, eat, into an absolute art form. His goal is to own the best restaurant in the world, and I’d say, after opening a world-renowned supper club already, Flynn is well on his way to achieving his goal!

9. Laurie Hernandez, 16

person, face, eyebrow, hairstyle, head, The Olympics brings many young athletes into the spotlight. Laurie Hernandez is one of them. Thanks to her, the U.S. team dominated gymnastics this year!

10. Simone Biles, 19

clothing, swimwear, muscle, arm, leg, Laurie’s teammate was America’s sweetheart over summer at the Rio Olympics!

11. Sydney McLaughlin, 17

human action, person, sports, athletics, endurance sports, You might remember rooting for Sydney in the 2016 Rio Olympics, too. She represented the U.S. women’s track team this year and will hopefully run in Tokyo in 2020!

12. Chloe Kim, 16

blue, footwear, sports, winter sport, ice skating, Look for Chloe Kim at the 2018 Winter Olympics! In South Korea, Kim will probably add a few medals to her current collection of 3 gold X-games medals.

13. Cassandra Lin, 18

facial expression, person, girl, beauty, smile, You’ve heard of TGIF, right? No, not Thank God it’s Friday, even though that’s true, too. I mean Cassandra Lin’s project “Turn Grease Into Fuel” which recycles grease to use it as biodiesel that helps heat family’s homes.

14. Hailee Steinfeld, 19

hair, person, black hair, image, girl, You probably saw her for the first time in Pitch Perfect 2, where Hailee debuted her musical skills to a wider audience than ever before in her career. She’s still on the rise, and we can look forward to her continuing to influence the music industry!

15. Maddie Ziegler, 14

hair, person, photography, beauty, girl, Maddie is a 14 year old dancer who just started her own clothing line in 2016!

16. Skai Jackson, 14

hair, face, eyebrow, nose, cheek, If you don't know her yet for her acting career, you definitely know this sassy and gorgeous 14 year old from the memes! She also speaks out about cyberbullying and advocates for staying true to yourself.

17. Gaten Matarazzo, 14

hair, face, person, nose, hairstyle, Gaten's career is on the rise ever since playing the hero on Stranger Things. Did you know this talented young man is only 14?

18. Malia Obama, 18

clothing, coat, outerwear, trench coat, fashion, She's a fashion icon, future Harvard student, and the oldest daughter of former President’s Barack Obama. Need I say more?

19. Yara Shahidi, 16

VOGUE, Teen Vogue, hair, color, face, You probably laugh at Yara's character on the show “Black-ish,” but did you know that off screen she’s an activist? Yet another reason to love her!

20. James Charles, 17

face, eyebrow, hair, clothing, nose, James made history by becoming CoverGirl’s first “cover boy!”

21. Ben Pasternak, 17

hair, clothing, hairstyle, fashion, sleeve, Many successful entrepreneurs dropped out of college, but this one dropped out of high school! He’s still not even a legal adult, yet is the CEO of an app company.

22. Maisie Williams, 19

hair, face, eyebrow, clothing, nose, One of HBO’s biggest talents is impressive both on and off screen. In Maisie’s downtime, she speaks out on feminism and other social and political issues.

23. Camila Cabello, 19

hair, face, black hair, hairstyle, beauty, I love all of Fifth Harmony, but Camila has a special place in my heart because she speaks out about immigrant rights while balancing independent work and Fifth Harmony recordings.

24. Barbie Ferreira, 19

hair, eyebrow, face, person, nose, Despite her name, Barbie is working against the unrealistic, barbie-like demands for young women produced by the media. She's a successful model who demonstrates confidence in all of her “fiercely real” photos.

25. Shawn Mendes, 18

hair, person, male, man, hairstyle, It seems like he went from vine star to household name and national teen crush overnight!

26. Jaden Smith, 18

hair, hairstyle, beauty, head, fashion, Jaden tries a little bit of everything—acting, music, and fashion. He's especially unique because he refuses to conform to gender roles, and wears stylish outfits whether it’s a dress or pants and a T-shirt!

27. Kylie Jenner, 19

black hair, face, hair, eyebrow, black, Whether you are a fan of the Jenners or not, you can’t deny that Kylie is one of the most influential people in the world of fashion and makeup today.

28. Kendall Jenner, 19

hair, face, eyebrow, person, black hair, Even though the sisters are very different people, they both are extremely influential in the fashion world as well as several social media platforms.

29. Maya Van Wagenen, 18

person, newscaster, singer, singing, singer songwriter, Introducing the youngest author to ever make a movie deal with DreamWorks!

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Maya Van Wagenen's remarkable journey began with her memoir, Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek, which she penned at just 15 years old. The heartfelt book, inspired by a 1950s popularity guide, not only captivated readers but also caught the eye of film industry giants. DreamWorks was quick to recognize her extraordinary talent, resulting in a deal that underscores her influence among young writers. This teen sensation has truly broken barriers, proving that age is just a number when it comes to making an indelible mark on the world of literature and beyond.

30. Malala Yousafzai, 19

face, red, clothing, photography, head, No list of influential young people would be complete without Malala! After surviving a gunshot to the head, Malala has gone on to be a major advocate for equal education opportunities for girls, written a book, and won a Nobel Peace Prize.

There are so many inspiring young people in our generation! Which ones do you look up to?

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Who wrote this?!!! Kendall and Kylie are not 19 tf?!!

They aren twins lol

And what makes them influential?? Smh

The Jenners along with Malala? There's something wrong with this post.

Kendall and Kylie aren't twins

Kendall is 21 and her and Kylie aren't twins