The Article Database

Today’s youth is exposed to information like never before. Politicians, sportspeople, artists, musicians, activists, authors and actors are exposed to the scrutiny of Gen Y, who follows their every move. From these influencers, only a few are elevated to the status of youth icon by the discerning youth of this country.
A youth icon needn’t necessarily be young, but must motivate and influence the youth as a whole. The youth must look to emulate the behaviour, mannerisms and outlook on life of the icon. In India, Bollywood serves as one of the main influencers. For decades, Bollywood has inspired fashion trends, language, pop culture, careers and even activism. From Rang De Basanti, which laid the foundation for social activism, to Kuch Kuch Hota Hai which started a less favourable trend of Lycra T-Shirts, Bollywood influences abound in our day-to-day life.
One prominent and upcoming youth icon is Priyanka Chopra. From Miss World to Numero Uno Actress, from Playback Singer to UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Priyanka has worn numerous illustrious crowns in her 29 years.
Priyanka rose to prominence when she was adjudged the first runner-up at the Miss India pageant in 2000, making her India’s representative to the Miss World pageant. Her poise, intelligence, beauty and grace enabled her to ably represent India on an international stage, leaving the competition far behind and winning the crown.
After spending a year fulfilling the obligations of the pageant which involved representing numerous charities across the globe, Priyanka returned to take Bollywood by storm. In a few short years, she was ranked among the top 3 most sought after actresses in Bollywood, playing a diverse range of roles.
However, her talents have been recognized on and off the screen. Priyanka is a trained singer and has lent her voice to a few playback tracks, with an independent music album in the pipeline. Her mantle boasts of 3 Filmfare Awards and a prestigious National Award.
In 2010, Priyanka was appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. The goal of this program is to allow celebrities and youth icons like Priyanka use their fame to draw attention to important issues related to UNICEF. This includes public appearances and talks, visits to troubled regions, which draw attention from the media, and use of her celebrity ties to advocate UNICEF causes.
The youth of this country have scores to learn from Priyanka Chopra. Be it her focus and drive to dominate a dynastic film industry sans connections, or her passion for fashion, the young actress approaches her career with determination. She has honed her talents to make her a triple threat – an actor, a dancer, and a singer. She has played roles of strong, independent women, an inspiration for women in this country. Not pandering to the media frenzy that surrounds her, she has successfully managed to keep her personal life private. Priyanka epitomizes style and substance, a rarity in our times. She is worthy of being titled a youth icon for an entire generation of Indians.

About the Author:
Most people when they wake up in the morning are in a rush to get ready for work and to get their children ready for school. They tend to rush out of the house without eating breakfast.