Malala Yousafzai, the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has emerged from a year punctuated by extraordinary success and dislocation. At the age of 17, Yousafzai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless advocacy for girls’ education. All this changed in 2012 when she survived a Taliban assassination attempt. The brutal attack landed her in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where she was treated. She would spend the next ten days there, healing from the bullets that had almost taken her life.
Following her recovery, Yousafzai took to her studies at Oxford University. She went on to graduate with a 2.1 degree in politics, philosophy and economics. Her university life was a riot of colourful student activism. She went to college formals, participated in clubs and organizations, and tackled the dreaded essay crisis nerdy-cutesy college trope. Even with such pedestrian collegiate pursuits, she would frequently find herself pressed by the burden of the title ‘Nobel prize winner’ attached to her identity.
Yousafzai continued. …my people expect me to be bold. She acknowledges that with greater visibility, there are undeniably uncomfortable layers added to the discourse. She’s looking for more space to create and be herself. To illustrate this yearning, she even quoted her own wish, “I long to be a little more free, more unrefined.”
Ever since, Yousafzai has remained an impactful speaker and advocate on the world stage. On October 10, 2023, she called for a ceasefire in Gaza, demonstrating her commitment to advocating for peace and human rights around the world. Her activism continues to be fed by her personal experiences and her dedication to the education of all girls.
Aside from her advocacy work, Yousafzai has pursued a career in entertainment. In addition, she just signed an exclusive multi-year agreement with Apple TV+ to create and produce a pipeline of television, documentaries and features. This decision marks a significant victory, not just in the power of media to tell important stories. It advances social causes that are near and dear to her heart.
Yousafzai’s personal life is indicative of her complex journey. In November 2021, she married Asser Malik, a cricket manager from Pakistan, in an Islamic ceremony held at her parents’ home in Birmingham. The two first connected through a mutual friend, and Yousafzai was quickly intrigued by Malik’s progressive takes on the role of women and the importance of equality. Her parents had met him before their long-distance relationship became public, suggesting a nurturing family support system.
Activist Malala Yousafzai is expanding her reach past the award. She even executive produced a new Broadway musical “Suffs,” which captures that spirit universally, demonstrating her love for using the arts and culture to promote purpose.
With all of her strides in the personal and professional spheres, Yousafzai is humble and contemplative about where she’s been. She doesn’t delude herself into thinking everybody keeps a list like hers. Her outstanding feats include surviving an assassination attempt and winning one of the highest honors in peace-fighting.
So I have to think about what am I going to do every, literally every night,” she added. Her tenacity to be a force for good leaps off the page in her writing. She thinks to truly combat what’s outside you need to focus on what’s inside, the battle we all face.
Malala Yousafzai continues to develop as an activist, producer and now as a wife. Today, she is just as unapologetically committed to the pursuit of her original mission – advocating for education and equality. Her story continues to inspire millions worldwide, and stands as a powerful tribute to the indomitable nature of the human spirit.