Advocacy & Public Policy
If you think you have to wait until you graduate college, move to a new city, or land your first “real” job to start chasing your dreams, think again. Often, the next big ideas, movements, and moments are sparked by those who are daring and confident enough to start now — and the Her Campus e.l.f.ing Amazing 22 Under 22 Class of 2026 is living proof.
For the third year in a row, we’ve teamed up with e.l.f. Cosmetics to shine a spotlight on 22 college students who are shaping the world on their own terms. These bold disruptors are transforming ideas into action, leading with kind hearts, turning passion into purpose, and dreaming with their heads in the stars. This class is inspiring everyone around them (us included!) to aim higher.
Meet the Her Campus e.l.f.ing Amazing 22 Under 22 Class of 2026: the fearless as e.l.f. students who are breaking barriers, accomplishing big things, and proving that bold moves can change the world. Get to know them below, and get ready to see what makes them empowered. legendary. flourishing.
Allison Choong
Educating & Empowering Young Girls To Advocate For Their Safety
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Celine Qin
Fighting Systemic Racism In Her Community & Beyond
Read More +
Claire Chi
Fighting Food Insecurity Through Advocacy & Dance
Read More +
COmmunity Service
Esha Venkat
Harnessing The Power Of Kindness To Uplift Communities
Read More +
Victoria Nwankwo
Defending Youth Rights & Building The Next Generation Of Leaders
Read More +
Read More +
Breaking Down Barriers For Under-Resourced Athletes
Franceska Colocado
Read More +
Exploring The Intersection Of Fashion & Politics
Ella Devi
Read More +
Creating Impact Through Truth-Centered Stories
Daya Brown
Arts & Media
Read More +
Reimagining At-Home Hair Braiding Through Tech
Velma Funebe
Read More +
Running A Business That Supports Ocean Conservation & Education
Hope Gonzalez
Read More +
Inspiring Young Girls Through Entrepreneurship
Gabrielle Goodwin
Entrepreneurship
Want to support the class of 2026?
Shop products from our honorees to celebrate their bold ideas in action!
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Little Lady GaBBY Bows Bundle
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SPF805 Season 4 Pink Hoodie
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YOUth: The Young Person’s Guide to Starting a Nonprofit
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Chasing Red Flags Let’s Get Real Journal
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Advancing Climate Justice Through Research & Advocacy
Siyeon Joo
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Breaking Down Barriers In Climate Action
Arushi Surve
Environment & Stem
Editors: Katy Gioeli • Designer: Audrey Wu • This is a sponsored feature. All opinions are 100% from Her Campus. © Her Campus Media 2026
Allison grew up noticing that girls were often taught to be polite before being taught to be safe. Determined to change this, she co-founded Safiya Speaks Up, an initiative aimed at normalizing early education around consent and emotional well-being. The project, which has reached over 16,000 girls in 21 countries, is anchored by a children’s book that Allison co-authored and illustrated, along with a mentor’s guide for facilitating honest, trauma-informed conversations. Since 2024, Allison has worked tirelessly to bring Safiya Speaks Up to schools, NGOs, and grassroots organizations, ensuring the materials reach classrooms and rural communities, where support systems are often limited. She has spoken at the United Nations, coordinated translations, facilitated workshops, and advocated for policy change. Inspired by her younger self, who didn’t always know she was allowed to question discomfort, Allison’s mission is to ensure all girls grow up knowing their rights before they are violated.
Drexel University '28
Educating & Empowering Young Girls To Advocate For Their Safety
Allison Choong
Celine began her advocacy journey at 13, when she founded The Reclamation Project, a youth-driven response to systemic racism and resource inequity in her hometown of South Sacramento, CA. Today, it has evolved into a globally recognized social justice organization. As of 2026, The Reclamation Project has reached over 400,000 youth and allies, directed more than 280 in-person events, and built a coalition of 2,000 BIPOC, immigrant, refugee, and queer youth mentees, supported by over 250 volunteers. In 2025, Celine directed “Stand Up! Speak Out!,” The Reclamation Project’s statewide youth activist conference that united over 300 students and leaders across California. She also led a statewide, hybrid immigrant rights movement, coordinating local response efforts, mass demonstrations, and resource distributions. As a first-generation Hoa-Amercian, her lived experiences fuel her passion to challenge and reimagine unjust power systems, aiming for a resourced and liberated future for all.
Stanford University ‘29
Fighting Systemic Racism In Her Community & Beyond
Celine Qin
Claire’s childhood across multiple states exposed her to the persistent issue of food insecurity, prompting her to start asking how young people could be part of the solution. At 15, she became the Student Representative to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, advising on food insecurity and advocating for universal school meals. As a Student Advocate for the School Nutrition Association, she advanced legislation to provide free school meals to over 1.8 million Pennsylvania students. In 2023, she collaborated with a U.S. senator to support the Universal School Meals Program Act of 2023. Alongside policy work, she founded Dancing Against Hunger, a nonprofit engaging over 4,500 participants in youth-led hunger initiatives, and established the Chi Changemaker Scholarship, awarding $1,000 and mentorship to high school social impact leaders. By empowering other youth to act, Claire aims to amplify her advocacy’s impact and inspire a new generation to tackle challenges in their communities.
Stanford University ‘28
Fighting Food Insecurity Through Advocacy & Dance
Claire Chi
After enduring several life-threatening medical emergencies, Franceska’s journey as an athlete may not look the way she originally envisioned — but it’s no less inspiring. No longer able to compete on the volleyball court, she turned her passion for sports into an opportunity to give back, founding Gear for Greatness, Inc., a nonprofit that works to remove financial and access barriers for under-resourced athletes. Through advocacy, philanthropy, and storytelling, Franceska has impacted over 1,000 athletes, awarded scholarships, donated gear, and hosted clinics in the Philippines. She’s also one of only three freshman sports reporters at her school’s official newspaper, where she uses her voice to amplify women’s sports. Her experiences interviewing leaders and athletes have opened her eyes to the power of sports as a platform for equity, further fueling her mission to transform adversity into purpose and inspire others to become warriors of change.
The University of Texas at Austin ‘29
Breaking Down Barriers For Under-Resourced Athletes
Franceska Colocado
Eighteen-year-old Ella has always had two great loves: high fashion and local politics. Beginning her journey working in the fashion industry at 13, she found a welcoming space that celebrated her identity as a queer teen. Today, she works at a high-fashion brand worn by A-list celebrities and has built an online presence as a fashion commentator, exploring the links between fashion and political theory. In 2025, her support for NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani brought her to viral status as the “Hot Girl for Zohran.” Her canvassing story was picked up by multiple media outlets, including a popular late-night talk show, where she was featured in the opening monologue. Going forward, Ella plans to continue her work in fashion and politics in tandem, continuing to create content that educates young women about the politics behind fashion and how they can get involved in the American political system.
Parsons School of Design ‘30
Exploring The Intersection Of Fashion & Politics
Ella Devi
Twenty-one-year-old Daya has always been a storyteller, from her early discovery of poetry in sixth grade to writing and pitching her second book series for television. As a junior majoring in visual media studies, she navigates between classrooms and creative projects, carrying a notebook brimming with ideas for film, television, and writing projects. Her goal? To craft work that resonates deeply, leaving audiences feeling seen, protected, and changed long after the final scene fades. Her artistic contributions have been featured in major media outlets, and this summer, she will intern at one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. Yet, Daya’s vision extends beyond her own narratives. Through Elom and Co., her Atlanta-based production company, she aims to create a safe space where women and people of color can freely express their creativity. By uplifting rising creators and centering poetic storytelling, she’s working to foster an environment where diverse voices can flourish.
Duke University ‘27
Creating Impact Through Truth-Centered Stories
Daya Brown
At 17, Victoria realized that young people are often excluded from decision-making spaces. Determined to change this, she began advocating for youth rights, even taking her work to the White House to speak with Jill and Joe Biden. Today, Victoria’s efforts span a wide range of impact areas, from opposing legislation that would strip aid from students convicted or disciplined for “disruptive” conduct to advising a leading racial equity nonprofit on youth power in the Southeast. She is also a committed mentor, having guided over 500 inner-city Atlanta youth and co-led a leadership pipeline that taught racial equity, civic responsibility, advocacy, and more to young people ages 14 to 24. Looking ahead, Victoria aspires to continue championing youth rights by pursuing roles as a district attorney, state attorney general, and ultimately a Supreme Court justice, remaining focused on her mission to protect the most vulnerable where decisions are made and enforced.
Emory University ‘28
Defending Youth Rights & Building The Next Generation of Leaders
Victoria Nwankwo
Giving back has been Esha’s passion for as long as she can remember, extending as far back as elementary school, when she began volunteering with her family. This passion led her to create NEST4US, one of the world’s largest youth-founded nonprofits, which she started at just 10 years old. NEST4US harnesses the power of kindness to uplift communities across the globe and now includes over 9,000 volunteers. Through the organization, Esha has empowered over 100,000 youth across six continents, with five programs focusing on large-scale service projects, food redistribution events, academic and hygiene resource provision, intergenerational workshops, and more. Yet, for Esha, it’s not just about the numbers. It’s the small moments of connection — the smiles, connections, and shared experiences — that inspired her to start NEST4US a decade ago and continue to drive her commitment to making civic engagement accessible and exciting to people of all ages.
Georgia Institute of Technology ‘26
Harnessing The Power Of Kindness To Uplift Communities
Esha Venkat
For Velma, creating systems that empower autonomy, especially in self-care, is the ultimate goal. Her journey began in eighth grade with Braidsbyvelma, a hair braiding business that has allowed her to stay debt-free in college. Even as a professional braider, she found braiding her own hair a time-consuming challenge, taking up to 37 hours every six weeks. Seeing a gap in the market for a community that spends billions on protective styling, Velma built iBraid: a mobile app using computer vision and augmented reality to help people braid their own hair. Recognized as a top 10 Maryland student venture of 2026, iBraid turns something deeply personal, cultural, and often overlooked into a worthy innovation — breaking down barriers for those who can’t afford salon prices and building confidence in young girls learning to care for their hair.
University of Maryland - Baltimore County ‘27
Reimagining At-Home Hair Braiding Through Tech
Velma Funebe
Twenty-one-year-old Hope turned her love for the ocean into real action. She’s the founder of SPF805, a clothing brand with a mission to educate people about the ocean and support conservation efforts. Through her business, Hope has taken part in a variety of conservation projects, from water quality testing around Maui to beach cleanups in California and Hawaii, and raised thousands of dollars for organizations that protect ocean environments. She’s also spoken to thousands of students, educating them about why a healthy ocean matters and how we can protect it. Balancing school while building a mission-driven brand has taught Hope a lot about discipline and the confidence needed to chase big goals at a young age. And her work with SPF805 is far from over; she hopes to continue growing the brand, bringing attention to the mission, and showing young girls that they don’t have to wait to create real change.
California Lutheran University ‘26
Running A Business That Supports Ocean Conservation & Education
Hope Gonzalez
Gabrielle is the 19-year-old CEO of Confidence by Gabby Goodwin, a company she founded alongside her mother at just 7 years old. It all started with the GaBBY Bow, a patented barette Gabrielle invented to solve the age-old problem of barettes slipping out of hair and getting lost. Over 1.1 million GaBBY Bows have been sold globally, and the brand recently debuted at a major accessories retailer. Beyond running her business, Gabby is a college student, public speaker, and author, with her first children’s book, “Naturally Me at the Confidence Salon,” published in 2025. She also developed the Mommy and Me Entrepreneurship Academy, an initiative that embodies the purpose behind her work — inspiring young girls to feel confident in themselves and their aspirations.
Vanderbilt University ‘29
Inspiring Young Girls Through Entrepreneurship
Gabrielle Goodwin
Siyeon’s work is all about transforming barriers into bridges. Growing up near Cancer Alley, Louisiana — the 85-mile corridor where cancer rates are 50 times the national average due to petrochemical pollution — fuels her mission to equip communities harmed by environmental injustice with research, policy tools, and platforms to fight back. Siyeon’s work combines research, advocacy, and policy. As a cancer researcher, she studied how toxins manipulate gene expressions and is currently launching a study on the cumulative health impacts of environmental degradation in Cancer Alley. As an advocate, she partners with multiple organizations to mobilize environmental justice leaders, especially girls from rural, immigrant, and low-income backgrounds. In policy, Siyeon co-authors legislation, testifies before Congress, and publishes op-eds in major news outlets. Her work honors those who couldn’t escape Cancer Alley and advocates for everyone who deserves clean air and water. Because, to Siyeon, your zip code shouldn’t determine your life expectancy.
Johns Hopkins University ‘29
Advancing Climate Justice Through Research & Advocacy
Siyeon Joo
Arushi begins every project with one question: How do we make sustainability a way of life, not just something we’re told to believe in? At 15, she founded Mission Green Global, a youth-led nonprofit designed to eliminate a major barrier to climate action: the belief that change is reserved for experts and adults. Now, Mission Green Global has 58 chapters in 37 countries, engaging over 5,000 students by turning hobbies like art, film, and gaming into gateways for leadership. Through her work, she’s watched students join programs for art or gaming and leave as climate leaders, launching school initiatives, influencing policy, and leading their own workshops. Arushi is also a leader herself, serving on the UN Ocean Decade Youth Advisory Council, leading the Youth Track for the U.S. Climate Action Network, and more. Her organization and work are built on two ideas: you don’t have to wait to lead, and climate action is for everyone.
Georgia Institute of Technology ‘29
Breaking Down Barriers In Climate Action
Arushi Surve
Read More +
Decreasing The Stigma Of Asthma Among Young People
Mia
Fritsch-Anderson
Read More +
Transforming Hygiene & Beauty Access In U.S. Corrections
Lea
Nepomuceno
Read More +
Creating Space For Honest Conversations About Mental Health
Ella Macduff
Read More +
Fighting For Menstrual Equity In Schools & Beyond
Anaya Andre
Health
Read More +
Shreya Nallamothu
Read More +
Closing The Opportunity Gap For Young Women In Leadership, Policy, & Business
Cherie Animashaun
Read More +
Leading The World’s Largest Youth-Led Cancer Non-Profit
Olivia Zhang
Advocating For Safer, More Equitable Technology & Digital Spaces
Read More +
Defining The Future Of Space With Women in Mind
Priya Abiram
Read More +
Building AI Solutions That Improve Healthcare & Sustainability
Advika Vuppala
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Safiya Speaks Up & Mentor’s Guide
To Anaya, nothing compares to the feeling of disrupting menstrual stigma with boldness and grace. In 2022, she founded Promote Her, Period., a youth-led nonprofit aimed at shattering the shame and stigma around menstruation and empowering girls against menstrual inequity. With 30 interns, she has raised over $15,000 and provided more than 10,000 menstrual products to those in need. Her advocacy has taken her to global stages, including the United Nations’ SDGs Acceleration Efforts Panel, where she discussed the effects of menstrual inequity with diplomats. She also launched the PHP Column to amplify menstruators’ voices through storytelling. Looking ahead, Anaya plans to expand Promote Her, Period., based on three pillars: product access, by distributing over 1,500 menstrual kits; education, by launching 20 Promote Her, Period., chapters in high schools; and destigmatization, through “Period Talks” and family conversation kits. Her ultimate goal? To make menstrual equity the standard in America, not the exception.
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill ‘28
Fighting For Menstrual Equity In Schools & Beyond
Anaya Andre
Twenty-two-year-old Ella didn’t have a space where she could talk honestly about mental health without shame, so she created one. She’s the co-founder of Chasing Red Flags, a mental wellness brand and community with a mission to promote authenticity and challenge societal demands for perfection. Ella built the brand from the ground up, developing its voice, writing copy, launching the website, and creating merchandise that donates 10% of proceeds to mental health organizations — contributing over $15,000 across 2024 and 2025. She co-hosts the Chasing Red Flags: Let’s Get Real podcast and co-wrote Let’s Get Real, a therapist-approved journal with over 240 prompts, quotes, affirmations, tips for stress and anxiety, and a connection chapter that turns solo reflection into shared conversation. In just six months, the journal has sold over 2,000 copies. Through all her initiatives, Ella aims to create a culture where struggles aren’t something to hide, making mental health conversations feel more human and less intimidating.
University of Maryland - College Park ‘25
Creating Space For Honest Conversations About Mental Health
Ella Macduff
Diagnosed with asthma at age one, Mia’s experiences with the condition — and the alarming statistic that 11 Americans die daily from asthma attacks — inspired her to found Choose to Breathe, a nonprofit focused on decreasing the stigma of asthma and boosting inhaler use among kids and teens. Less than 25% of teens take their medication in front of peers (a situation that Mia has faced herself). To combat this, she developed a three-part strategy featuring fun inhaler covers, engaging social media content, and the #choosetobreathe campaign. Her educational videos have propelled her social media following to over 40,000 by 2026, with millions of views. She also contributed to the passage of the new Illinois Cap the Copay law, which caps inhaler costs at $25 and is estimated to benefit more than 1.5 million people. Mia believes no one should ever feel ashamed for needing help breathing, and her work is more than just impactful — it’s lifesaving.
Illinois Institute of Technology ‘27
Decreasing The Stigma Of Asthma Among Young People
Mia Fritsch-Anderson
Lea’s journey began at 13, when she started interviewing incarcerated individuals and quickly uncovered a recurring theme: a lack of access to basic hygiene and beauty essentials. At 17, she founded Beauty Beyond Bars, the first initiative to improve hygiene and beauty access in U.S. correctional facilities through donations, legislation, and storytelling. In just four years, she’s raised over $250,000 in donations, taught at juvenile detention centers, and passed legislation benefiting over 97,000 incarcerated people. She also taught incarcerated girls how to write policy — empowering youth behind bars to see themselves as active participants in shaping the policies that affect them. Driven by the belief that the human desire to look good, feel good, and do good transcends circumstances, Lea sees prisons as potential spaces for rehabilitation. Her mission is to make this vision a reality while mobilizing the next generation to view beauty as a vehicle for empowerment and reform.
George Washington University ‘27
Transforming Hygiene & Beauty Access In U.S. Corrections
Lea Nepomuceno
After losing two loved ones to Cancer, Olivia transformed her grief into action by founding Cancer Kids First, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing joy back to children facing cancer. What started as local fundraisers has now become the largest youth-led cancer nonprofit in the world, with 43,240 volunteers across 80 countries. Under Olivia’s leadership, the organization has donated $650,000 in resources, supported 15,245 pediatric patients in 22 countries, launched 100 chapters, formed 116 global hospital and corporate partnerships, and hosted over 600 events to combat isolation in immunocompromised children. Beyond Cancer Kids First, Olivia mentors over 100 early-stage nonprofits, serves as the youngest member on international health boards, recently published her first book, YOUth, and shares her journey with over 200,000 followers on social media. Through her work, she’s not only building a support community — she’s redefining the potential of young changemakers, ensuring her legacy of compassionate leadership endures.
Harvard University ‘27
Leading The World’s Largest Youth-Led Cancer Non-Profit
Olivia Zhang
Shreya’s journey began with a social media ad. While scrolling online, she came across a sponsored video from a “kidfluencer” — a child with a large online following — promoting diapers. Something felt off, so she took to the comments, where she learned how these children are often exploited by their parents for profit, forced into videos, filmed without consent, and more. Even worse? There were no laws protecting them or their earnings anywhere in the country. So, she decided to draft her own, arming herself with a legal dictionary, partnering with an Illinois state senator, and testifying in front of the Illinois State Labor Committee. The bill passed unanimously, and it has since passed in five other states. But this accomplishment is just the start for Shreya. In the future, she hopes to continue protecting and improving the internet for everyone, ensuring technology truly fulfills its original purpose of connecting us.
Duke University ‘29
Advocating For Safer, More Equitable Technology & Digital Spaces
Shreya Nallamothu
For Cherie, it’s not enough to talk about change — she prefers to build it. At 16, she founded Her Rising Initative, a global nonprofit that works to get girls involved in leadership, policy, and business. Now, with chapters on over 90 high school and college campuses, Her Rising Initiative reaches thousands of girls through conferences, school programs, mentorship, and a civic-focused curriculum. Cherie also launched the Girls Who Lead Conference, a full-day event for middle school girls, offering career workshops, sessions on mental health, confidence, and self-worth, and fun, interactive activities that make learning joyful, not intimidating. Everything Cherie does is focused on one goal: Closing opportunity gaps for young people and people of color through policy and service work. And she’ll continue this work by scaling Her Rising Initiative into a global pipeline from classrooms to capitols, giving young girls early access to training and early career roles in politics and business.
Cornell University ‘27
Closing The Opportunity Gap For Young Women In Leadership, Policy, & Business
Cherie Animashaun
For 21-year-old Priya, the sky isn’t the limit — it’s just the beginning. As an award-winning aerospace engineer, pilot, analog astronaut, and science communicator, she’s passionate about making the pathway into space more inclusive for the next generation. Her work spans a variety of topics, from assistive technology to renewable energy and human-centered design for extreme environments. Currently, she’s building the world’s first robotic uterus payload to study menstrual mechanics in microgravity. The goal? To ensure women’s health and human performance are accounted for when designing spacecraft, rockets, and habitats. Beyond being an innovator and published researcher, Priya is also the leader of OrbitED, an education organization she developed to provide hands-on exposure to the space industry and expand STEM access. As for the future, Priya is literally reaching for the stars. She hopes to one day land on Mars and help build the systems that make human life on other planets possible.
Cornell University ‘26
Defining The Future Of Space With Women in Mind
Priya Abiram
Advika is on a mission to bridge the gap between high-level engineering and human-centric solutions, solving real-world problems through technical innovation. At just 19 years old, she’s already taken major steps toward accomplishing her goal. To support sustainability efforts, she founded SpoilSafe, an AI-driven food waste monitoring system startup currently valued at $5 million. Meanwhile, in healthcare, she developed AnemiaApp, which uses image processing to help detect anemia with 88% accuracy. Her work on AnemiaApp received national recognition, was published in an international journal, and received praise from former President Obama! Whether she’s conducting algorithm-based medical research or scaling her startup into a global success, Advika is inspired by the need for greater female representation in robotics and hopes to continue proving that female-led innovation isn’t just e.l.f.ing amazing — it’s what we need for the future of technology.
Carnegie Mellon University ‘28
Building AI Solutions That Improve Healthcare & Sustainability
Advika Vuppala
Advocacy
Claire’s childhood across multiple states exposed her to the persistent issue of food insecurity, prompting her to start asking how young people could be part of the solution. At 15, she became the Student Representative to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, advising on food insecurity and advocating for universal school meals. As a Student Advocate for the School Nutrition Association, she advanced legislation to provide free school meals to over 1.8 million Pennsylvania students. In 2023, she collaborated with a U.S. senator to support the Universal School Meals Program Act of 2023. Alongside policy work, she founded Dancing Against Hunger, a nonprofit engaging over 4,500 participants in youth-led hunger initiatives, and established the Chi Changemaker Scholarship, awarding $1,000 and mentorship to high school social impact leaders. By empowering other youth to act, Claire aims to amplify her advocacy’s impact and inspire a new generation to tackle challenges in their communities.
Standford University ‘28
Fighting Food Insecurity Through Advocacy & Dance
Claire Chi
Celine began her advocacy journey at 13, when she founded The Reclamation Project, a youth-driven response to systemic racism and resource inequity in her hometown of South Sacramento, CA. Today, it has evolved into a globally recognized social justice organization. As of 2026, The Reclamation Project has reached over 400,000 youth and allies, directed more than 280 in-person events, and built a coalition of 2,000 BIPOC, immigrant, refugee, and queer youth mentees, supported by over 250 volunteers. In 2025, Celine directed “Stand Up! Speak Out!,” The Reclamation Project’s statewide youth activist conference that united over 300 students and leaders across California. She also led a statewide, hybrid immigrant rights movement, coordinating local response efforts, mass demonstrations, and resource distributions. As a first-generation Hoa-Amercian, her lived experiences fuel her passion to challenge and reimagine unjust power systems, aiming for a resourced and liberated future for all.
Stanford University ‘29
Fighting Systemic Racism In Her Community & Beyond
Celine Qin
Allison grew up noticing that girls were often taught to be polite before being taught to be safe. Determined to change this, she co-founded Safiya Speaks Up, an initiative aimed at normalizing early education around consent and emotional well-being. The project, which has reached over 16,000 girls in 21 countries, is anchored by a children’s book that Allison co-authored and illustrated, along with a mentor’s guide for facilitating honest, trauma-informed conversations. Since 2024, Allison has worked tirelessly to bring Safiya Speaks up to schools, NGOs, and grassroots organizations, ensuring the materials reach classrooms and rural communities, where support systems are often limited. She has spoken at the United Nations, coordinated translations, facilitated workshops, and advocated for policy change. Inspired by her younger self, who didn’t always know she was allowed to question discomfort, Allison’s mission is to ensure all girls grow up knowing their rights before they are violated.
Drexel University '28
Educating & Empowering Young Girls To Advocate For Their Safety
Allison Choong
Twenty-two-year-old Ella didn’t have a space where she could talk honestly about mental health without shame, so she created one. She’s the co-founder of Chasing Red Flags, a mental wellness brand and community with a mission to promote authenticity and challenge societal demands for perfection. Ella built the brand from the ground up, developing its voice, writing copy, launching the website, and creating merchandise that donates 10% of proceeds to mental health organizations — contributing over $15,000 across 2024 and 2025. She co-hosts the Chasing Red Flags: Let’s Get Real podcast and co-wrote Let’s Get Real, a therapist-approved journal with over 240 prompts, quotes, affirmations, tips for stress and anxiety, and a connection chapter that turns solo reflection into shared conversation. In just six months, the journal has sold over 2,000 copies. Through all her initiatives, Ella aims to create a culture where struggles aren’t something to hide, making mental health conversations feel more human and less intimidating.
University of Maryland - College Park ‘25
Creating Space For Honest Conversations About Mental Health
ELla Macduff
Lea’s journey began at 13, when she started interviewing incarcerated individuals and quickly uncovered a recurring theme: a lack of access to basic hygiene and beauty essentials. At 17, she founded Beauty Beyond Bars, the first initiative to improve hygiene and beauty access in U.S. correctional facilities through donations, legislation, and storytelling. In just four years, she’s raised over $250,000 in donations, taught at juvenile detention centers, and passed legislation benefiting over 97,000 incarcerated people. She also taught incarcerated girls how to write policy — empowering youth behind bars to see themselves as active participants in shaping the policies that affect them. Driven by the belief that the human desire to look good, feel good, and do good transcends circumstances, Lea sees prisons as potential spaces for rehabilitation. Her mission is to make this vision a reality while mobilizing the next generation to view beauty as a vehicle for empowerment and reform.
George Washington University ‘27
Transforming Hygiene & Beauty Access in U.S. Corrections
Lea Nepomuceno
Eighteen-year-old Ella has always had two great loves: high fashion and local politics. Beginning her journey working in the fashion industry at 13, she found a welcoming space that celebrated her identity as a queer teen. Today, she works at a high-fashion brand worn by A-list celebrities and has built an online presence as a fashion commentator, exploring the links between fashion and political theory. In 2025, her support for NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani brought her to viral status as the “Hot Girl for Zohran.” Her canvassing story was picked up by multiple media outlets, including a popular late-night talk show, where she was featured in the opening monologue. Going forward, Ella plans to continue her work in fashion and politics in tandem, continuing to create content that educates young women about the politics behind fashion and how they can get involved in the American political system.
Parsons School of Design ‘30
Exploring The Intersection Of Fashion & Politics
Ella Devi
Twenty-one-year-old Daya has always been a storyteller, from her early discovery of poetry in sixth grade to writing and pitching her second book series for television. As a junior majoring in visual media studies, she navigates between classrooms and creative projects, carrying a notebook brimming with ideas for film, television, and writing projects. Her goal? To craft work that resonates deeply, leaving audiences feeling seen, protected, and changed long after the final scene fades. Her artistic contributions have been featured in major media outlets, and this summer, she will intern at one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. Yet, Daya’s vision extends beyond her own narratives. Through Elom and Co., her Atlanta-based production company, she aims to create a safe space where women and people of color can freely express their creativity. By uplifting rising creators and centering poetic storytelling, she’s working to foster an environment where diverse voices can flourish.
Duke University ‘27
Creating Impact Through Truth-Centered Stories
Daya Brown
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College/University ‘XX
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Victoria Nwankwo
Giving back has been Esha’s passion for as long as she can remember, extending as far back as elementary school, when she began volunteering with her family. This passion led her to create NEST4US, one of the world’s largest youth-founded nonprofits, which she started at just 10 years old. NEST4US harnesses the power of kindness to uplift communities across the globe and now includes over 9,000 volunteers. Through the organization, Esha has empowered over 100,000 youth across six continents, with five programs focusing on large-scale service projects, food redistribution events, academic and hygiene resource provision, intergenerational workshops, and more. Yet, for Esha, it’s not just about the numbers. It’s the small moments of connection — the smiles, connections, and shared experiences — that inspired her to start NEST4US a decade ago and continue to drive her commitment to making civic engagement accessible and exciting to people of all ages.
Georgia Institute of Technology ‘26
Harnessing The Power Of Kindness To Uplift Communities
Esha Venkat
