--- description: TIME's annual list of the most influential teens in TV, sports, music, business and more title: The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2015 image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Newsfeed](/tag/time-section-newsfeed/) ## Newsfeed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2015 by [TIME Staff](/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Oct 27, 2015 2:00 PM CUT by [TIME Staff](/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Oct 27, 2015 2:00 PM CUT To determine _TIME_’s [annual list](http://time.com/3486048/most-influential-teens-2014/ "undefined"), we consider accolades across numerous fields, global impact through social media and overall ability to drive news. Here’s who made this year’s cut (ordered from youngest to oldest): ### Moziah Bridges, 13  SHARK TANK - "Episode 522" - An 11-year old fashionista from Memphis, Tennessee has already captured Oprah's attention with his line of hand-crafted bow ties for people of all ages which he makes with his family members. But can he cut a deal in the Tank with Daymond John or another Shark? Two men from Linden, Utah present their new hot beverage made from roasted cocoa beans roasted like coffee which is packed with antioxidants, and a college student from Provo, Utah created his own blend of nutritional supplements to help focus, mental agility, and overall brain health. Two Boston men operate a popular 5K obstacle course race series in 20 cities that features 100' foot water slides, fire and water hazards, as well as other "epic" obstacles. Will the Sharks buy in? Also, an update on Brandon and Keith Marz from Van Nuys, California, Leander, TX and their Marz Sprays, oral vitamin atomizers which are a tasty, easy way to get daily nutrients, in which Lori invested last season. "Shark Tank" airs FRIDAY, APRIL 25 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Photo by Michael Ansell/ABC via Getty Images) ABC/Getty Images The Memphis resident started his own bow tie business, [Mo’s Bows](http://mosbowsmemphis.com/ "undefined"), at age 9\. Now—thanks in part to an [appearance ](http://abc.go.com/shows/shark-tank/video/VDKA0%5Fuf8zy2mp "undefined") on the investment show _Shark Tank_—he’s running a $200,000-a-year apparel company touting licensing deals with Cole Haan and Neiman Marcus. Bridges’ latest accomplishment? Supplying bow ties [to basketball players](http://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2015/06/26/nba-draft-2015-bowties-moziah-bridges-shark-tank "undefined") at the 2015 NBA draft. _—Samantha Grossman_ ### Maddie Ziegler, 13  NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 14: Maddie Ziegler attends the Zac Posen Spring 2016 fashion show during New York Fashion Week at Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal on September 14, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Pont/WireImage) Mike Pont—WireImage/Getty Images The star of Lifetime’s [_Dance Mom_s](http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/dance-moms "undefined") earned global fame dancing in Sia’s music videos for “[Chandelier](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vjPBrBU-TM "undefined"),” “[Elastic Heart](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWZGAExj-es "undefined")” and, most recently, “[Big Girls Cry](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NhKWZpkw1Q "undefined"),” which have amassed more than 1.4 billion views on YouTube. (She also performed alongside Sia and Kristen Wiig at the 2015 Grammy Awards.) Now the Pittsburgh native is branching out into fashion; she made her runway debut at the Fall 2015 Polo Ralph Lauren Children’s Show, and [recently collaborated](http://fashionista.com/2015/07/betsey-johnson-maddie-ziegler-capezio "undefined") with designer Betsy Johnson on a line of dance wear for Capezio. She has also been featured in several national magazines, including _Harper’s Bazaar_, _Cosmopolitan_ and _Nylon. —Megan McCluskey_ ### Rowan Blanchard, 14  LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Rowan Blanchard attends the Alexander Lewis presentation during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016 on September 22, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) Ian Gavan—Getty Images The actress scored her breakout role in 2014 as Riley Matthews on Disney’s “Girl Meets World,” but this year, Blanchard also made a name for herself as an outspoken activist and feminist. She penned an essay about the importance of intersectional feminism that went viral (racking up more than 97,000 likes on Instagram) and earned high praise from [feminist blogs](http://jezebel.com/rowan-blanchard-13-year-old-disney-star-is-smarter-on-1726137760 "undefined") and fans like Emma Watson. She also spoke at the UN Women’s annual summit in June, where she explained how gender inequality affects youth. In [her speech](https://www.unwomen-usnc.org/files/Rowan%20Blanchard%20Speech.pdf "undefined"), she revealed that her biggest dream is to attend the Columbia School of Journalism. _—Samantha Grossman_ ### Ashima Shiraishi, 14  13 Jan 2013, New Jersey, USA --- Ashima Shiraishi competing in the 2012 Bouldering Youth Divisonals. --- Image by © PCN/Corbis PCN/Corbis Spain’s “Open Your Mind Direct” rock-climbing route is considered one of the most difficult courses in the world, thwarting all but the most skilled of adult, mostly male athletes. So when Shiraishi, at age 13, completed the challenge earlier this year—simultaneously becoming the youngest person and the first woman ever to do so—she was dubbed rock-climbing royalty, earning rave write-ups in _Outside_ magazine, the New York _Times_ and more. (Her reaction: [a celebratory Instagram](https://instagram.com/p/0WHLkwLJUn/?taken-by=ashimashiraishi "undefined") whose caption started with “OMG!!!”) The New York resident now says she hopes to compete in the 2020 Olympics in her parents’ native Japan—if climbing is added as a sport. _—Sarah Begley_ ### Ahmed Mohamed, 14  IRVING, TX - SEPTEMBER 17: Ahmed Mohamed, a Texas Muslim teen arrested after taking his homemade clock to school, explains his clock at his house in Irving, Texas on September 17, 2015\. A Texas Muslim teen arrested after taking his homemade clock to school, on Wednesday accepted an invitation by President Barack Obama to show off his invention at the White House. (Photo by Bilgin S. Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) Anadolu Agency—Getty Images Not many people make national news by [bringing a homemade clock to school](http://time.com/4085884/ahmed-mohamed-clock-returned/ "undefined"). But the ninth grader’s arrest, after teachers and authorities mistook said clock for a bomb, kicked off a national debate over racial profiling—and a outpouring of support for Mohamed, who was personally invited to the White House by President Obama (who called his clock “cool”). In October, he accepted a full scholarship to a prestigious school in Qatar. _—Daniel D’Addario_ ### Jazz Jennings, 15  Jazz Jennings D. Dipasupil—FilmMagic/Getty Images Jennings, who has lived as a girl since age 5, has never been afraid to speak out, educating the likes of Barbara Walters and Oprah Winfrey (and their millions of viewers) about the transgender experience when she was still in middle school. But this year, Jennings emerged as a full-blown public figure, starring in [an ad campaign for Clean & Clear](http://time.com/3956057/jazz-jennings-transgender-i-am-jazz/ "undefined") (tagline: “See the real me”) and inviting cameras to film her everyday routine—shopping for bathing suits, going to soccer practice—for the TLC docu-series _I Am Jazz_, whose premiere lured more than 1.3 million viewers. “The main thing that really keeps me motivated in continuing to share my story,” Jennings [told TIME](http://time.com/3956057/jazz-jennings-transgender-i-am-jazz/ "undefined") in July, “is the fact that I know change is being created when I see people who tell me that I’ve really affected their lives. It’s just a beautiful thing.” _—D.D._ ### Chloe Kim, 15  LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 29: Snowboarder Chloe Kim attends the Hello Kitty Con 2014 Opening Night Party on October 29, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/WireImage) Michael Kovac—WireImage/Getty Images The American snowboarder became [the youngest person](http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/01/chloe-kim-x-games-14-year-old-youngest-gold "undefined") ever to win gold at the Winter X-Games after she took home first place in the Women’s SuperPipe event. Kim, who began competing at age 6, has been [called](http://www.denverpost.com/wintersports/ci%5F27388125/chloe-kim-snowboard-halfpipe-gold-x-games-2015 "undefined") “the future of snowboarding.” Too young to compete in Sochi, she’s got her sights set on the 2018 games in South Korea — which happens to be the country her parents emigrated from. _—Samantha Grossman_ ### Flynn McGarry, 16  LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 06: (L-R) Celebrity chefs Angela Pinkerton, Flynn McGarry and Maxime Bilet attend The Food Salon, a gathering of thought leaders in art, design, music, film, TV, and food presented by Questlove and powered by Dell, took place on Friday, February 6, 2015 at the private home of CAA agent Brian Loucks in Studio City. (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Chelsea Lauren for Dell) Chelsea Lauren—Getty Images The New York _Times_ Magazine cover boy has been a culinary sensation ever since he started a supper club at age 11 out of his California home. Now, however, he’s [a full-fledged restaurateur](http://diningwithflynn.com "undefined"), serving meals three days a week at a pop-up location in Manhattan and charging $160 a head for 14-course dinners. McGarry’s success—reservations at his 12-seat venue are highly in-demand—has irked some older culinary professionals, who say he shouldn’t be called a “chef” without years of training. But McGarry doesn’t mind: “I’m the chef of Eureka,” he tells _TIME_ of his restaurant. “I create all the dishes, I cook all the food.” _—S.B._ ### Martin Odegaard, 16  MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 29: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Martin Odegaard of Real Madrid Castilla poses during a portrait session at Ciudad Real Madrid on January 29, 2015 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Real Madrid via Getty Images) Angel Martinez—Real Madrid/Getty Images In May, soccer fans got a glimpse of the future when Odegaard subbed in for reigning [World Player of the Year](http://time.com/3664351/cristiano-ronaldo-fifa-ballon-dor-soccer/ "undefined") Cristiano Ronaldo in the second half of a La Liga match. The Norwegian prodigy became the youngest player to take the pitch for Real Madrid, the world’s wealthiest soccer club. Odegaard signed with Real Madrid in January, for a reported $4 million. Often dubbed the “[New Messi](http://www.sport.net/liverpool-and-manchester-united-target-15-year-old-wonderkid-martin-odegaard-praises-on-bayern-munich%5F276657 "undefined"),” he’s insisted the hype won’t get to his head. “If you get carried away now, you won’t get far in 10 years,” Odegaard said. “I’m supposed to be at my best then, not now. That I know.” _—Sean Gregory_ ### Amandla Stenberg, 17  LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 16: Amandla Stenberg arrives at Women In Film 2015 Crystal + Lucy Awards at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on June 16, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic) Jon Kopaloff—FilmMagic/Getty Images The actress is best known as Rue from _The Hunger Games_ series—a role that earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination and a Teen Choice Award—but she doesn’t just take part in pop culture, she actively critiques it. For a school history project, she and another classmate made a video called [“Don’t Cash Crop My Cornrows”](http://amandla.tumblr.com/post/107484511963/dont-cash-crop-my-cornrows-a-crash-discourse-on "undefined") that was widely covered by the media and examined how white “pop stars and icons adopted black culture as a way of being edgy” while staying silent on issues such as police brutality. Stenberg is unafraid to call out celebrities she thinks are appropriating culture: in July she criticized Kylie Jenner—also on this list—for showing off her cornrows on [Instagram](http://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/13/amandla-stenberg-kylie-jenner "undefined") but failing to use her “position of power to help black Americans.” _—Nolan Feeney_ ### Shawn Mendes, 17  TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 01: Singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes attends We Day Toronto at the Air Canada Centre on October 1, 2015 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage) George Pimentel—WireImage/Getty Images The Vine star—with some 4.3 million followers—has spent the past year making an outsize mark on the music industry. In April, his debut album, _Handwritten_, topped the _Billboard_ 200, making him the youngest artist to achieve this feat since Justin Bieber. Then he scored a slot as an opening act on Taylor Swift’s blockbuster tour. And now, his most recent single, “[Stitches](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbfpW0pbvaU "undefined"),” is cracking Top Tens in the U.S., Canada, Sweden and more. _—D.D._ ### Jaden Smith, 17  LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Actor Jaden Smith attends the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/MTV1415/Getty Images For MTV) Kevin Winter—Getty Images Sure, Will Smith’s son gets the most attention for [enigmatic pronouncements](https://twitter.com/officialjaden "undefined")—telling the New York _Times_ that [“school is not authentic because it ends,”](http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/17/jaden-and-willow-smith-exclusive-joint-interview/?%5Fr=0 "undefined") for example, or tweeting “Kanye For President” to his 5.7 million followers. But he’s also making waves in the music industry. After dropping digital EP _This is the Album_ earlier this year, Smith signed on to host his own radio show on Apple’s Beats 1\. _—D.D._ ### Malia Obama, 17  WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 14: Malia Obama and Sasha Obama speak onstage at TNT Christmas in Washington 2014 at the National Building Museum on December 14, 2014 in Washington, DC. 25248\_001\_0582.JPG (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage) Theo Wargo—WireImage/Getty Images The older First Daughter is now a full-fledged cultural icon, whose fashion choices and college visits (most recently, to Brown University) routinely [make headlines](http://dailycaller.com/2015/10/16/exclusive-malia-the-only-cool-obama-plays-beer-pong-during-college-visit-photos/ "undefined"). Earlier this year, for example, a leaked photo appeared to show Obama sporting a T-shirt with the logo for Brooklyn hip-hop collective Pro Era, [driving record traffic](http://nypost.com/2015/01/14/the-malia-effect-how-the-presidents-daughter-is-shaping-teen-tastes/ "undefined") to co-founder Joey Bada$$’s Wikipedia page. Obama was spotted on the set of HBO’s _Girls_ over the summer, reportedly as part of an internship for creator Lena Dunham. _—Samantha Grossman_ ### Ariel Winter, 17  WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Actress Ariel Winter attends People's 'One To Watch' Event at Ysabel on September 16, 2015 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images) Imeh Akpanudosen—Getty Images Winter may be best known as Alex Dunphy, the studious middle sibling on _Modern Family_, where she helps draw roughly 10 million viewers a week. But this year, she also made national headlines for undergoing breast reduction surgery—a decision she said was driven in part by sexism and Internet bullies. “I could post a photo where I feel good, and 500 people will comment about how fat I am and that I am disgusting,” she told[_Glamour_](http://www.glamour.com/inspired/blogs/the-conversation/2015/08/ariel-winter-breast-reduction "undefined"). “I wasn’t feeling so happy.” ‪_—Eliana Dockterman_ ### William Turton, 17  Courtesy of William Turton While most high school students are struggling to write their college admission essays, Turton is breaking cyber-security news for [_The Daily Dot_](http://www.dailydot.com/ "undefined"), a website that covers news about Internet culture. The Richmond, Va., teen started writing [video game reviews](http://www.poynter.org/news/mediawire/362325/meet-the-17-year-old-who-breaks-cybersecurity-news/ "undefined") at 14, and has said he’d rather spend his free time [cultivating sources](http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/media/2015/01/8560406/tech-reportings-young-gun "undefined") than going to school dances. And his diligence has paid off — he’s nabbed scoops about Uber and the first interview with the Lizard Squad hacking collective behind the PlayStation Network (PSN) and Xbox Live breach. This summer, he broke news of cyber attacks on the websites of Planned Parenthood and New York Magazine, which he [stayed up all night](http://www.poynter.org/news/mediawire/362325/meet-the-17-year-old-who-breaks-cybersecurity-news/ "undefined") to report out during an internship at _The Daily Dot_’s New York City office. _—Olivia B. Waxman_ ### Silentó, 17  LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 09: Rapper Silento arrives at Tao Nightclub at The Venetian Las Vegas on October 9, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images) Gabe Ginsberg—Getty Images Six months ago, barely anyone had heard of Silentó (real name: Richard Lamar Hawk), an aspiring rapper from Stone Mountain, Georgia. That all changed on June 25, 2015, when the rising high school senior dropped the video for his first single, “[Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjW8wmF5VWc "undefined")”—an infectious clip centered around popular hip-hop dance moves. (He says he came up with the idea while entertaining classmates at lunch.) Within a week, the video had earned roughly 2.5 million views. By mid-October, it had logged more than 300 million, spawning countless parodies and [celebrity imitations](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppgk9Mj1n88 "undefined") and eventually reaching Number 3 on the _Billboard_ Hot 100\. Next up for its multiplatinum singer? Attending college, where he plans to study business. _—Samantha Grossman_ ### Bindi Irwin, 17  NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 24: Bindi Irwin attends Discovery's 30th Anniversary Celebration at The Paley Center for Media on June 24, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Pont/WireImage) Mike Pont—WireImage/Getty Images The daughter of Terri Irwin and the late Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin is no stranger to the spotlight; since her father’s death in 2006, she has worked as a conservationist, actress, TV presenter and singer, mostly within her native Australia. This year, however, she has emerged as a fan-favorite contestant on the U.S. version of _Dancing With the Stars_, earning her magazine covers (_Us Weekly_, Australia’s _Telegraph Sunday Style_), as well as ample coverage on entertainment blogs—most recently for an [emotional dance tribute to her father](http://www.ew.com/article/2015/10/06/bindi-irwin-dancing-stars-steve-irwin-tribute "undefined"), which earned the season’s first perfect 10\. _—M.M._ ### Olivia Hallisey, 17  Google The Connecticut high school student invented [a new way to test for the Ebola virus](https://www.googlesciencefair.com/projects/en/2015/a035b3748fb27ab0f735ef30096d0cc4d15960ed3410f585c87a807c934892f4 "undefined") that doesn’t require refrigeration or electricity—a huge boon for the rural areas that have been most affected by the epidemic. Although it will require real-world trials before getting deployed, it won top honors at September’s Google Science Fair, a testament to its life-saving potential. _—O.B.W._ ### Malala Yousafzai, 18  Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, 18, poses for a picture during her visit to Azraq refugee camp, Jordan, Monday, July 13, 2015\. Rich countries should spend less on weapons in the Syria conflict and more on education, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai said Monday, calling world leaders "quite stingy" as she visited the camp for Syrian war refugees. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen) Muhammed Muheisen—AP Three years after being shot by the Taliban while going to school in her native Pakistan, Yousafzai is now a fierce advocate for girls’ education. In the months following her Nobel Peace Prize award, the [_He Named Me Malala_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3065132/ "undefined") subject spoke at the U.N. General Assembly, appealed for the release of the schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram, and launched the #BooksNotBullets campaign to encourage politicians to redirect some military spending toward global education. On July 12—her 18th birthday—she traveled to a Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon to open a school. “Spending time with Malala Yousafzai made me stronger,” wrote Mezon Almellehan, a Syrian refugee, in [this year’s _Time_ 100](http://time.com/3822637/malala-yousafzai-2015-time-100/ "undefined"). “She suffered, and yet she continues to fight for what she believes in—for the rights of children and for their education.” _—Naina Bajekal_ ### Kylie Jenner, 18  WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - JULY 18: Kylie Jenner arrives at the Screening Of 20th Century Fox's "Paper Towns" at The London West Hollywood on July 18, 2015 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic) Jon Kopaloff—FilmMagic/Getty Images The former shy tween on E!’s _Keeping Up With the Kardashians_ is now arguably the most-watched teenager in the world, commanding an audience of 60 million people across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and her best-selling app. “Everything I do, I always start these huge trends,” Jenner tells _TIME_ of phenomena like the [#KylieJennerLipChallenge](http://www.people.com/article/kylie-jenner-challenge-social-media-lip-shot-glass-trend "undefined"), for which thousands of social-media users (unprompted by Jenner) tried to mimic her cosmetically enhanced lips with at-home suction tricks. But that’s not the kind of influence she’s aiming for. “I just want to inspire my fans to be whoever they want to be,” Jenner says, “because that’s what I’ve always done.” _—D.D._ ### Tiffany Zhong, 18  Courtesy of Tiffany Zhong As an analyst and associate at Binary Capital, a venture-capital firm that manages more than $130 million in investments, Zhong holds a job often reserved for much older workers, many of them with MBAs. But in this case, it appears her age is an asset: the San Francisco resident, who deferred acceptance to the University of California at Berkeley, is tasked with finding worthy designers, developers and entrepreneurs—many of them her age or younger—who have the potential to create the next Snapchat, as she explained in [a recent _Wall Street Journal_ profile](http://www.wsj.com/articles/meet-venture-capitals-teenage-analyst-1445227201 "undefined"). ### Maisie Williams, 18  SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 11: Actress Maisie Williams attends Entertainment Weekly's Annual Comic-Con Party in celebration of Comic-Con 2015 at FLOAT at The Hard Rock Hotel on July 11, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly) John Shearer—Getty Images Playing a beloved character like _Game of Thrones_’ Arya comes with a lot of pressure—series author George R.R. Martin’s wife reportedly forbade him from [killing off](http://www.vulture.com/2011/07/george%5Frr%5Fmartins%5Fa%5Fdance%5Fwith.html# "undefined") the character—but over five seasons, Williams has proven she’s more than up to the challenge. The actress, as it turns out, is just as likable as her plucky onscreen counterpart—her delightfully [off-kilter reaction](http://time.com/3922159/jon-snow-game-of-thrones-arya/ "undefined") to the shocking deaths of certain characters was retweeted more than 3,500 times. Williams will likely only continue to become more popular—the HBO show set a series ratings record ratings record with [8.11 million viewers](http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/game-of-thrones-finale-ratings-jon-snow-cersei-1201519719/ "undefined") of its last finale—as she branches out. The actress is also [appearing](http://time.com/3763397/maisie-williams-doctor-who-game-of-thrones/ "undefined") on another genre cult favorite, _Doctor Who_, this year. _—E.D._ ### Lydia Ko, 18  EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 09: Lydia Ko of New Zealand poses for a picture prior to the start of the Evian Championship Golf on September 9, 2015 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) Stuart Franklin—Getty Images At the age of 17, this New Zealander became the youngest golfer to be ranked [number one in the world](http://espn.go.com/golf/story/%5F/id/12259132/lydia-ko-youngest-playergender-reach-no-1-world-ranking "undefined"), breaking Tiger Woods’ record. And with back-to-back birdies on the final holes at September’s Evian Championship, she grabbed another record as the [youngest winner](http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/13/golf/golf-evian-ko-thompson/ "undefined") of a women’s major event—her first. She then went on to regain her number one ranking — she held the top spot for 19 weeks earlier in the year — in the world with a victory at the [LPGA Taiwan Championship](http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/golf/73363308/kiwi-golfer-lydia-ko-dismantles-field-in-taiwan-reclaims-world-no-1-ranking "undefined") in October. Her goal for 2016 is to [play in Rio](http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/13/golf/golf-evian-ko-thompson/ "undefined") when golf returns to the Olympics: “There’s no greater honor than playing for your country,” she said.” But Ko still makes time to be a teen, regularly posting videos of bejeweled golf balls markers and Dubsmash videos to her SnapChat and [Instagram](https://instagram.com/lydsko/?hl=en "undefined") channels. _—Ashley Ross_ ### Katie Ledecky, 18  Rockville, MD - MARCH 31: Katie Ledecky of Stone Ridge. Swimmer of the Year Winter All-Met on March 31, 2014 in Rockville, MD (Photo by Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post via Getty Images) The Washington Post/Getty Images The next Michael Phelps has arrived. Ledecky holds the world record in three different freestyle events; at the [world championships](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/sports/katie-ledecky-wins-800-completing-world-championships-sweep.html "undefined") in Kazan, Russia in August, Ledecky became the first swimmer to win the 200-, 400-, 800-, and 1,500-meter freestyle events in a major competition. The Bethesda, Md., native plans to [enroll at Stanford](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/recruiting-insider/wp/2015/05/08/katie-ledecky-to-defer-stanford-enrollment-to-focus-on-2016-olympics/ "undefined") after the 2016 Olympics, where her races will be appointment viewing: Ledecky’s already an Olympic champ, having won the 800-m in London when she was only 15\. _—Sean Gregory_ ### Zendaya, 19  LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 12: Singer Zendaya attends "Dancing with the Stars" Season 21 at CBS Televison City on October 12, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) David Livingston—Getty Images The former Disney Channel star (full name: Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman) has emerged as a champion of body positivity, schooling E!’s Giuliana Rancic earlier this year for [mocking Zendaya’s dreadlocks](http://www.people.com/article/zendaya-responds-giuliana-rancic-apology "undefined") at the Oscars and sharing [unretouched versions of a magazine photoshoot](http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2015/10/21/zendaya-shares-unretouched-photos-instagram/ "undefined") with her 14.1 million Instagram followers. Recently, Mattel debuted a custom Barbie [modeled after Zendaya’s Oscars look](http://www.ew.com/article/2015/09/27/zendaya-barbie-how-times-have-changed "undefined"), meant to honor “a moment of confidence that was so positively received.” _—D.D._ ### Joshua Wong, 19  Joshua Wong, founder and convenor of the student group Scholarism, marches during a pro-democracy rally in Hong Kong, China, on Sunday, June 14, 2015\. Thousands joined a march in Hong Kong to demand that lawmakers reject a China-backed plan for the city's first direct chief executive election amid growing public opposition to the bill. Photographer: Justin Chin/Bloomberg via Getty Images Justin Chin—Bloomberg/Getty Images Wong shot to fame last year as one of the core leaders of Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution, when demonstrators occupied the streets to demand the autonomy they believed they had been promised when the U.K. handed over the colony to Beijing in 1997\. Although immediate political reform has not been achieved—and Wong is currently facing trespassing charges for storming a public square—the activist, now one of Hong Kong’s most recognizable political figures, isn’t planning to give up. “I want the world to know that the Umbrella Revolution isn’t over,” [he told _TIME_](http://time.com/author/joshua-wong/ "undefined") in October. “We want to fight for democracy.” _—N.B._ ### Kendall Jenner, 19  NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 17: Model/tv personality Kendall Jenner attends the 2015 Fragrance Foundation Awards at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center on June 17, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage) Jim Spellman—WireImage In addition to her impressive fashion resume—walking the runway for Chanel and Versace and gracing the covers of _GQ_, _Cosmopolitan_, _Allure_, and _Vogue Paris_—Jenner is also the subject of [the most-liked photo in Instagram history](http://time.com/3939231/kendall-jenner-instagram-photo/ "undefined"). The image, depicting the reality star with her hair in heart shapes, has logged some 3.1 million taps approval, smashing a record (2.4 million) set by her own sister, Kim Kardashian. _—D.D._ ### Bethany Mota, 19  SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 11: YouTube entertainer Bethany Mota arrives at the YouTube FanFest 2015 at Qantas Credit Union Arena on September 11, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) Lisa Maree Williams—Getty Images In January, the YouTube star was one of a select group of social media celebs who [interviewed President Obama](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbR6iQ62v9k "undefined") after the State of the Union address. The fashion and beauty blogger boasts a huge number of fans — nicknamed Motavators — on multiple social networks: 9.5 million subscribers on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/Macbarbie07 "undefined"), 2.69 million followers on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/BethanyMota?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor "undefined") and 5.2 million followers on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/bethanynoelm/ "undefined"). She continues to work on a line of [clothing and home decor](http://www.aeropostale.com/girls-clothing/features/bethany-mota/family.jsp?categoryId=23753606 "undefined") for Aéropostale, release her own [music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0JeC-KYMWw "undefined") and work on charitable endeavors with [UNICEF](http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bethany-mota-teams-up-with-unicef-to-help-kids-around-the-world-go-back-to-school-300142363.html "undefined"). And in August, teens cast 25 million votes for FOX’s Teen Choice awards, where Mota won for Choice Web Star: Female. _—A.R._ ### Kim Kataguiri, 19  Kim Kataguiri, leader of the Movimento Brasil Livre (Free Brazil Movement) opposition group that demands the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff speaks during the March for Freedom in Anapolis, state of Goias, Brazil, on May 22, 2015\. Considered the new right of Brazilian politics, the Movimento Brasil Livre is basically composed by young people without support of the traditional political forces who last March and April called for protests against the government of President Rousseff that gathered nearly three million people in several cities. AFP PHOTO/EVARISTO SA AFP/AFP/EVARISTO SA/STF /es/pa (Photo credit should read EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images) Evaristo Sa—AFP/Getty Images The young libertarian, who first gained a following from [his satirical YouTube videos](http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/03/30/19-year-old-libertarian-is-the-face-of-brazils-young-free-market-conservative-movement/ "undefined"), is leading the charge against Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff and her Worker’s Party, which have been embroiled in a massive corruption scandal. After co-founding the [Free Brazil Movement](http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/03/30/19-year-old-libertarian-is-the-face-of-brazils-young-free-market-conservative-movement/ "undefined") in 2014, Kataguiri, who cites Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher as inspirations, went on to lead a 200,000-strong demonstration in Sao Paulo earlier this year—the biggest protest Sao Paolo has seen in three decades. _—Tara John_ ### Lele Pons, 19  LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Lele Pons attends VH1's 5th Annual Streamy Awards at Hollywood Palladium on September 17, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/WireImage) Joe Scarnici—WireImage/Getty Images As the most-watched person on [Vine](https://vine.co/Lele.Pons "undefined")—the Miami teen has more than 7.2 billion loops and 9.7 million followers—Pons has mastered the art of the 6-second comedy sketch. She became the first Vine user to reach 1 billion loops and is credited as a creator of the phrase, “Do it for the Vine.” The 19 year old is also popular across multiple platforms, boasting 3.4 million [Instagram](https://instagram.com/lelepons/ "undefined") followers, and 384 thousand [Twitter](https://twitter.com/lelepons?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor "undefined") followers. Moving beyond the online realm, she has [launched her own jewelry line](http://www.teenvogue.com/story/lele-pons-vine-star-interview "undefined") for [UNO Magnetic](http://www.unomagnetic.com/?gclid=COHBp%5F%5FJ4MgCFVCQHwodkx0M0w "undefined"), a Miami-based accessories company. _—M.M._ ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4081618/most-influential-teens-2015/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4081618/most-influential-teens-2015/"},"headline":"The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2015","datePublished":"2015-10-27T14:00:25.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:46:52.451Z","description":"TIME's annual list of the most influential teens in TV, sports, music, business and more","url":"https://time.com/4081618/most-influential-teens-2015/","keywords":["Newsfeed","nextgenerationleaders"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"TIME Staff","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/time-staff/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4081618/most-influential-teens-2015/","name":"The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2015"}}]}] ```