In our celeb-obsessed America, young girls look up to celebrities to find role models to guide the way they live their life. Although, I agree that parents should not rely on celebrities to raise their children, it is unavoidable for young girls not to look up to celebrities. That is why I have compiled a list of young black female celebs that inspire me. They are far better role models for your sisters and nieces than Kendall and Kylie Jenner. Toda, let’s celebrate the black woman and acknowledge her accomplishment, because America does not to do it as often as she deserves it
1. Yara Shahidi
Yara is well known for her playing Zoey on the sitcom Black-ish. When she is making us laugh in this hit show, she devotes herself to speak up for the black community. At only 16, Yara has been an inspiring voice for the black live matters movement. She is simply stunning. I have heard her speak and she sounds more mature than her age let us to believe. Who says that you cannot be both pretty and smart? Yara launched “Yara’s Club,” a partnership with The Young Women’s Leadership Schools in New York. Yara’s Club is a bi-monthly digital meet-up for Yara and students to discuss societal issues, self-improvement and higher education. She is also the spokesperson for DoSomething.Org and 3M’s “Science Sleuth” campaign, which raised funds for classroom in need of science and technology resources in Minnesota and St. Louis. In the summer of 2014 she studied abroad at Oxford University, England, where she excelled in humanity courses. Isn’t she a stunning young woman?
2. Zendaya
Zendaya is well known because she is not afraid to call out magazines for using Photoshop on her pictures. In 2014, she was named Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF spokesperson. Her role was to convince kids in the U.S to make a difference in the lives of other kids by raising funds for UNICEF’s lifesaving programs. Last year, when a sexist Internet troll offered his unwanted two cents opinion on a woman who was embracing a make-up free face, Zendaya has some chosen words for this nice gentleman. She did not hesitate to stand for the woman, calling her beautiful. She encourages young women to be proud of their body preaching them how to be confident. Zendaya is also part of a non-profit organization called Convoy of Hope, which is a faith-based organization feeding the world through children’s feeding initiatives community outreaches disaster response and partner resourcing.
3. Amandla Stenberg
At only 18, Amandla has been an important voice for young women and men. She is well known for standing up against cultural appropriation. Remember when she went against the Kylie Jenner for cultural appropriation as Kylie did not acknowledge the heritage of the black culture when posting pictures of herself with cornrows? If you still don’t know who she is, let me refresh your memory. Amanda is no other than Rue in the first Hunger Games. Rue, as turned out to be, is an amazing young woman who is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. She is a mind-blowing voice for the black community. Queen B told her that she wanted “Blue Ivy to be just like you.” Amandla is also a proponent of the Black Girls Magic movement, which empowers black women to celebrate themselves for who they are.
