I feel that women need to have a voice. That’s the basic right of the women, and that’s global. When a woman says something, she shouldn’t be judged or silenced because she’s a woman… For centuries, women have always been told to be a certain way or behave a certain way, and it’s time women decide what they want themselves individually.

Priyanka Chopra, via Cosmopolitan

One day as I was scrolling through Netflix looking for a new series to watch, I came across the ABC drama series Quantico. This show in particular caught my eye because the main character is an FBI agent played by Indian actress Priyanka Chopra. Chopra plays Alex Parrish, a resilient and determined FBI trainee who is intrinsically driven by a desire for justice. I started watching the show in part because, as a woman myself, it inspires me to see women play such a strong role. I was very pleased to find out after some research that Priyanka is just as much a spokesperson for women empowerment off screen as she is onscreen.

This Bollywood actress, singer, and Miss World pageant winner is also a major influencer in global women empowerment through her 12 years in UNICEF and as a UN Goodwill Ambassador. Chopra has been passionate for children’s rights and ending sexual violence against girls. She has traveled to places such as India, Jordan, and Syria where she witnessed firsthand the effectiveness of empowering young girls through changing their mindset. She speaks for the children who grow up surrounded by war and refugee crisis so that they can have the futures they dream of.

It is inspiring to see Chopra use her public image as leverage to address these important issues in the world. It makes me think that growing up privileged in the affluent Silicon Valley, I can do something too. And it is that empowerment that can make us all a catalyst for change.