Let’s teach our children about diversity now! Our kids need amazingly good role models in their lives and this ultimate list of 59 amazing people will inspire and motivate kids right now.
We still live in a world segregated by race, gender, ability and class. However, we can help break down those barriers by giving our children diverse lifestyles to follow and respect.
This is why I wanted to share this list of amazing people, who are excellent role models, that my own kids look up to.
Every child needs a good role model, especially when we live in a society that is driven by people in the spotlight. To understand what makes a good role model also read qualities of a role model.
Nowadays, trends, attitudes, and behaviours are made popular by influencers. Social media platforms have these influencers plastered all over them, and even though not all kids are old enough to be on those sites, they’re still being exposed to all kinds of people.
What’s worse is that many of these personalities are crafted by publicists, and they’re designed to sell certain trends and concepts. Introducing your children to wholesome role models will inspire them to set positive life goals.
A role model is a person who serves as an example by influencing others. For many children, the most important role models are their parents and caregivers.
Children look up to a variety of role models to help shape how they behave in school, in relationships, or when making difficult decisions.
Children also look up to other relatives, teachers, coaches, and peers. Children may try to copy the behavior and appearance of celebrities, such as athletes and entertainers, and characters from books, TV, movies, or video games.
Some parents may want to help their children choose positive role models. Here are some helpful suggestions for discussing role models with your child and for serving as a positive role model yourself:
These public figures make great role models for kids because they’ve given back to their communities, accomplished their goals, and are living their best lives without being destructive to themselves or to others.
Some of the people on this list have a history of bad behaviour, but have since turned their lives around.
Those people are included on this list because they can teach kids about accountability and positive lifestyle changes.
Inspirational Role Models for Kids
Look to these celebrities to show your kids what confidence, kindness, and perseverance look like!
- Malala Yousafzai (the youngest Nobel Prize laureate and an activist for girls’ education in countries where girls can’t safely and freely go to school)
- Simone Biles (an accomplished Olympic gymnast and winner of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award)
- Jazz Jennings (transgender activist and YouTube series host)
- Ellie Simmonds (Paralympian swimmer and gold medal winner)
5. Colin Kaepernick (former quarterback turned activist who risked it all to stand up for what he believed in).
6. Megan Markle (political activist and married a prince)
7. Jada Pinkett Smith (actress, entrepreneur, and philanthropist)
8. Stacey Dooley (Strictly Dancing Winner but also documentary maker that raises awareness in dangerous places)
9. Jamie Tworkowski (inspirational founder of the mental health organization, To Write Love on Her Arms)
10. JoJo Siwa (singer, dancer, trendsetter, and anti-bullying advocate)
11. Rowan Blanchard (Disney actress, feminist, and queer activist)
12. John Legend (musician and songwriter who raised awareness for Hurricane Katrina victims, performed for U.S. troops, and charity board member)
13. Lin-Manuel Miranda (writer and star of Hamilton and arts education activist)
14. Hamila Aden (first person to wear a hijab in an American beauty pageant)
15. Jessica Ennis Hill (sports athlete who demonstrates hard work pays off)
More Good Role Models for Young People
16. Nyle DiMarco (Dancing with the Stars champion, America’s Next Top Model winner, and activist for the deaf community)
17. Aly Raisman (body-positive Olympic gymnast and winner of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award)
18. Chance the Rapper (rapper and founder of the Warmest Winter initiative, which raised over a hundred thousand dollars and over 16,000 warm items for Chicago’s homeless population)
19. Nicola Adams (smiley female boxer) who triumphed at the Olympics.
20. Taylor Swift (singer-songwriter and winner of The Big Help award for philanthropy)
21. Emma Watson (Harry Potter actress, Ivy League graduate, and women’s rights activist)
22. Demi Lovato (singer, philanthropist and mental health advocate who is open about her own struggles and the importance of getting help)
23. Gerard Way (writer and creator of Umbrella Academy and former lead singer of My Chemical Romance. Talks openly about creativity and sobriety)
24. Oprah Winfrey (talk show host and philanthropist)
25. Jennifer Lawrence (actress who promotes positive body image)
26. Ellen DeGeneres (talk show host, LGBTQ+ advocate, and philanthropist)
27. Selena Gomez (singer who’s open about her struggles with lupus, including her complicated kidney transplant)
28. Jack Black (actor, comedian, and musician who shows us that you can be raunchy and wholesome at the same time)
29. Michelle Obama (former First Lady of the United States)
30. Lorde (a young, successful singer who promotes healthy body image and self-confidence)
31. Kate Middleton (the modest, yet fashionable royal) and future Queen
32. Keanu Reeves (an actor who started a cancer foundation in honour of his sister)
33. John Green (a charismatic young adult author and vlogger)
34. Justin Timberlake (an actor who stays out of drama)
35. Neil deGrasse Tyson (a well-known astrophysicist)
36. Bill Nye (a nostalgic children’s TV show host who educates the public about science and climate change)
37. Will Smith (actor and philanthropist)
38. Russell Wilson (a quarterback who overcame critics saying he’s too short. He’s also an openly devout Christian)
39. Brad Pitt (actor who built homes in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina)
40. Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla and an inspirational innovator)
41. Michael Sam (first openly gay NFL player to enter the draft)
42. Megan Rapinoe (US Women’s Soccer star who exudes confidence)
43. Tony Hawk (professional skateboarder with a video game series who set up a foundation that builds skateparks in underprivileged communities)
44. Sarah Hyland (actress who continued to work, despite her kidney disease)
45. Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things actress who became the youngest person to be appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill ambassador)
46. Lebron James (professional athlete and philanthropist)
47. Katy Perry (singer who encourages girls to love themselves and star of an inspirational autobiographical film)
48. Nicki Minaj (rapper who has been outspoken about the importance of staying in school. She also pays for some fans’ higher education)
49. Serena Williams (accomplished professional tennis player, philanthropist, and advocate for safer pregnancies)
50. Reece Witherspoon (actress who helped found a production company that focuses on speaking roles for women)
51. JK Rowling (author of the Harry Potter series who weaves diverse characters into her work which is a great way to find good role models for all children.
52. Amy Poehler (comedy actress and philanthropist)
53. Robert Downey Jr. (actor who overcame addiction, turned his life around, and is now wholesome)
54. Tom Holland (Spider-Man actor and dancer who defies masculine gender norms)
55. Steven Hawkin Hailed as the Albert Einstein of our generation, Dr. Stephen Hawking was a scientist par excellence. He was a theoretical physicist and cosmologist who inspired a whole generation of people to get into these fields.
56. Mother Terese, Some people give money, some people give time, but very rarely do people give their whole lives for charity work. This is what Mother Teresa did.
57. Steve Job, founder of Apple who never gave up even when times were tough.
58. Amelia Earhart, one of the first feminists and she had a plan to fly around the worls when most women were ignored.
59. Vincent Van Gogh He was poor for most of his life, had hundreds of paintings that he didn’t sell and never found fame within his lifetime, and yet he never gave up.
Celebrities, public figures, and social media influencers all have one thing in common: they’re paid to maintain a certain image.
Regardless of whether or not that image reflects their actual personality, it has an impact on children who try to form their values and interests.
Although parents and teachers can’t control everything their children are exposed to, they have opportunities to expose kids to positive influences and influential good role models who can positively impact young people. Think about the books on your bookshelf, the music you listen to in the car.
It won’t be hard to find great examples of good character by looking for stories, interviews, and other media from these influencers.
Help your child choose role models that will inspire them to be well-rounded, kind-hearted individuals, I do this by choosing great books for them including Good Night Rebel Girls, which is full of inspirational stories for young people.
If you enjoyed this post then you will also love Podcasts for Teenagers.
One Response
This is a really great list of famous faces to inspire my kids (and me!). Kx