Aria, USA/China
I first got involved with Girl Up when I was 17, not long after I moved to the U.S. from China. I had just started attending a small Catholic high school in Pennsylvania, where the environment was conservative and not exactly welcoming to an immigrant who was also proudly calling herself a feminist. In fact, just mentioning “gender equality” was considered controversial at the time. But I was determined to find a space where I could be part of something bigger. That space turned out to be Girl Up.
I became a Teen Advisor in 2019, and everything changed. Through the TA program, I met girls from around the world who were ambitious, outspoken, and unapologetically passionate about creating change. We met in person at the Girl Up Summits in D.C. and New York, but those short weeks turned into lifelong friendships. Some of us have since crossed oceans to see each other. That’s what Girl Up gave me: a sisterhood that transcends borders — and a deep understanding of just how powerful those connections between women and girls can be.
To me, leadership means creating space for others , especially for girls who are still learning to trust their voices.
Back at my high school, I started a Girl Up club — the first and only feminist space on campus. It wasn’t easy. We faced resistance, even ridicule. But I knew the space mattered. For many girls and LGBTQ+ students, it became a rare pocket of safety and solidarity. The challenges only deepened my belief in the importance of the work we were doing and taught me how to stand firm in my values, even in the face of opposition.
Girl Up also played a defining role in shaping my career. I had always dreamed of being a journalist, but I doubted whether someone like me — a non-native English speaker — could make it in the industry. At the summits, I met Mariana Atencio and Soledad O’Brien, two trailblazing journalists who didn’t just inspire me — they encouraged me personally to keep going. That gave me the confidence I needed.
I went on to study journalism at NYU, supported in part by Girl Up’s Storytelling Scholarship. Three years later, I graduated early with honors with awards from NPR and the Asian American Journalists Association under my belt. I now work as a Production Associate at ABC News. I’ve covered everything from immigration and labor rights to dating culture and celebrity interviews. I’ve worked with some of the most respected voices in journalism and helped tell the stories of people like Robert De Niro, Simu Liu, and Hugh Jackman. Every step of the way, I’ve carried with me the confidence Girl Up helped instill.
To me, leadership means creating space for others — especially for girls who are still learning to trust their voice. Girl Up created that space for me. Looking ahead, I want to continue shaping and sharing inspiring narratives that amplify the voices of girls and women around the world.
