Strong Women, Various Industries: Role Models for Teens and Young Girls
As a young girl, finding a role model can be hard in 2017 — there are many different kinds of people to look up to, whether it’s looks, talent, or overall being, there’s a lot to pick and choose from. However, there are a few hidden gems who are up-and-coming, who’s connections with their fan-bases, or overall attitude, make them worthy of such a wide audience and be deemed a “positive” role model in their respective fields.
1. The world of tattooing:
Ryan Ashley Malarkey
This young black-and-grey tattoo artist, who co-owns an oddities parlor “Strange and Unusual,” is one of many talented women in the tattoo industry.
What sets Ryan apart from other powerhouses, such as Megan Jean Morris and Sarah Miller, is her experience: with 5 years of tattooing under her belt, along with a flair for fashion, and immense ambition, her winning the “Ink Master” title is nothing short than extraordinary. The ambition that flared throughout Ryan’s season of “Ink Master” is one of the many things that make this woman a role model — the ambition to not only leave the realm of fashion to enter the world of tattooing, along with her ability to persevere through the field knowing that it was male dominated and tended to look down at females. It’s this ambition and ability to go through the challenges of this competition and show that her art has what it takes, is a lesson for every young girl should know — whether one’s just entered a new field, has gotten experience under their belt, and wants to pursue something that’s potentially bigger than themselves… Ryan does a wonderful job at portraying that very message. She also shows that any woman or man, tattooed, not tattooed, of any skin tone and race, is beautiful.
2. The world of music:
Lights Bokan
This techno-pop Canadian artist has made waves, both in Canada and the United States, as an artist. From the upbeat notes coming from her beloved synth, to her witty, awe-inspiring Instagram captions about her latest songs and the meanings behind them, Lights is an artist any girl can get behind. Lights’ talents don’t stop at creating techno-pop and transforming them into an acoustic song to showcase the power behind sound, she also takes her inspiration to create comics, which is the focal point for her latest album. What essentially makes Lights such an inspiration for young girls and teens alike is that she’s herself. Her music is done how she likes it, she experiments with different sounds, and doesn’t care much for number one hits, but rather how to improve her music further. Whether it’s going on retreats to Mexico to rediscover herself, or being openly honest in an interview about being an artist. From losing inspiration to wanting to create something even better than her last album, such as taking upbeat songs from her album “Little Machines”, and completely changing the meaning once put onto the more slower, strings-oriented “Midnight Machines” through the power of a simple sound.
3. Juliette Reilly
Juliette Reilly is a recently graduated up-and-coming singer-songwriter, with a YouTube fanbase of 500,000 subscribers. Her fans rage from 8–20, though she does have some older fans outside of said typical age of fans. Similar to Lights, Juliette has the uncanny ability to make her songs relatable to her audience, whether it’s giving a thousand tiny voices a loud, single voice, or teaching that we should love rather than fight one another. Her songs give hope to those who might not have any. This, in itself, is what makes Juliette such a role model. Musically, she experiments with various styles, such as country and EDM, which shows an immense amount of versatility as an artist. Hit songs such as “Balloon”, and her two EP’s, “Battlecry” and “I Am” fully showcase her talent.
The world of acting:
1. Lili Reinhart
This young actress is now known for playing Elizabeth “Betty” Cooper in the hit TV series “Riverdale,” however, what makes Lili so unique, along with other actors and actresses, is her raw honesty and how she interacts with her fans. Upon “Riverdale’s” season finale, Lili took to Twitter to discuss how the TV show “saved her” from a deep depression, and how grateful she was for the opportunity to play such a complex, yet amazing character. This raw honesty, as well as possessing the inner strength to manage a mental illness whilst being deeply honest about a subject that’s incredibly touchy — young girls and teens can definitely look up to this actress for not just being able to relate to fans, but for being strong when staring down her weaknesses.
2. Camila Mendes
To counter “Betty Cooper”, there’s no one other than Veronica Lodge, played by Camila Mendes, on “Riverdale”. Camila Mendes, much like Lili Reinhart, interacts with fans and expresses her love for being able to play such a dynamic character, as well as being brutally honest about anything that may cross her mind. What young girls and teens can look forward to by following this actress is one who is capable of being fiercely loyal to her cast mates, as well as a good friend to those who deserve it — qualities that every human needs in their arsenal.
These few women are just a handful of thousands who are hidden amongst the popular ones, who are of equal right to be loved. Their strength and ability to be versatile in their skills, wholesome, creative, and honest, are just some of their many strengths.
The future is uncertain, but we humans can raise girls just as ambitious, loyal, and creative as these women.
