Nowadays, finding a positive role model or someone to admire can be really difficult for young girls. In a time of reality television, provocative music videos, raunchy award shows, celebrity meltdowns, and Kardashians, there is a great deal of negative imagery out there.

The messages that are constantly being plastered on billboards, televisions and social media can paint a picture of false reality. Many of these are distasteful, and unfortunately, they are often directed at children and teenagers. One common message that appears often in various forms of communication is that exploiting yourself for money or fame is the “cool thing to do.”

Fortunately, there are also many great role models out there for girls, or even guys, to appreciate. I’ve picked five women whom I believe embody characteristics of a positive role model. These are women who are innovative, have strong opinions on important topics, and stand up for their beliefs, even if they are somewhat controversial. They have the strength, determination and intelligence to not only succeed in their lives, but to help others too.

Karlie Kloss

Karlie Kloss should not be defined only as a supermodel. She is also a businesswoman, a student, and an entrepreneur. This fall, Kloss began attending NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. This was just after she completed a session of classes at the Harvard Business School. Her interest in receiving a business degree follows the launching of her enterprise, “Karlie’s Kookies.” These are dairy-free and gluten-free cookies sold exclusively at Momofuku Milk Bar in New York. All of the proceeds from her cookie sales benefit FEED, an organization that provides meals for children throughout the world.

On top of everything Kloss does, she has also begun creating videos for her YouTube channel “Klossy”. Her videos include Q&A’s, “behind the scenes” looks at photo shoots, cooking videos, and much more. Karlie also has a strong interest in computer coding, and has been encouraging young girls to study computer sciences. She collaborated with the Flatiron School in New York to create the “Kode with Karlie” scholarship for 20 girls, ages 13 to 18. She is quoted saying "I think it's crucial that young women learn to code as early as possible to ensure that we as young women have a voice and a stake in what the world looks like."

Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai is one of the most admired young women in the world. She is an advocate for female rights and education in the Middle East. She’s a Nobel Peace Prize winner and a superb example of the word “role model.” After numerous attacks by the Taliban on the girl’s school in her hometown, Yousafzai began giving speeches in Pakistan standing up for female rights. She also started writing posts for the BBC about living under Taliban threat. Malala was one of the first who really spoke up against the Taliban, demanding girls be able to receive an education.

In 2012, on her way home from school, she was shot in the head by a Taliban member, but miraculously survived. After being transferred to England for medical care, she began attending school in Birmingham. On her sixteenth birthday, she gave a speech at the United Nations.

In 2013, she wrote a book called “I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban.”

That following year, she was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, and became the youngest person to ever receive the award. Today, Malala continues to advocate for fair education. One of her most recent accomplishments was helping to open a school for Syrian refugee girls in Lebanon last July.

Emma Watson

Most well-known for her role as Hermione in Harry Potter, Watson makes the list for her incredible attitude towards women’s rights and the importance of education. After the enormous success of the Harry Potter Franchise, Watson would have never had to work another day in her life. But instead of sitting back and throwing her money away, she decided to invest in her education.

Watson was accepted and attended Brown University for four years, receiving a degree in English Literature. Only a few years later, she gave the #HeForShe speech at the UN, a speech that was so popular it trended on social media for weeks. Her words on gender equality and the passion she had while speaking about the topic clearly had a huge impact. She completed the Harry Potter movies in the midst of getting a college degree, even though she admitted it was an extremely difficult decision. Watson is the perfect example of someone who can find a good balance in life.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie has a controversial past, there is no denying that. However, what is incredible about Jolie is how she overcame all of the negativity surrounding her and grew into the exceptional woman she is today. She has shown women around the world how to deal with life’s toughest battles, and has been a strong inspiration to many.

In 2013, Jolie revealed her plans to have a mastectomy, after discovering she was at a high risk for developing breast cancer. Studies have shown that her revelation prompted a large number of women to also undergo genetic counseling. She potentially saved the lives of many women by just opening up the discussion.

Jolie also advocates for child immigration rights, refugee rights, and works on behalf of rape and assault victims. In 2012, she created the “Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative” and co-chaired the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. She gave a memorable speech and urged for these devastating actions to be stopped. Just this past year, Jolie launched the Centre on Women, Peace and Security, an institution that advocates for women’s rights across the world.

She is also very well known for her large family. She adopted her son Maddox from Cambodia alone and raised him as a single mother until she met her future husband, Brad Pitt. After they became a couple, Jolie and Pitt adopted two other children together, and eventually had three of their own. Along with all of her accomplishments, Angelina can add director to her long list. She has directed three films to date, including the most recent and popular one, “Unbroken.” Jolie is truly a force to be reckoned with.

Beyoncé

A lot of people have mixed feelings on her character, but at the end of the day, Beyoncé is changing the world and empowering women everywhere. There is no denying how hard she works or how much talent she has as one of the top entertainers in the music industry. But she’s also a mother, wife, business woman, and a feminist. Through many of her lyrics, Beyoncé promotes and tells women they should be independent and should never rely on a man to support them. For example, in the song “Independent Women” by Destiny’s Child, she helped to write these lyrics: “I bought my own diamonds and I bought my own rings!” In a more recent song, “Flawless,” she sings “I took some time to live my life, but don’t think I’m just his little wife.”

She teaches women that you can be sexual without being labeled in a negative way. She’s risqué, but that doesn’t define her character. Beyoncé is vocal on her opinions regarding how females are often judged by their appearance. In her powerful anthem “Flawless” she encourages confidence through lyrics such as “I woke up like this,” and is blunt about how society tells girls they should act and how they’re perceived in a one minute feminist speech. Beyoncé recently said in an interview, “I guess I am a modern-day feminist. I do believe in equality. Why do you have to choose what type of woman you are? Why do you have to label yourself anything? I'm just a woman and I love being a woman..."