MEET THE CLASS OF 2016
To assemble our third annual list of the world’s most influential teens, TIME considered accolades across numerous fields, global impact through social media and overall ability to drive news. Here, a sampling from the full group of 30, available at time.com/teens2016
LAURIE HERNANDEZ, 16
THE BUDDING ICON
Growing up, Hernandez rarely saw girls like her at the gym, tearing down the vault run or tackling the balance beam. “There weren’t a lot of Hispanic role models,” she recalls, “especially in gymnastics.” Still, she didn’t think much of it—until she became one. Three months after winning Olympic gold alongside her Final Five teammates (and an individual silver), the New Jersey native is emerging as a star in her own right, signing an endorsement deal with Crest and crushing competitors on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars. But the most meaningful reward, she says, comes during meet-and-greets with fans,
