Making TIME for the 2026 Women of the Year... and the Gift They Gave Gen Z Girls
Images via TIME
Exactly in time for Women’s History Month, TIME has given Gen Z girls a gift.
The very best kind of gift.
Because, in releasing their 2026 Women of the Year TIME has not only selected 16 leaders “working toward a better, more equitable world,” but they have served up 16 role models with lessons and learnings to impart to the next generation.
And they are equal to the task.
Join me in celebrating TIME’s 2026 Women of the Year and matching their work with Gen Z girls whose TIME is coming soon…
Teyana Taylor – Calling herself “a ‘Glade PlugIn’ because you can stick her anywhere and she’ll get to work,” this actor-director-musician-dancer-choreographer started dance-battling in Harlem at 15. What teens can we envision dancing in Taylor’s footsteps? Think of Canadian dancer Andrea Mattei, Chicago’s Alyssia Duda or New York’s first Black Marie in The Nutcracker, Charlotte Nebres.
Chloé Zhao – This writer, producer and director of five feature films calls femininity an asset in the arts, noting that “[o]ur intuition and our ability to shape the world around us is extremely powerful.” Who might pull up a director’s chair next? Think of teen filmmakers Esabella Strickland or Eleanor Jane Smith.
Mariska Hargitay – In moving from actor and advocate to documentarian, Hargitay said she wanted to “make a movie that recognized the whole person [her mother] without judgment.” Which storytellers would we love to hear from next? Think of Lily Mott, Fulbright scholar and founder of Be The Change media network that is elevating young voices and views.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone – When she made her U.S. Olympic Team debut in the 400m hurdles at age 17, McLaughlin-Levrone knew there were records to be broken. Now, at 26 with titles won and eyes set on the 2028 Games, what athletes can we imagine taking up the baton? Think of high school athlete and aspiring sports neurologist Anushka Nag or competitive teen archer Donya Fournier.
Amy Sherald – The artist known for her mesmerizing portrait of Michelle Obama, among other lauded works, refers to herself as “an American storyteller.” Which other stories will be framed by the next generation of artists? Think of Gen Z muralist Annie Bolding or 3D print artist and innovator Karina Popovich.
Sister Norma Pimentel – With a mission to bring “light in the midst of darkness,” Sister Pimentel directs Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley and brings emergency relief to impoverished areas. Which Gen Z changemakers are already helping communities in need? Think sisters Shreyya and Esha Venkat who founded Nest4US, a nonprofit harnessing the power of kindness and service to uplift global communities or Khloe Thompson whose organization Khloe Kares is bringing art to Ghana.
Reshma Saujani – An Être epic mentor already (she’s featured in our first book and wrote the cover blurb for our second), Saujani made the list for raising her hand and asking a question about childcare affordability. Which Gen Z-ers are also raising their hands instead of lowering their standards? Think of high schooler Anvika Jain running for Youth Governor in Texas and asking all the questions.
Lucy Liu – The daughter of Chinese immigrants, Liu’s film career has redefined representation and ensured that girls see stars with backgrounds echoing their own. Who else is looking to break barriers through stories? Think of teen creators like Savannah Dahan or actors like Sofia Sanchez and Viva Lee.
Mahnoor Omer – At only 14 years old, Omer founded the Noor Foundation to address inequalities she witnessed firsthand in Pakistan. Now at 25, she is challenging Pakistan’s “period tax” in court while she earns a master’s at the London School of Economics. Who else is balancing activism and school at an early age? Think of Laila Brown balancing studies at Spelman with her organization 601 For Period Equity.
Brandi Carlile – When this celebrated singer-songwriter crushed America the Beautiful at last month’s Super Bowl, crowds watching around the world cheered. Currently on tour for her 8th studio album, which other rising musicians is Carlile inspiring? Think of teen singer-songwriters like Francesca Tarantino, Chloé Bryan, Lexi Anand or Hailey Rae.
Mel Robbins – With The Let Them Theory book taking on a viral significance (cue the let them tattoos everywhere), Robbins’ 30+ million followers see her as a big sister, friendly therapist or the coolest-ever aunt. Which Gen Z-ers are creating early followings in the self-help space? Think of Sadie Sutton, founder of the She Persisted mental health podcast, teen life coach Ariel Jolie or Jacey Adler, whose cozy hobbies calm and center the younger set.
Reshma Kewalramani – Becoming the first female CEO of a big, public biotechnology company (Vertex), Kewalramani’s work is on the cutting edge of drug development. Who might be the next STEM innovator or leader in medical discovery? Think of Adishree Das, high school founder of Techfluences, Kachilio Madubuko, founder of Info For Neuroscience, or Astrophysics PhD candidate Caitlin O’Brien who is rethinking disability access in space with AstroAccess.
Isata Dumbuya – Dedicated to making childbirth safer in Sierra Leone, Dumbuya has defied odds and opened the first neonatal intensive care unit in her country’s history. Which teens have similarly responded to local crises and opened new doors in their communities? Think of Avery Colvert, the youngest member of TIME’s Impact Award, who founded Altadena Girls after the LA fires.
Safeena Husain – When she founded the award-winning nonprofit Educate Girls, more than two million girls in remote parts of India found their way into the classroom, together. Who else is vowing to make education easier and safer to access? Think of Laalitya Acharya, 22, who is running for the statehouse in Ohio to protect and enrich public education.
Sheryl Lee Ralph – Ralph’s work on stage, on-screen, at the mic and in the non-profit space have made girls everywhere tune into her voice. When she says, “Tell us your story, because your story matters. Your health matters. You matter just the way you are,” the next gen is listening. Like whom? Think of storytellers like Salome Agbaroji, the 7th US Youth Poet Laureate or actor-activists like Demi Singleton.
Kecia Steelman – As Steelman took the reins at Ulta Beauty she became President and CEO of a company where nine out of ten employees are women – so she’s naturally on the lookout for new stars. “When I identify someone as having that ‘it’ factor,” she told TIME, “…I’m like, ‘I see your potential even more than what you may see.’” Which Gen Alpha or Z-er should she have her eye on? Think of 13-year-old Coco Granderson, founder of Yes Day Beauty, or 16-year-old Salish Matter whose launch of Sincerely Yours drew 80,000 screaming fans to a mall in New Jersey.
There are, of course, more - think of girls starting organizations like Girls Into VC and Her Rising as well as young founders like Aline Morse (Zolli Candy), Mikaila Ulmer (Me and the Bees Lemonade), Maya Penn (Maya’s Ideas) and Gabby Goodwin (Gabby’s Bows) solving problems by bringing products to market.
But the point – and it’s an exciting one – is that by scrolling through TIME’s 2026 Women of the Year, girls have at their fingertips a new roster of role models with their eyes on the future.
Their future.
With our deepest congratulations to the 2026 Women of the Year, I cannot wait to see girls’ names on new lists year after year. Thanks to these role models, their TIME is coming.
Looking forward,
Illana
ÊXTRAS: Other TIME lists with role models you won’t want to miss: the story behind this year’s list, last year’s breakthrough girls of the year and a link to all the 2026 stories here.
