Two Pakistanis, Malala Yousafzai and Sumail Hassan, earned more laurels this week, featuring on Time magazine’s list of 30 most influential teens for 2016.
The magazine determines the list while considering “accolades across numerous fields, global impact through social media and overall ability to drive news,” and the two Pakistanis are already famous for their achievements.
While Malala Yousafzai, now 19, is a global icon in the fight against militancy and a recipient of Nobel Peace Prize, Pakistani American Sumail Hassan is a household name in the world of gaming.
The magazine, while profiling Malala’s oustanding bravery in fithting the Taliban mindset in her hometwon Swat, and her work toward promoting the cause of education for girls, notes that she co-found the Malala Fund to secure girls the right to a minimum of 12 years of quality schooling.
“Now Yousafzai, once dubbed “the most famous teenager in the world,” is continuing her human rights activism by urging world leaders to set aside $1.4 billion this year toward educating young refugees: “The thought that they won’t be able to go to school in their whole life is completely shocking and I cannot accept it.”
Sumail Hassan, now 17, is a global gaming prodigy, having competed in the top events, and is the “youngest person ever to earn $1 million playing competitive video games.”
“Hassan’s game of choice is Dota 2, in which experts say he’s a Michael Jordan-like figure in terms of skill. But despite his rising profile, he still puts family first: Hassan recently used some of his prize money—now at $2.3 million and counting—to buy a house for his parents and five siblings, with whom he moved to the U.S. in 2014,” Time says in recounting Hassan’s impressive array of successes.
Featured on the list are Maddie Zielger, 14, Skai Jackson, 14, Logan Guleff, 14, Gaten Matarazzo, 14, Sasha Obama, 15 and Malia Obama, 18, Rachel Zietz, 16, Laurie Hernandez, 16, Kiara Nirghin, 16, Chloe Kim, 16, Yara Shahidi, 16, James Charles, 17, Gavin Grimm, 17, Amandla Stenberg, 17, Ben Pasternak, 17, Zara Larsson, 18, Yusra Mardini, 18, Jaden Smith, 18, Shawn Mendes, 18, Luka Sabbat, 18, Katie Ledecky, 19, George Matus, 19, Maisie Williams, 19, Simone Biles, 19, Camila Cabello, 19, Chloe Grace Mortez, 19, Barbie Ferreria, 19, Kylie Jenner, 19.
