TIME's '100 Most Influential People List' divides empowering individuals into five categories of Pioneers, Leaders, Artists, Titans and Icons. You'll cry blubbery happy tears when you hear which field Emma Watson comes under...
She's been named a ‘Pioneer’. While she's famous for being one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood, the United Nations ambassador and acclaimed feminist has received the real recognition she deserves and has transcended the field of ‘Artists’.
Coming in at 26th on the annual list, Emma is celebrated for her incredible efforts in the gender equality campaign ‘HeForShe’.
Others named include Kim Kardashian, Kanye West (holder of the #1 spot), Taylor Swift, Hillary Clinton, Diane von Furstenberg, teen activist Malala Yousafzai, Serial creator Sarah Koenig and oh yea, The Pope (holder of #100 spot. Hey, what matters is that you're ON the list, not your rank).
These figures all received devotions written about them, their success and how they've earned their place on the list. So basically a This Is Your Lifemeets your best friend’s wedding speech… minus the tipples of course.
Former New York Times editor Jill Abramson wrote a simply gushingTIME piece about Emma, titled "Inclusive inspiration". In her opening passage she proves that Emma can never shake off her career-making role of everyone’s favourite sassy witch: "Emma Watson’s alter ego Hermione Granger would doubtless approve of her HeForShe campaign and its gutsy, smart take on feminism."
Jill also touched on the actress-turned-activist's powerful ability to ignore – and not validate – her nonsensical anti-feminist haters and instead "highlight the moving letters she has received from fathers who tell her they are investing new hope in the future for their daughters."
She also included Emma's enviably chill and thick-skinned response to the matter: "If they were trying to put me off, they did the opposite."
Bigger than Kendall Jenner's smiley flipping of the bird at Coachella, this is one celebrity retort we won't forget. #GurlPower
