Malala Yousafzai

Activist for female education, Nobel laureate, survived Taliban assassination attempt, advocate for girls' and women's rights.

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Profession :

Civil Rights Figure

Birthday :

July 12, 1997

Star Sign :

Cancer

Age :

27

Birthplace :

Mingora, Pakistan

Malala Yousafzai, born on July 12, 1997, rose to prominence as a fearless advocate for girls’ education and women’s rights. Hailing from Mingora, Swat Valley, Pakistan, she inherited her passion for education from her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, an education activist. Malala attended Khushal Public School, founded by her father, where she developed a strong belief in the transformative power of education.

At the tender age of 11, Malala began blogging for BBC Urdu, shedding light on the struggles faced by girls in Swat Valley under the oppressive rule of the Taliban. Her courageous actions garnered international attention and earned her a nomination for the International Children’s Peace Prize in 2011. However, her activism came at a great personal cost when she survived a targeted assassination attempt by the Taliban in 2012. This horrific incident propelled her cause onto the global stage, inspiring millions worldwide.

Following her miraculous recovery, Malala continued her education in the United Kingdom. She attended Edgbaston High School in Birmingham and later pursued a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford University. During this time, she co-founded the Malala Fund in 2013, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities for girls around the world. Her unwavering commitment to education earned her the prestigious title of United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2017.

Malala’s remarkable achievements were recognized with numerous accolades, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, making her the youngest Nobel laureate at just 17 years old. She also received the National Malala Peace Prize from the Government of Pakistan in 2013 and the Simone de Beauvoir Prize in 2013 for her exceptional contributions to women’s rights.

In 2021, Malala married Asser Malik and continues to be a vocal advocate for girls’ education and women’s rights through her foundation and impactful public speaking engagements. Her unwavering dedication to empowering women and promoting education serves as an inspiration to people everywhere.

Malala’s name holds a special significance, as her father named her after Malalai of Maiwand, a legendary Pashtun warrior woman known for her bravery and defiance against British colonial rule.

Malala’s favorite book is her own biography, “I Am Malala,” co-written with Christina Lamb, which chronicles her extraordinary journey from a young activist to a global symbol of hope and resilience.