Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai was born on 12 July 1997 and is a Pakistani activist for girls’ education. She became famous for standing up for girls' right to go to school even when the Pakistani Taliban tried to stop them. Her brave speaking out helped her become an international symbol for education rights.

At just 17 years old, Malala became the youngest person ever to win a Nobel Prize when she received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. She was also the second Pakistani and the only Pashtun person to win this honor. Her work has inspired many people around the world to support education for all children.

Malala’s father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, was also an education activist, and she was named after Malalai of Maiwand, a brave Afghan woman from history. When she was 11, she wrote a secret blog for the BBC Urdu about life under the Taliban in Swat. Later, she wrote a best-selling book called I Am Malala and started the Malala Fund to help girls go to school.

After surviving an assassination attempt by the Taliban in 2012, Malala continued her activism. She studied at Edgbaston High School in Birmingham, England, and later at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, where she studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Today, she is known as one of the most influential young people in the world for her work in supporting education for girls everywhere.

Early life

Malala Yousafzai was born on 12 July 1997 in the Swat District of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. She grew up in a family that valued education, even though money was tight. Her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, ran a chain of private schools and later encouraged her to speak out for girls' right to education.

In 2008, when the Pakistani Taliban began banning girls from attending school in her area, Malala began writing for the BBC Urdu blog under the name "Gul Makai." She shared her experiences living under Taliban rule, including closed schools and fear in her community. Her brave words helped people around the world understand the importance of education for all children.

Assassination attempt

As Malala Yousafzai became more well-known, she faced increasing dangers. The Pakistani Taliban made threats against her life and even planned to harm her. On October 9, 2012, when Malala was just 15 years old, a Taliban gunman shot her as she returned home from school in the Swat Valley of Pakistan. The bullet passed through her head but doctors were able to help her recover.

After the attack, people around the world showed support for Malala. Many protested in Pakistan, and a large petition for the right to education was created in her name. Leaders from many countries also spoke out against the violence and in support of Malala’s fight for girls’ education. Despite the dangers, Malala continued to speak up for children’s right to learn.

Education

From 2013 to 2017, Malala Yousafzai studied at an all-girls school in Birmingham, earning excellent grades. She later attended Oxford University, where she studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and graduated with honours in 2020. During her time at Oxford, she even met famous climate change activist Greta Thunberg.

Continuing activism

Malala Yousafzai has continued to speak out for education and human rights around the world. In 2013, she addressed the United Nations, met with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, spoke at Harvard University, and discussed important issues with US President Barack Obama. She has also spoken at events like the Girl Summit in London and donated money to help rebuild schools in the Gaza Strip.

Malala opened a school for Syrian refugee girls in Lebanon on her 18th birthday in 2015. She has also spoken out about the treatment of the Rohingya people in Myanmar, calling for better rights and protection for them. Malala has shared her dreams of public service and has remained a strong voice for education and equality for all children.

Personal life

Malala Yousafzai married Asser Malik, a manager with the Pakistan Cricket Board, in Birmingham on 9 November 2021. She supports Birmingham City and is a practising Sunni Muslim. She has spoken about how her faith is important to her and has defended her choice to wear a shayla.

Reception

Malala Yousafzai faced criticism from some in Pakistan who disagreed with her views on education and women's rights. Some people thought she was influenced by Western countries because of her Nobel Prize and studies in England.

In 2018, she returned to Pakistan for the first time after being attacked and spoke about her pride in her country and religion. Later, she spoke about the situation in Kashmir and the conflict in Gaza, which led to more criticism from some people.

Works

Malala Yousafzai wrote a memoir titled I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban), which was co-written with journalist Christina Lamb and published in 2013. The book shares her brave story of standing up for girls' education. A children's version of the book was also published and became very popular.

Malala has also been the subject of a documentary called He Named Me Malala and a biographical film titled Gul Makai. She wrote a picture book, Malala's Magic Pencil, which tells a fantasy story with an important message. In 2018, she released another book, We Are Displaced: True Stories of Refugee Lives, sharing stories about refugees. In 2025, she published her second memoir, Finding My Way. Malala also partnered with Apple to create programs for their streaming service, Apple TV+.

Awards and honours

Further information: List of things named after Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai has received many awards for her work in supporting education for girls. In 2014, she became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize, sharing it with Kailash Satyarthi. She has also been honored with the International Children's Peace Prize and the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, among many others.

Other notable recognitions include being named one of Time magazine’s most influential people in the world, receiving the Ambassador of Conscience Award from Amnesty International, and being awarded honorary degrees from universities such as the University of Edinburgh and the University of Ottawa. In 2015, an asteroid was named 316201 Malala in her honor.

In popular culture

Malala Yousafzai has appeared in various films and shows. In 2015, she performed magic tricks on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In 2016, she was featured in the film Zoolander 2 as dating a character named Derek Zoolander Jr. In 2019, a film called Booksmart used her name as a code word between two main characters. In 2023, she was featured as a superhero character in the animated film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. In 2024, she also made her debut acting role in an episode of the British sitcom We Are Lady Parts.