top of page
Yara Shahidi: What it means to be a feminist
"The goal of my activism is to bring humanity back into humanity"
BY JOE BAKER
20 year old actress and activist Yara Shahidi is not afraid to stand up for women's rights and against female oppression, and after gaining recognition in 2014, her voice has only become louder.
​
Since she was 14 years old, her career blew up, when she gained recognition for playing the oldest daughter, Zoey Johnson, on the american sitcom 'Black-ish' and it's spin off series 'Grown-ish'. It's through her character that she found her voice and how it can be used to promote her beliefs.
​
"It's through my character and characters like her that the barrier of racism, ageism and sexism can be broken down"
"Instead of inheriting a broken system, we have the power to change it. I've always been concerned about the objectification of women, and that's one thing where I thought 'Well if I become part of the industry I can change that'"
By voicing her opinions from such a young age, Shahidi has become an advocate for young women to look up to and follow in her footsteps. Her inspiration for becoming an activist began with her parents, teaching her the ways of feminism from the day she was born. But what does it mean to be a feminist?
​
"Feminism is about being an advocate for women, not about hating men. By being a feminist I fight for equal rights and equal pay."
​
In 2016, Shahidi participated in Michelle Obama's Let Girls Learn campaign, which promoted equal opportunities for education for girls around the world. She is passionate about using her social media platforms to promote her campaigns for equal opportunities of all genders, and to encourage all Americans from 18+ to vote.
Being a model herself, Shahidi has always been interested in fashion and beauty, sharing with us her top favourite products and brands for the summer!
​
As the new brand ambassador for Bobbi Brown, she is passionate about promoting products that are fit for all skin types and tones. From cool summer styles to warm winter clothes, she can feel confident wearing anything.
​
Yara Shahidi proves to young people that you can be an activist through whichever career path you take. By the age of 20, she has built a strong platform of followers who she inspires to voice their own opinions.
Sign up for Canvass daily news
bottom of page