Yara Shahidi | 20

Born Yara Sayeh Shahidi in February 2000, Yara Shahidi became a household name for her roles in Grown-ish, Imagine That, Smallfoot, and The Sun Is Also a Star. According to her mom, her name Yara means “someone who is close to your heart” in Persian. Yara was only six when she began modeling for brands like Disney, Guess Kids, McDonald’s, Ralph Lauren, Target, and Gap Kids, saving her from possible student loans for her education. Time magazine even hailed the young actress as one of “The 30 Most Influential Teens” in 2016.

In 2019, Yara took to social media an empowering message about self-love and acceptance. It was a photo of her showing her natural skin with freckles and blemishes. She wrote on her Instagram, “Happy Sunday from me and my skin that I’ve committed to love in every and all states.”