Lorde and Lydia Ko Named Time’s Most Influential Teens

Kate Sheppard would be proud. 120 years after New Zealand women gained the right to vote before any other country, two young New Zealand women have become the top two most influential youths in the world.

Time magazine has released its pick of the 16 most influential teens in 2013, and both singer-songwriter Lorde and pro golfer Lydia Ko have made the list.

Ella Yelich-O’Connor, 17, has recently shot to fame for her single ‘Royals’ worldwide, which has sat at the top of the Billboard charts for over a month thus becoming the biggest pop star of the moment. As well as her singing talent, Time hails her a “child prodigy”, showcasing a maturity and intelligence beyond her years.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Lydia Ko has pushed the boundaries by becoming a pro this year after LPGA waived the age requirement. She’s the youngest person ever to win a professional golf tour event and is currently ranked fifth in the world.

Ko and Yelich-O’Connor share the auspicious title with various other teens from around the world, including Malala Yousafzai, renown for her role as a vocal activist for better education of girls under the Taliban rule.