Michelle Obama, Spike Lee Among Time’s 2019 100 Most Influential People
Michelle Obama, Spike Lee, Chrissy Teigen, and Indya Moore are among Time magazine’s 2019 list of the “100 most influential people.”
.@Beyonce: “I am so grateful that my daughters and my son live in a world where @MichelleObama shines as a beacon of hope who inspires all of us to do better and to be better” #TIME100 https://t.co/xszSg8J5In
— TIME (@TIME) April 17, 2019
Obama was First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017, but she’s also so much more than that. The Princeton University and Harvard Law School alum broke a record when her memoir Becoming sold more copies than any other book published in the United States in 2018.
“Loving Michelle Obama wasn’t much of a choice. It was something that came naturally, because of how she carried herself. Because she resembled us and was moving in spaces where, as black Americans, we weren’t exactly meant to be, she seemed so powerful,” Beyonce Knowles-Carter said regarding Obama.
Lee has been creating films that reflect African-American and American culture for decades and has finally won an Academy Award this year for his movie BlacKkKlansman.
“Spike Lee can’t be described in a single word. I might struggle to do it in 200,” Jordan Peele said regarding Lee. “He’s a visionary, a trailblazer, a provocateur and a true American original. He’s made more than two dozen films across nearly every genre, and all of them have been completely different. But to me, the common thread across his career may be his impeccable timing—his ability to understand the cultural landscape of the moment and deliver a spot-on message.”
Teigen is known for being John Legend’s wife and for her quirky social media presence, but the model, chef, and entrepreneur who unapologetically shares her opinion knows a thing or two about using her voice to evoke thought.
“She may be a top model, but all her life, Chrissy Teigen has liked to eat. She’s not shy about that—or anything else, really. She’s very opinionated, and I love her for it. But what I love most about Chrissy is that she’s very much herself. She may be glamorous and an icon in elegance, but she’s extremely approachable and warm,” Eric Ripert said regarding Teigen.
Moore’s role on FX’s Pose is groundbreaking, and her vulnerability and willingness to share her story has touched thousands and contributed to shifting the culture.
“In Indya, I see elements of our foremothers: the beauty of Sir Lady Java and Tracey Africa Norman, the brazenness of Miss Major and Sylvia Rivera, and the indelible warmth and spirit of Marsha P. Johnson. She is the living embodiment of our wildest dreams finally coming true,” Janet Mock said regarding Moore.
Others amongst the list are:
- Gayle King
- Regina King
- Dwayne Johnson
- Dream Hampton
- Khalid
- Mahershala Ali
- Naomi Osaka
- Ariana Grande
- Ozuna
- Lebron James
- Tiger Woods
Glennisha Morgan is a Detroit-bred multimedia journalist and writer. She writes about intersectionality, hip-hop, pop culture, queer issues, race, feminism, and her truth. Follow her on Twitter.
