Teen Vogue’s 21 Under 21 2021: The Young People Shaping Tomorrow
Changing the world isn't easy in the best of times, never mind in the second year of a global pandemic. Still, young people have gone against the odds, making positive change and spreading joy while they do it. In Teen Vogue's annual 21 Under 21 list, we're honoring some of the outstanding young people who are shaping the future — whether it's by influencing policy, breaking barriers, or simply daring to imagine a bolder future for themselves and those around them.
From the Afghan Girls Robotics Team fleeing Taliban-controlled Afghanistan to continue innovating, to Semhar Solomon's Black Lives Matter activism through art, to Taylor Cassidy's TikTok education, it's clear that young people aren't accepting the status quo. Instead, when they see a problem, they fix it. Inequality? They address it. Systemic failure? Well, they change the system.
And, in a time when the world around us can seem overwhelming and negative, some of these young people's spark lies in their sheer ability to create joy: Lizzy Howell is dancing her way to success, Jordan Reeves is making disability representation sparkle, and Zaila Avant-garde is spelling toward a more inclusive future.
So, adults take note: If it seems like cynically accepting the norm is your only option, Teen Vogue's 21 Under 21 have a lesson we could all stand to learn — that change isn't just possible, it's within reach.
1/21Zaila Avant-garde, 15, The Spelling Success
By Danielle Kwateng
When 15-year-old Zaila Avant-garde won the Scripps National Spelling Bee in July, the ancestors were behind her. As the second Black contestant to win the competition, after Jody-Anne Maxwell in 1998, Zaila joined a long legacy of brilliant young minds who, despite exclusionary obstacles, shined. "I’ve always been really into words, their meanings, and their stories," Zaila tells Teen Vogue. "I began spelling when I was 12 years old. That year I won my New Orleans regional spelling bee."
The National Spelling Bee began in 1925 during the Jim Crow era. For a long time, systematic barriers prevented African Americans from succeeding in the prestigious cash-prize competition. Zaila, who did a joyous twirl upon acing her final word "murraya," exemplified the importance of investing in and protecting Black youth. Videos of her smiling on stage while piles of confetti rained down on her went viral. But despite all the attention, Zaila remains focused on doing her best.
"Confidence is everything for me, so I knew that the best way to guarantee that I’d be ready to perform under the bright lights of the national stage would be for me to know that I’d given my absolute best effort towards the goal of winning," Zaila shares. Adding, "Whether your goal is to be a doctor, an activist, or maybe even to be a professional cave diver — whatever it is, if you do your best and represent yourself well, you will be making a difference. YOU CAN DO IT!"
2/21Taylor Cassidy, 18, the TikTok Teacher
By Kaitlyn McNab
Taylor Cassidy has been telling stories since she was a young girl. Viewing social media as an accessible avenue for her to express her creativity, Taylor began posting her own videos to YouTube while in middle school. In 2019, she decided to join TikTok.
The rest? Black history.
“[On TikTok] I was set on using my platform to create good energy for people the way past creators had done for me,” Taylor tells Teen Vogue. This meant creating empowering content with more organized execution. “...From that value came two series I'm still proud of to this day: ‘Fast Black History’ where I share the stories of African-American figures, and ‘Black Girl Magic Minute’ where I uplift Black creatives who are shaking up our culture.”
Taylor currently has over 2 million followers on TikTok and was recognized as one of TikTok’s 2020 Top 10 Voices of Change. At only 18 years old, Taylor is just getting started. So where does she see herself in 10 years?
“By then, I see myself working in film and TV focused on sharing POC stories that break type-casting and stereotypical boundaries [and] having a scholarship for young creatives to achieve their original ideas.”
3/21Akshaya Dinesh, 21, The Tech Champion
By Ashley Wolfgang
After seeing her peers struggle to land internships and jobs during the pandemic, Akshaya Dinesh developed Ladder, an online platform where college students and alumni can create communities to help each other.
Akshaya got her start in the tech world after teaching herself Java on YouTube in 8th grade. She didn’t discover her true passion for coding until she attended her first hackathon. Growing up in New Jersey, Akshaya had little access to Silicon Valley or the tech industry, so she resorted to networking online.
While at Stanford, she realized that creating more accessible online communities would help empower other young people to grow their careers. At 19, she dropped out of college to start Ladder. Her secret to success? As a member of Gen Z, she can serve her peers better than her competitors. It’s obviously working — since the site launched in April 2020, 35,000 college students have used Ladder for help with job searches, resumes, internships, and scholarship applications.
Now Akshaya is focusing on launching her second company, Spellbound—a product she believes will change how people communicate online in the future.
Her advice for young people is to “lean into your specific skills and expertise and use it to your advantage — you'd be surprised how far that can take you!”
4/21Aarna Dixit, 18, The Purposeful Podcaster
By Bianca Nieves
Aarna Dixit is an anti-sexual violence activist. While she was raised with the values to empower those around her, she can pinpoint the exact moment her passion for anti-sexual violence advocacy started: She read Beartown by Fredrik Backman in the 8th grade and, reading about the horrors of sexual violence, she took it upon herself to make a change. It snowballed from there.
From starting a sexual violence advocacy club during her sophomore year of high school, to joining Planned Parenthood's Teen Council, to most recently starting a queer-led sex education podcast called Dirty Talk, the 18-year-old has been committed to spreading awareness about sexual violence, consent, and healthy sexuality.
Despite her passion, Aarna’s journey hasn’t been without roadblocks. “My biggest challenge has been my perfectionism, and my need to do everything and be the best at it,” she says. “It's good to set high standards for yourself, but sometimes that leads to not loving yourself when you don't meet those standards, or not thinking you're worthy.”
But she also has the best advice: “Please don't doubt yourself or stop yourself from taking initiative. Do it. Even if it doesn't work out the exact way you wanted it to, it will teach you so much.”
5/21Darnella Frazier, 18, The Voice of Courage
By Versha Sharma
In a moment of tragedy, Darnella Frazier had real courage. When she witnessed Derek Chauvin, at the time a police officer, murder George Floyd, Darnella had the presence of mind to pull out her cell phone and record the crime in front of her — a move that quite literally changed the world. Floyd's murder, shown to the public by Darnella's video, prompted the 2020 uprisings for Black Lives, bringing racial justice into the global consciousness in a way it wasn't before.
But witnessing a crime, never mind one that's part of a system of violence and oppression against Black people, is traumatic. Darnella says that she struggled with using her voice.
“It took a lot of courage and positivity and support from my community and even complete strangers,” Darnella says of speaking out. “Without the support and love, I wouldn’t of came as far as I have. I started to control my own narrative.”
Darnella has been bestowed with many awards since she filmed that video, including an honorary Pulitzer. Looking back, Darnella says it's that community support she couldn't do without.
“You are what you surround yourself with,” she says. “Surround yourself with things you can learn from and grow with ... [and] Most importantly, be your authentic true self."\In 10 years, Darnella envisions happiness for herself. "I see myself happy. I see myself being able to be financially free to support my family. I see me being at peace."
6/21Ellie Goldstein, 19, The Model Citizen
By Sara Delgado
Hailing from England, Ellie Goldstein always knew she wanted to leave her mark on this world — she just hadn’t anticipated how big it would be. At 15, she joined Zebedee Management, an inclusive model agency. A couple of years later, she partook in "Unconventional Beauty,” a scouting partnership between Gucci Beauty and Vogue Italia. Her headshot quickly went viral and she became the first model with Down syndrome to work with the brand.
Since then, Ellie has landed covers and ad campaigns for international brands — all while pursuing a degree at New City College in Redbridge. “Since I was 5 years old, I wanted to be a model,” Ellie tells Teen Vogue. “I loved the camera and being the center of attention and loved fashion and makeup. [When] my mom found out about Zebedee, I was desperate to join them — being a model agency that wanted to get people like me and others with disabilities noticed and into the fashion world.”
Even after she had found her safe space, Ellie still had to deal with naysayers. “My biggest challenge has been showing that, having Down syndrome, I can achieve things in life just like others,” she says. “Never give up, follow your dreams, and most importantly never change who you are.”
7/21Sherenté Mishitashin Harris, 21, The Barrier Breaker
By Brittney McNamara
Sherenté Mishitashin Harris has been dancing since before they were born, but it wasn’t until they were 16 that they stepped into the Powwow circle as a Fancy Shawl dancer. A member of the Narragansett Tribe, Sherenté is Twospirit — they broke barriers when they performed the style of dance traditionally performed by women.
“Being Narragansett, being Twospirit, has steered the course of my life. Finding visibility is a tremendous task but a necessary one to incite change for people whose oppression is hidden,” Sherenté says. When she first started dancing, Sherenté faced incredible backlash. But through persisting, he said he has paved the way for other Twospirit dancers to find a place in Fancy Shawl dancing. “I was able to spark radical change in my tribal community and surrounding tribal nations,” Sherenté said.
It’s in these local actions that Sherenté said global change starts.
“We live at the juncture between many micro and macrocosms. So never scoff at what small things you can do now,” she says. “My people have teachings about the sacred power of little things that must always be respected. Your communities are far richer than any world out there that discounts you. Be seen where you stand, no matter the place.”
8/21Lizzy Howell, 20, The Dance All-Star
By Brittney McNamara
Dancing became an outlet for Lizzy Howell at the age of 5, shortly after her mom died. Newly living with her aunt, Lizzy connected with dance as a form of expression. But as she grew older, outside voices started to tell Lizzy her passion wouldn’t go anywhere — that she just wasn’t the dancing type. ”For years, I have been told to give up on dance, and that it wouldn’t work out because of my size,” she says.
Lizzy went viral after posting a video showing herself at age 16 doing fouettès. “I was just being myself,” Lizzy previously told Teen Vogue about the video. Still, thousands used that video for inspiration, touting it as proof that there’s no one way to be a dancer.
Lizzy didn’t give up, and now she’s just weeks away from moving to Los Angeles to pursue her passion. “Don’t let others’ opinions of you get in the way of doing what you love. If you love it, what other people have to say about you shouldn’t matter,” she says.
Despite those outside voices discouraging her, Lizzy feels she hasn’t met her biggest challenge yet. She expects it to come when she moves out of her aunt’s house to be a professional dancer. “She is my biggest supporter and I can’t imagine what I’d do without her,” she says.
9/21Mehtaab Kaur, 17, The Abortion Advocate
By Brittney McNamara
Like many of us, Mehtaab Kaur downloaded TikTok when her school went on lockdown during the pandemic. As she scrolled, Mehtaab noticed a lot of anti-abortion messaging. She’d seen how devastating it can be to not have access to abortion, so she was moved to act.
“I felt like this was an issue that I should stand up and combat so I began to email every pro-choice organization I could find nationwide,” she says. “That’s how all my social media advocacy started.”
Mehtaab has been credited with starting “AbortionTok,” or TikToks that educate about abortion and access to it. In her emails to abortion advocacy networks, Mehtaab encouraged them to join the app and use it as a means of education — and many of them did. Thanks to Mehtaab, there’s now more abortion advocacy happening on a platform that millions of people use. Mehtaab said she encourages other young people to take action on issues they’re passionate about, even if it seems like they’re just taking small steps at first.
“I was just some [teen] sitting in my bedroom sending emails to people because I was passionate, and it’s become this huge movement with a lot of impact,” she says. “Keep fighting, because other people will be inspired by your energy and you will create something larger than yourself.”
10/21Wisdom Kaye, 20, The Fashion Influencer
By P. Claire Dodson
Style icon and fashion TikToker Wisdom Kaye was hailed as the “only TikToker that should be allowed at the Met Gala,” and it’s easy to see why. With looks inspired by Marvel heroes, Twilight characters, and favorite songs, Wisdom infuses fashion with much-needed joy and creativity. But he came to the industry as a kid who just wanted a distraction from school; fashion was a tool to “fit in and make friends, which ultimately didn't work,” he says. So he began dressing for himself, and sharing videos in his spare time. Now, he’s worked with Dior, Fendi, Ralph Lauren, and so many more, with more than 7.4 million followers on TikTok. In 2020, IMG signed him as a model.
He never set out to inspire. “I never even thought anything of the fact that I was Black dressing in more experimental ways,” he says. “I was doing what I wanted.” He’s since realized the importance of what he brings to the fashion world. “Young Black kids were telling me how much it meant to them that there was another young Black kid that was doing big things and how much it inspired them.... I strive to inspire the next generation of kids to be who they are and wear what they want.”
His advice for that next generation? “Create what you want to see,” he says. “Don't wait for someone else to carry out your vision, to manifest your plans. Make the world what you want it to be.”
11/21Sophia Kianni, 19, The Climate Champion
By Lexi McMenamin
Sophia Kianni became a climate activist when she was just 12 years old, after witnessing the disparate effects of climate change on her parents’ home country of Iran. “The more I read online about the climate in the Middle East, the more scared I became,” Sophia says.
But it wasn’t just about what she was witnessing at home. “I was shocked when my relatives explained to me that they knew almost nothing about climate change,” Sophia explains. She learned that there was very little climate information available in Farsi, the national language of Iran. “I translated climate information to teach my relatives in Iran about climate change, and my experience inspired me to start Climate Cardinals,” Sophia says.
Now, Climate Cardinals is an international nonprofit with more than 6,000 volunteers in 41 countries working to translate climate information into over 100 languages. “I have often felt like my voice as a young person has been left out of climate policy discussions, in spite of the fact our generation will live through three times as many climate change induced disasters as our grandparents,” says Sophia, who represents the U.S. as the youngest member on the inaugural United Nations Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. “It’s critical to continue opening spaces for young people to engage in high level conversations and to have jurisdiction over climate solutions.”
12/21Suni Lee, 18, The Gold Medalist
By Louisiana Gelpi
At 18 years old, Sunisa "Suni" Lee became the first Hmong American to win the all-around gymnastics gold at the 2021 Olympics. The moment was a huge one for the community, and especially for Suni. But in the lead-up to the Olympics, Suni started to lose her motivation.
“During the pandemic I started to lose motivation in my training for the Olympics because, not only was I unable to go into the gym to practice, but there was a possibility that the Olympics would get canceled,” she tells Teen Vogue. Ultimately, it was her “amazing support system” that helped get her back on track.
Once she got to the Games, Suni watched teammate Simone Biles bow out of the competition to protect her mental health, a move many had unsavory opinions on. Looking for strength within, regardless of what others think, is Suni’s best advice for other young people going for gold in any area of life.
“Don’t let the opinions of others define your success,” she says. “This is definitely something I still struggle with, but giving myself grace in moments of doubt has helped me gain confidence in whatever I’m doing, even outside of gymnastics.”
13/21Mercedes Molloy, 21, The Survivor Supporter
By Chantal Waldholz
Mercedes Molloy was just a preteen when she was sexually assaulted, and she understandably found it difficult to cope with her fear and anger. To prevent anyone else from ever having to say #MeToo, Mercedes created the Safe Squad App — a free safety app that allows you to share your location with loved ones.
“As a Mexican-American female, I have encountered many naysayers—those who told me there were things I was incapable of doing due to my gender and ethnicity,” Mercedes, now 21, tells Teen Vogue. “I created an… inclusive app for all demographics. My method was simple: Ignore these negative perceptions and fully pursue my passion for accessible safety.”
It’s the same advice she gives to fellow young people: “Follow your passion and spur a positive chain reaction.”
While Mercedes continues to work hard on the app day and night, she eventually wants to work in a service-oriented political capacity while continuing her work in support of other survivors.
“Every survivor’s story is different, shaped by their personal history, identity, context, culture, and community,” she says. “There are millions of untold stories and it is critical to raise the voices and stories of survivors everywhere. Speak up!”
14/21Pareen Mhatre, 21, The Dreamer Defender
By Allegra Kirkland
Not every 21-year-old can appear before Congress. But in April, Pareen Mhatre testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee about what it’s like to spend your entire life in a country that you may be forced to leave behind.
Pareen is what’s known as a “Documented Dreamer” — one of more than 200,000 young adults living in immigration limbo after they were brought to the U.S as children by parents on long-term visas. She has lived in Iowa since she was 4 months old, but when she turned 21, she aged out of her status as a dependent visa-holder and had to register as a foreign student.
“I was always scared to speak up about my immigration status,” the University of Iowa student says. “It’s weighed me down.”
Then she learned about Improve the Dream, “a youth-led advocacy organization that advocates for children of long-term visa holders.” Joining the group gave Pareen a sense of community, and inspired her to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. That’s how she ended up testifying before the House.
“I have had to learn the intricacies of the immigration system, learn the alphabet soup of different kinds of visas, and worry about my uncertain future,” she says. “Because of this, I hope I can play a small role in making the world a better and safer place for future Dreamers.”
15/21Joshua Gabriel Oluwaseyi, 20, The Environmental Activist
By Lexi McMenamin
Joshua Gabriel Oluwaseyi, 20, became a climate activist by necessity. At 17, after helping around his family home in Lagos, Nigeria with spring cleaning, Joshua developed allergies with “tuberculosis-like symptoms.”
“Shockingly I learned that 40% of the world’s population suffered from allergic rhinitis caused by air pollution, and in Nigeria, over 100,000 people have died because of air pollution-related causes every year since 2017,” Joshua says, calling this moment the tipping point for him. “I knew I had to do something if I wanted to live in a pollution-free, breathable air quality environment.”
Joshua decided that the best way to make a difference would be to speak directly to fellow young people, and founded LEARNBLUE, a nonprofit for Gen Z students dedicated to environmental clean-up and fighting air pollution, among other causes. In 2019, he was recognized as one of 100 Most Influential Young Leaders in Nigeria and received the Award of Excellence from the Young Entrepreneurs Summit and Awards.
Now a student at Nigeria’s University of Benin, Joshua says, he hopes to continue tackling climate change on a global scale, “serving as one of the African voices driving for sustainable inclusion in conversations and solutions to climate change, as Africa remains one of the most affected regions by global warming.”
16/21Jordan Reeves, 15, The Difference Defender
By P. Claire Dodson
When she was just 10 years old, author and activist Jordan Reeves imagined a way to celebrate her disability. She designed a prosthetic arm called Project Unicorn that shot biodegradable glitter into the air, bringing joy into her experiences and those of thousands with limb differences around the world. In the years since, she has worked with Mattel to create Barbies with prosthetics and mobility aids, written a book with her mom, and built out her ideas into a full-service youth-focused nonprofit, Design With Us.
“If you have a passion or a want to change something, go for it,” Jordan, now 15, says. “What you say can make an impact no matter how big … Youth voices matter and need to be heard.”
While Jordan is certainly busy, she also shares the importance of taking time for yourself. “It’s already hard to be a teenager, especially with a pandemic going on,” she says. “[Mental health] is very stigmatized and I think it is important to talk about. I also figured out I don’t have to be alone through it all.”
For now, she’s focused on following her passions and prioritizing her mental health — and one day, she dreams of owning a cat. She has a message for the world, no matter how you choose to make a difference: “Consider different perspectives throughout your daily life,” Jordan says. “There is no way you can have the answer to everything.”
17/21Paxton Smith, 18, The Reproductive Rights Revolutionary
By Kaitlyn McNab
If you were given a platform, what would you do with it? When Paxton Smith was named high school valedictorian, she was given three minutes at graduation to address a full stadium of her peers in Dallas, Texas. Though she had a pre-approved valedictorian speech, Paxton swapped it out for a different kind of address — she decided to use her time at the podium to take a stand against Texas Senate Bill 8, one of the strictest abortion laws in the country.
The 18-year-old musician and reproductive rights activist is currently a freshman at The University of Texas at Austin. Smith passionately believes in the power of using one’s voice, and in January 2022 will release A War on My Body; A War on My Rights, a collaborative book featuring contributions from a handful of notable reproductive rights activists and public figures.
“The first time you stand up and say something, it’s probably not going to shake the world, but it might shake the person next to you,” says Smith. “Most actions you take won’t impact everyone, but it is the impressions you leave on a few people at a time that will add up to something big.”
18/21Semhar Solomon, 18, The Art Activist
By Allegra Kirkland
Semhar Solomon’s activism has always been firmly rooted in a sense of place. She attended her first protest in her Minneapolis suburb of St. Anthony at the age of 12, and all of the organizing she has done since — from organizing food drives during the pandemic to leading protests during the 2020 uprisings for Black lives — has been centered on her hometown.
Semhar was pushed towards this work after police killed Philando Castile, which was shared with the world via livestream by his girlfriend. Semhar wanted to create an enduring remembrance of Castile, beloved by many, so she came up with the idea of creating a mural of Castile in St. Anthony.
Though the plan was ultimately voted down by the city council, Semhar’s neighbors took turns volunteering to host a mobile version of the mural in their yards. The effort reinforced Semhar’s focus on connecting with her own community, being adaptable, and working with what you’ve got.
In the process, she says she felt “that I wasn’t allowed to make mistakes. ... I knew ‘the other side’ would take any mistake I made or [use it against me] if I presented myself as the ‘angry Black woman.”
“In reality,” she says, “everyone makes mistakes but you aren’t gonna grow if you don’t try to.”
19/21Jayla Jackson, 16, and Emani Stanton, 17, The Debate Champs
By Aiyana Ishmael
Jayla Jackson and Emani Stanton are making history. The 16 and 17-year-old high schoolers are the first Black girl duo to win Harvard’s International Debate Competition. The pair were undefeated — a remarkable feat made even more wild when you know Stanton didn’t ever plan on going into debate.
“I actually did not want to debate in high school, but an alumni of the Harvard Diversity Project reeled me in saying, ‘It is a space for Black students to be themselves and be intellectual,’” Stanton says.
The Harvard Debate Council Diversity Project — which Stanton and Jackson are members of — is an initiative founded to create a pathway toward academic inclusion for underserved youth. With a monumental achievement under their belt, this teen team understands how invaluable self-determination is to enacting real change.
“Don't discount your impact,” Stanton says. “Too often we are made to believe that just one person cannot make a difference; forgetting that a bunch of individuals start to add up.”
For Jackson, making a difference is part of her happiness.
“On some days it’s easier for me to choose happiness. And for that reason, I will continue to pledge my life to the betterment of others,” she says. “I’ll never stop living, and smiling, and finding peace because that’s what I deserve. It’s what we all deserve.”
20/21The Afghan Girls Robotics Team, The Against-All-Odds Group
By Versha Sharma
The Afghan Girls Robotics Team started making waves in 2017 when they were initially denied visas to come to the U.S. for First Global, an international robotics competition, and again when they made low-cost ventilators from car parts in 2020. Now, the team, funded by the Digital Citizen Fund, is back in the spotlight after a dramatic escape from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan so they can continue their education. Nine of the girls — Ayda Haydarpour, 16, Florance Pouya, 16, Elham Mansoory, 18, Asefa Amini, 18, Nahid Rahimi, 18, Shabnam Noorzai, 15, Sadaf Hamidy, 18, Shiva Rahimi, 16, and Somaya Faruqi, 19 — now reside in Qatar, where they can continue their passion for robotics.
“Living and growing in a traditional, closed society is a challenge, especially for women and girls,” Elham says. “The … thinking was that a girl would never succeed in mechanics because they consider this field of study to be for men.” The team proved that false, she says, by winning repeatedly.
Many of the girls told Teen Vogue that their families wouldn't let them join the robotics team because of their gender, naming the opposition as their biggest challenge. Others said being separated from their families to live in Qatar has been their biggest hurdle. Each of the girls, however, said their sheer determination is what has carried them through — an opportunity they wish every girl could have.
“My message to the whole world is that you never know how strong and powerful girls are until you provide them opportunities," Somaya says. "What we need as girls is equal opportunities and freedom to experiment, learn, and be creative.”
21/21Kris Wilka, 14, The Gridiron Pioneer
By Brittney McNamara
Kris Wilka was in the second grade when he first stepped on the football field, and he never looked back. But Kris doesn’t just fight on the field: Earlier this year, he testified in front of South Dakota legislators against anti-trans bills that would bar him and other trans students from playing sports.
“The main reason I started to speak out on behalf of other trans athletes was to be able to be a voice for those that weren't quite ready to use their own, or weren't able to,” he said. While coming out as transgender can be a challenge, Kris said playing sports as a trans athlete in general has been tough.
“People didn't always believe in me or think that I was strong enough because they still saw me as a girl,” he said. “But trust me, pushing 600 pound sleds with other linemen is no small task.”
Despite numerous attempts to ban trans athletes from school sports, Kris can still take the field (most of the anti-trans bills have been specifically aimed at trans girls). Making a difference, he said, is all about being yourself. “It ... shows you what places will accept you,” he said, “and what ones are good for you.”
