GENERATION NEXT
THERE’S A PERENNIAL TENDENCY for a generation to put themselves on pedestals, reminiscing about their own glory days, while writing off the age group that comes directly after them. True to trend, gen Z often stands to be stereotyped by its older cohorts as a bunch of smartphone-addicted narcissists who exist solely to post dog-filter selfies. Enter Yara Shahidi.
The 19-year-old actor happens to be the ultimate comeback to a tired argument. A generational trump card, she is proof young people do have the power to change the world. Though Shahidi does take selfies: some with the Obamas and academic Angela Davis, members of congress she’s met and activists she’s inspired by.
Her social network is defined by like-minded, outspoken women, such as actress Rowan Blanchard and journalist Elaine Welteroth. Shahidi probably spends a lot of time on Instagram, too, but her feeds
