LIFE

To celebrate our 30th birthday (peep our extra special anniversary issue starring Taylor Swift), we're taking a moment to appreciate the thing that makes Girls' Life, well, Girls' Life—exceptional real life girls, just like you.

With the help of Rebel Girls (aka the team behind some of our fave girlpower stories), we're spotlighting the next generation of gals who will headline our playlists, rule our FYPs, grace our vision boards and, most assuredly, change our world. Prepare to meet the girls who're accomplishing big things before age 30—and borrow some of their secrets to success.  

Reminder: You're never too young to chase your dreams. And if you don't believe us, take it from these teen trailblazers. 

Psst: Want to keep the confidence party going? Check out all the cool content that Rebel Girls has to offer: a library of epic books (our current read = the adventure story with a magical twist, Nina and the Mysterious Mailbox), an app with empowering audio stories and So. Much. More. Tap into your inner leader today and who knows? Tomorrow, it could be your name on our roundup...

@arisa.trew | @trewphotography

Arisa Trew
Age: 14
Her story: If you're tuning in to the Paris Olympics, you might recognize Aussie Arisa Trew and, ofc, her sick skateboarding skills. When she was 13, the pro skater and surfer attracted the world's attention after landing a 720 (translation: an ultra-difficult trick that requires two whole mid-air rotations). She's gone on to earn double gold medals at this year's X Games. 
Match her energy: Try a new sport you've always been curious about—rock climbing, pickleball or, you guessed it, skateboarding. Challenge yourself to practice for 30 minutes a day for an entire week (and remember that even the champs like Arisa had to start somewhere!).

 

Lily Walker
Age: 19 
Her story: Since receiving a brain cancer diagnosis at age 14, Lily's been committed to raising awareness for pediatric cancer by hosting fun 24-hour runs, raising money for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and kickstarting a tradition where the entirety of her home county puts green lights outside their houses—a ritual which still goes strong five years later.
Snag her secret: “I could choose to be sad or mad about my situation, but having a positive attitude and hope is such a better way to live.”

Anna Yang
Age: 17
Her story: Anna's passion begins (but doesn't end) with fashion. Through her original clothing line STARS4EVER! and her sustainability nonprofit Reimagined, she upcycles donated clothing and even shows off her unique designs in an annual fashion show. You can find her threads at the iconic Melrose Trading Post in L.A.—and all her proceeds are donated to orgs that fight against fast fashion.
Snag her secret: "I find myself drawn to people and conversations of others who think differently and who defy the familiar chorus of what cannot be done. I dream of going wherever my heart leads me."

Victory Brinker 
Age: 12
Her story: Victory's life has been marked by, ahem, tons of victories. Aside from holding the Guinness World Record for youngest opera singer (which she officially achieved at age 7, nbd), she's also the first person to ever score a Group Golden Buzzer on the hit TV competition show America's Got Talent in 2021. In between concert hall performances, Victory's also partnered with Light of Life to pass out care packages to those experiencing homelessness in Hollywood. 
Match her energy: Research your local shelters and see if they're in need of anyone to serve dinner, organize donated clothes or—just like Victory—make care packages. Bring your crew along for some extra helping hands.

Photo courtesy of Marliese Marie

Brooklynn Prince
Age: 14
Her story: A double-threat actress and author, Brooklyn is slaying the movie game (starring in Paramount+'s Little Wing and 2017's acclaimed flick The Florida Project) and penning her own books. The first installment in her dark fantasy graphic novel series, Misfortune's Eyes, just dropped earlier this year—and is an absolute must-read for self-proclaimed empaths everywhere. 
Snag her secret: "If I could give advice to my younger self, I'd say to guard yourself a bit. It's OK to give a lot to others, but make sure they have earned it first and take care of yourself, too."

Photo courtesy of Jordyn Wright

Jordyn Wright
Age: 16 
Her story: Jordyn's already started her own successful company (J. Brielle Handmade Goods, for all your sensitive skin bath and body needs), written a book and founded an after-school program intended to empower fellow young people. Her org's main goal? Support kids in finding their true  passions and turning them into on-the-ground, real-life businesses. 
Catch her next chapter: If her current work ethic is any sign of Jordyn's future, you'll find her in the courtroom one day: "I'd definitely like to become a defense attorney, I am going to go to law school someday."

Photo courtesy of Kosha Updadhyay

Kosha Upadhyay
Age: 17 
Her story: A STEM enthusiast through and through, Kosha invented Buzz Bowl, her award-winning trivia game, to encourage middle school girls to pursue physics, chemistry, arithmetic, astronomy and more. Today, she runs Buzz Bowl events nationwide that, at the very least, help students ace that upcoming math test and, more often than not, kickstart their future careers.
Snag her secret: "Besides being a good leader, being observant of the things around you and also of the feelings of the people around you is very important. It has definitely helped me succeed."

@leahsavajeffries

Leah Jeffries 
Age: 14
Her story: We can all admit that Leah is a major cause of this year's Percy Jackson and the Olympians obsession. She plays the legendary Annabeth Chase in Disney+'s new adaptation and nails Every. Single. Scene. So it's no surprise that she scored a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance—or that she was hand-picked by author Rick Riordan for the role. 
Catch her next chapter: Get ready to join Leah on another epic quest because, yup, Percy Jackson and the Olympians has been renewed for a second season. While we don't have an official release date yet, we do know the next installment will cover the series' second book. Brb, setting sail for the Sea of Monsters.

Photo courtesy of Shakondi Lee

Makenzie Lee-Foster
Age: 13
Her story: Makenzie wanted to see more characters who looked like her on bookshelves, so, naturally she wrote her own book (or...try three!). This actress/author/advocate uses her own writing to boost diverse representation in kids' stories and simultaneously started a nonprofit called Kickin' It with Kenzie, where she visits classrooms to share her motivational career advice. 
Match her energy: Grab a few of the books that leave you feeling empowered (maybe one of these Rebel Girl reads) and volunteer to read them to children at the library—or even just sit down and share it with a younger sib. 

@autumn.peltier

Autumn Peltier
Age: 19
Her story: Ever since her early teens, Autumn's been a passionate Indigenous rights activist, focused specifically on raising awareness for First Nations water rights. She's spoken at the UN General Assembly (that's the equivalent of speaking to approximately 193 counties at once, FYI) about preserving water rights and became Chief Water Commissioner for the Anishinabek Nation in 2019. 
Match her energy: Research the Indigenous peoples who inhabit the land in your area (this online tool can help) and screen The Water Walker (a doc featuring Autumn!) to learn more about protecting water rights.

@camilaas.art

Camila Salinas
Age: 19
Her story: Camila first fell in love with art when she was in elementary school. Flash forward to present day and she's attending the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design and amassing over half a million followers on social media by sharing a visual diary of her huge, incredibly lifelike self-portraits. 
Match her energy: Step 1: Check out Camila's art account on IG or TikTok, so you can impress your friends by pointing out her work when it starts popping up in museums. Step 2: Throw on her curated painting playlist and bust out your brushes to access your own inner artist. 

@kiawentiio | @lavenderlullabiesphoto

Kiawentiio
Age: 18
Her story: Avatar: The Last Airbender fans will recognize Kiawentiio from her role as the fearless Katara (one of our forever fave female characters, BTW), but she's been notable in the film world for many years because of her commitment to promoting the accurate representation of Indigenous teens onscreen (catch her as Ka’kwet in Anne with an E or the titular character in the film Beans). 
Catch her next chapter: DW, there will be more opportunities to see Kaiwentiio's acting chops (and water bending) in action—Netflix has recently renewed Avatar: The Last Airbender for two more seasons. 

@thenehashukla

Neha Shukla
Age: 19
Her story: Neha's work—whether she's inventing a wearable social distancing device during the COVID-19 pandemic, developing an app to combat homelessness or writing a bestselling book to get kids interested in STEM—is all about using tech to conquer the world's most pressing issues. 
Catch her next chapter: Currently, Neha's interested in helping young people learn about AI safety and ethics—and she needs all hands on deck! Learn more about her movement to make technology responsible (and even apply to join the team). 

Emily Bhatnagar
Age: 20
Her story: Reading was Emily's escape when she was dealing with her own father's cancer diagnosis, which gave her the idea to found For Love & Buttercup: her book drive for children who are battling cancer. She's donated over 20,000 reads (+ tons of handwritten letters) to kids in hospitals.
Snag her secret: "It has been truly so moving to meet the children who receive my books. They’re so little—so much younger than me—yet, sometimes I think they’re years wiser than me. I’m always learning from them."

Jungmin Kang
Age: 20
Her story: You may have Jungmin to thank for those "oddly satisfying" slime vids that keep popping up on your feed. She started her ultra-successful business Snoopslimes from her family's apartment when she was only 13. Now, she's netting millions selling her distinct (and uber adorable) slime toys. 
Snag her secret: "Snoopslimes is more than my creative outlet: It's a living example of turning a simple idea into a groundbreaking reality. Starting my business allowed me to couple my imagination with entrepreneurship."

Nandi Bushell
Age: 14
Her story: Nandi is a certified rockstar. She's a professional drummer who's jammed onstage in front of thousands with music legends (and she even had an online drum battle with Dave Grohl—who's now her friend and mentor). What's more, she just released a storybook-slash-guide to motivate young musicians everywhere to stick with their craft. 
Snag her secret "When I met Questlove and he signed my sticks—when I was only nine—he wrote: To an amazing drummer: Practice, practice, practice. That's the most memorable advice I've been given…and I still use it now."

Olivia Zhang
Age: 19
Her story: Olivia spent her high school career serving pediatric cancer patients by donating medical supplies, hosting interactive art programs and more—all through her nonprofit Cancer Kids First (aka the world's largest youth-led org. supporting this particular patient population). Her endgame? To give kids with cancer the best shot at a normal childhood.
Snag her secret: "My biggest tip is to look for role models and seek mentors who match your values and can guide you along your changemaking. They are who I look to in rough times or when I'm doubting my capabilities."

Photo courtesy of Sydnie Collins

Sydnie Collins
Age: 19
Her story: Troubled by the spike in mental health struggles she witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sydnie made it her mission to uplift other kids who felt alone or voiceless. On her very own outreach podcast, "Perfect Timing", Sydnie chats with entrepreneurs, artists, activists and authors to promote a message of positivity.
Snag her secret: "You don't have to start your own business. You don't need to become this crazy entrepreneur. You can start small. You can join organizations that are already doing work that you're passionate about, whether it be women's rights or education system reform or another worthy cause."

@zahraaronizi

Zahra Ronizi
Age: 18
Her story: Formerly an intern for NASA, Zahra represented the U.S. on a simulated Mars mission, where she lived in a cave for six whole days (!) with limited contact from the outside world in order to learn about conditions for space travel. Back on "Earth," Zahra spearheaded the Odyssey Scholars Program, a science camp for underrepresented students in south Florida.
Match her energy: Even if you can't *literally* shoot for the stars, you can still do your part to get younger gals excited about STEM fields. Volunteer to tutor at your elementary school, see if your local Science Olympiad workshops need extra hands or even just be the family member who's willing to sit down and work through your little sis's science HW with her. 

Photo courtesy of Layla Tehranchi

Layla Tehranchi
Age: 17
Her story: Layla's been a longtime community service star in the L.A. area, specifically because of her dedication to supporting teens in the foster care system. On top of hosting holiday gift drives and donating school supplies through her outreach nonprofit Coco's Angels (named after Layla's foster sister Coco!), she developed FosterBuddy: an app that pairs foster youth with professional and personal mentors. 
Snag her secret: "Creating Foster Buddy, definitely taught me that, in order to make an impact, you have to open up your circle and be willing to let other people in."

 

Zoya Haq
Age: 19
Her story: With her education initiative HiStory Retold, Zoya's bringing her master storytelling skills to schools all across America. By interviewing people of all different backgrounds, ages and walks of life and recording their experiences, she's able to transform their stories into inclusive (and *actually* relatable) classroom materials. 
Match her energy: During syllabus week this year, pay attention to which topics are on deck for this semester in your Gov or History class. Know someone with a story or experience that fits? Share it with your teacher. You might just inspire a lesson that feels less like a textbook and more representative of real life. 

Photo courtesy of Angelina DiPaola

Angelina DiPaola
Age: 18
Her story: Angelina's love for gardening (plus a little inspo from an eighth-grade science fair project) allowed her to start Compai, her interactive compost-tracking device. Think of Compai almost like a FitBit for composters—its sensors measure the health of your pile and the accompanying app connects you with other people composting in your area to make saving the Earth, kinda, well, fun! 
Snag her secret: "Making a difference starts with following a genuine passion. You're not going to create change by doing something that you don't like and dragging your feet the whole way. You have to be ready to go in it with everything that you have."

@reesesbookclub

Annabelle Chang
Age: 18
Her story: YA lovers, Annabelle's got your back. Her cute and curated bookstore (which she opened herself after her virtual "book club" gained massive traction online) puts Young Adult reads front and center as the first YA-focused shop of its kind in the country. Even beyond its to-die-for decor, Annabelle's space is quickly becoming a literary hub for screenings of book-to-film adaptations, author talks and more. 
Match her energy: Gather your best gals to start a book club of your own. Choose a title that's both exciting *and* a 'lil educational (may we recommend Rebel Girls' Nina and the Mysterious Mailbox?) to spark interesting convos with your crew. Annabelle would be proud! 

@missdeteenusa

Kayla Kosmalski
Age: 18
Her story: Kayla made history this past April by becoming the first contestant with Down syndrome to be crowned Miss Delaware Teen USA. She’s also an around-the-clock advocate for disability rights, even helping to pass a law called "Kayla's Act" that guarantees more financial freedom to those with disabilities.
Catch her next chapter: The first week of August, Kayla will be in Hollywood competing at the Miss Teen USA finals (and although she's excited about the crown, she shares her gratitude online: "As the first woman with Down syndrome to ever take on that stage…I have [already] won. My community has won."). Tune into her IG updates to watch her shine onstage. 

Photo courtesy of Lili Skyler

Kayla DiVenere
Age: 20
Her story: Kayla's bouncy indie pop bops are on constant repeat for us this summer. Her singles "Date Myself" and "Small Talk" have cemented her as a rising star in the pop music/TikTok pop scene and, thanks to her music that encourages self-love and being true to your own unique style, Kayla's at nearly 35,000 monthly listeners on Spotify...and counting. 
Catch her next chapter: A full EP might very well be on the horizon for Kayla. "I've written so much in the last year and a half that's just waiting to be released, when I feel like it's the right time," she shares. 

@ieagifted

Rory Hu
Age: 13
Her story: Rory became a hero to honeybees (and humans!) everywhere when she shared her cutting-edge research on the declining honeybee population. She earned a $10,000 STEM Talent Award for her project creating her own new compound that helps bees get stronger, stay healthy and maintain their v. important role in the global food supply. 
Catch her next chapter: When she's not beekeeping, Rory's also involved in tons of cool journalism, working for "Nick News", covering current events and even recently interviewing White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. 

@littlemissflint | @themichael_j

Mari Copeny
Age: 17
Her story: Mari (formerly known worldwide as "Little Miss Flint") is an activist focused on raising awareness for the water crisis in Flint, Michigan and beyond. She originally caught the public's attention at age 8, when she wrote a letter to President Obama asking him to help secure clean water for her city, inspiring him to allocate $100 million in aid. Since then, Mari’s continued to use her online platform to speak out for communities affected by toxic drinking water.
Catch her next chapter: Mari's ultimate dream for her future? She plans on running for President in 2044. We can't wait to see her name on the ballot one day. 

Photo courtesy of Eyrn Cech

Miya and Kai Cech
Ages: 17 and 13
Their story: OK, we know that including both of these superstar sisters technically brings our list to a total of 31—but it's so worth it to be able to highlight Miya *and* Kai Cech's careers (and too-cute IRL bond). The actresses starred in American Girl: Corrine Tan, where they portrayed the first Asian-American American Girl Dolls of the Year. Aside from shining onscreen, they're also vocal advocates for better representation of Asian Americans in film and TV.
Match their energy: Spread a little extra kindness today by texting your sib (or another relative) one thing you appreciate about them. Trust, a tiny dose of gratitude and a smiley emoji can make someone's day! 

@genesisbutler_

Genesis Butler
Age: 17
Her story: Genesis is a self-proclaimed friend to all animals—and she has the impressive track record to back it up. She spearheaded her own nonprofit called Genesis for Animals, which supports animal sanctuaries and rescues throughout the U.S. She was also one of the youngest people ever to deliver a TED Talk (she shared the story behind her decision to go vegan when she was only ten!). 
Match her energy: If you want to follow in Genesis's footsteps, but cutting out meat and dairy and eggs from your diet all at once seems near impossible, start by switching to one specific plant-based alternative. Maybe that means ordering your chai with oat milk or opting for a veggie burger at the fam cookout. Every small swap counts!

@alma_deutscher

Alma Deutscher
Age: 19
Her story: Alma picked up the piano at age 2 and the violin when she was 3 (yes, you read that right), so it was pretty clear she'd grow up to make major waves in the classical music scene. Her awesome accomplishments only continued in her early teens: Her opera, Cinderella, which debuted when she was 12, has been performed on three continents to sold-out houses. She’s now conducting her pieces around the world with internationally renowned orchestras.
Catch her next chapter: Alma's headed to Opera San José this fall to conduct a family-friendly version of Mozart's famous opera, The Magic Flute. And beyond that? She's hinted that her next project might be writing a musical or scoring films. 

Need even more girlpower inspo? Check out all things Rebel Girls HERE!

More extra special 30th anniversary content, right this way:
🎉 How well do you *really* know Girls' Life? Try your hand at our trivia game to find out!
🎉 Girls' Life 30th birthday flashback: The secret life of Miley Cyrus
🎉 All our best Swiftie content, in one place

by GL | 8/5/2024