Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai [1997 - ], often called Malala, is a Pakistani advocate for girls' education and the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate, awarded in 2014 at age 17. Her activism began in 2009 with a blog about girls' educational barriers in Pakistan, drawing worldwide attention. In 2013, the Taliban attempted to assassinate her due to her rising profile, but after recovering from massive injuries, Malala continued her advocacy with even greater resolve. She addressed the UN on education’s importance and published her memoir, I Am Malala. That same year, she co-founded the Malala Fund to champion free, quality education for every girl, urging leaders to “invest in books instead of bullets.”