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Kamala Harris
The Vice-President-elect will make history as the first woman — and the first Black person and person of Asian descent — to hold the office. In tribute to her late mother, Harris said, “She believed so deeply in an America where a moment like this is possible.”
02of 15Dwayne JohnsonDwayne Johnson.Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesThe most-followed American man on Instagram used his platform to inspire others. He paid tribute to his late father, Rocky, a wrestler who “broke color barriers” and “became a ring legend”; shared his family’s COVID journey; and celebrated a happy end to the year with a quadruple-platinum song, “You’re Welcome,” and a new NBC sitcom,Young Rock,that tells his origin story. The “people’s eyebrow” evidently began at age 13.
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Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson.Kevin Winter/Getty Images
The most-followed American man on Instagram used his platform to inspire others. He paid tribute to his late father, Rocky, a wrestler who “broke color barriers” and “became a ring legend”; shared his family’s COVID journey; and celebrated a happy end to the year with a quadruple-platinum song, “You’re Welcome,” and a new NBC sitcom,Young Rock,that tells his origin story. The “people’s eyebrow” evidently began at age 13.
03of 15Meghan MarkleMeghan Markle.ShutterstockThe Duchess of Sussex broke barriers with her Nov. 25 essay inThe New York Timesthat detailed a miscarriage she suffered earlier in the year. The confessional op-ed was a departure from royal norms — much like her move withPrince Harryand their young son Archie to California earlier this year. In her piece, Meghan also touched on larger themes, including the Black Lives Matter movement and rising political division, and referenced her own 2019 interview in which she admitted she was “not okay.” “Let us commit to asking others, ‘Are you okay?’ " she wrote.
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Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle.Shutterstock
The Duchess of Sussex broke barriers with her Nov. 25 essay inThe New York Timesthat detailed a miscarriage she suffered earlier in the year. The confessional op-ed was a departure from royal norms — much like her move withPrince Harryand their young son Archie to California earlier this year. In her piece, Meghan also touched on larger themes, including the Black Lives Matter movement and rising political division, and referenced her own 2019 interview in which she admitted she was “not okay.” “Let us commit to asking others, ‘Are you okay?’ " she wrote.
04of 15Catherine & India OxenbergIndia Oxenberg and her mother, Catherine Oxenberg.Phylicia J. L. MunnTheDynastystar’s hard-won struggle to free her daughter from the NXIVM sex cult was chronicled in two documentary series. In October Keith Raniere, NXIVM’s twisted founder, was sentenced to 120 years in prison.
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Catherine & India Oxenberg
India Oxenberg and her mother, Catherine Oxenberg.Phylicia J. L. Munn
TheDynastystar’s hard-won struggle to free her daughter from the NXIVM sex cult was chronicled in two documentary series. In October Keith Raniere, NXIVM’s twisted founder, was sentenced to 120 years in prison.
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Naomi Osaka
Recep Sakar/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
06of 15LeBron JamesLeBron James.Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty ImagesThe 6'9” All-Star led the L.A. Lakers to an NBA championship, possibly earning the title of the greatest player of all time. (Go ahead, debate.) He touched more than the sports world, using his fame to encourage voting and his wealth to do good in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
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LeBron James
LeBron James.Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
The 6'9” All-Star led the L.A. Lakers to an NBA championship, possibly earning the title of the greatest player of all time. (Go ahead, debate.) He touched more than the sports world, using his fame to encourage voting and his wealth to do good in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
07of 15ZendayaZendaya.ABCAt 24, theEuphoriastar became the youngest Emmy winner for Lead Actress in a Drama. “I experience moments of joy when I’m able to create art and be involved in projects that I connect to deeply,” she told elle.com.
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Zendaya
Zendaya.ABC
At 24, theEuphoriastar became the youngest Emmy winner for Lead Actress in a Drama. “I experience moments of joy when I’m able to create art and be involved in projects that I connect to deeply,” she told elle.com.
08of 15Anya Taylor-JoyAnya Taylor-Joy inThe Queen’s Gambit.PHIL BRAY/NETFLIXHollywood’s fastest rising star had never played chess prior to being cast in the Netflix smash hitThe Queen’s Gambit,but it didn’t show.Varietycalled the English-Argentinian actress “so magnetic that when she stares down the camera lens, her flinty glare threatens to cut right through it.”
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Anya Taylor-Joy
Anya Taylor-Joy inThe Queen’s Gambit.PHIL BRAY/NETFLIX
Hollywood’s fastest rising star had never played chess prior to being cast in the Netflix smash hitThe Queen’s Gambit,but it didn’t show.Varietycalled the English-Argentinian actress “so magnetic that when she stares down the camera lens, her flinty glare threatens to cut right through it.”
09of 15Kelly Ripa & Ryan SeacrestLIVE with Kelly and Ryan.The duo’s chemistry has propelled their talk show to No. 1. “It’s not just a television show,” Seacrest recently toldEntertainment Tonight.“We come in, and we literally have our first cup of coffee together and catch up with each other as friends do.”
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Kelly Ripa & Ryan Seacrest
LIVE with Kelly and Ryan.
The duo’s chemistry has propelled their talk show to No. 1. “It’s not just a television show,” Seacrest recently toldEntertainment Tonight.“We come in, and we literally have our first cup of coffee together and catch up with each other as friends do.”
10of 15Savannah GuthrieSavannah Guthrie.Evan Vucci/AP/ShutterstockShe can wear her dress backward on theTodayshow and disarm the President of the United States in a town hall interview with equal charm. The nation took notice. “She’s front and center, critical to everything NBC News will be doing,” Noah Oppenheim, president of the division, raved toThe New York Times.
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Savannah Guthrie
Savannah Guthrie.Evan Vucci/AP/Shutterstock
She can wear her dress backward on theTodayshow and disarm the President of the United States in a town hall interview with equal charm. The nation took notice. “She’s front and center, critical to everything NBC News will be doing,” Noah Oppenheim, president of the division, raved toThe New York Times.
11of 15Dan LevyGettyTheSchitt’s Creekco-creator and star tapped into viewers' hunger for humanity — and swept this year’sEmmy Awards. “I hope that [the show] offers a kind of warmth and comfort for people in really uncertain times,” he told theToronto Sun.
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Dan Levy
Getty
TheSchitt’s Creekco-creator and star tapped into viewers' hunger for humanity — and swept this year’sEmmy Awards. “I hope that [the show] offers a kind of warmth and comfort for people in really uncertain times,” he told theToronto Sun.
12of 15Megan Thee StallionMegan Thee Stallion.Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dcpThe sex-positive, body-positive hip-hop star, whose summer anthem “WAP,” withCardi B, debuted at No. 1, is seriously socially conscious. Her mission is to protect Black women, who are “still constantly disrespected and disregarded in so many areas of life,” she wrote inThe New York Times.
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Megan Thee Stallion
Megan Thee Stallion.Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dcp
The sex-positive, body-positive hip-hop star, whose summer anthem “WAP,” withCardi B, debuted at No. 1, is seriously socially conscious. Her mission is to protect Black women, who are “still constantly disrespected and disregarded in so many areas of life,” she wrote inThe New York Times.
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The Home Edit’s Joanna Teplin & Clea Shearer
John Shearer
14of 15Tyler PerryChristopher Polk/GettyVowing to stay positive during the pandemic, Perry worked hard to mobilize others. Notably, at Tyler Perry Studios, he created Camp Quarantine, a COVID-free bubble where a team of 360 people safely produced four projects.
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Tyler Perry
Christopher Polk/Getty
Vowing to stay positive during the pandemic, Perry worked hard to mobilize others. Notably, at Tyler Perry Studios, he created Camp Quarantine, a COVID-free bubble where a team of 360 people safely produced four projects.
15of 15Chris EvansSteve Granitz/WireImageCaptain America may have figured out how to take the sting out of politics. Evan’s new website,A Starting Point, encourages civic engagement with leaders from both sides. “You have to use your platform to do more than just retweet things,” he told PEOPLE.
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Chris Evans
Steve Granitz/WireImage
Captain America may have figured out how to take the sting out of politics. Evan’s new website,A Starting Point, encourages civic engagement with leaders from both sides. “You have to use your platform to do more than just retweet things,” he told PEOPLE.
source: people.com
