Here are 10 celebrities who made a positive impact on the world by taking a stand in the past year. Meghan Markle, who married into Britain's royal family in May, has focused on women's rights and collaborated with survivors of London's Grenfell Tower fire. Emma Watson, known for her role as Hermione in the Harry Potter films, campaigned for the #MeToo movement in 2018 and donated one million pounds to support charities fighting sexual abuse. In October, Watson penned a public letter calling for an end to strict abortion laws spanning from India to Ireland, all while being photographed wearing earrings made from shrapnel and unexploded bombs from Laos. David Attenborough, the elderly nature documentary broadcaster, used 2018 and the annual UN climate talks in Poland to support young people and emphasize the urgent need for progress on climate action. Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan solidified his popularity in India by paying off the debts of farmers, totaling over 40 million rupees, after an agricultural crisis plunged many into severe poverty. 5. Elton John, the British singer-songwriter known for his advocacy for LGBT+ rights, expressed his disappointment at the lack of support for those living in poverty to access HIV/AIDS medical treatment, labeling it as a disgrace.
6. Millie Bobby Brown, the young actress from the popular Netflix series "Stranger Things," was appointed as the youngest goodwill ambassador for UNICEF this year. She pledged to address issues related to children's rights, education, poverty, and bullying, calling it a dream come true. Michelle Obama, the ex-first lady of the United States, has been traveling around the world promoting her memoir and advocating for women's rights and girls' education. Raised in a working-class family in Chicago, Obama aims to inspire women to remain hopeful in challenging political and social environments. David Beckham, the former captain of the English soccer team, has partnered with the charity Malaria No More UK to support their global campaign against malaria. The former sports star appeared in a brief movie where he was surrounded by mosquitoes to bring attention to the fact that malaria still claims the lives of approximately 445,000 individuals annually, as reported by the World Health Organisation. Cate Blanchett, an Australian actress and United Nations' refugee goodwill ambassador, raised awareness about the Rohingya crisis, calling on countries to provide more assistance to refugees escaping from Myanmar to Bangladesh. Despite her two Oscar wins, Blanchett emphasized the urgent need to safeguard Rohingya refugees, describing it as a "race against time". Princess Beatrice, the eighth in line to the British throne, has advocated for addressing online abuse and cyber-bullying, particularly targeting young women and girls. Her efforts align with a larger anti-bullying movement supported by celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevingne under the slogan "Be Cool Be Nice."