UNICEF names YouTube star Lilly Singh as goodwill envoy

15 July 2017 – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has appointed Indian-origin Canadian YouTube star and actress Lilly Singh as its newest Goodwill Ambassador.

In this role, Ms. Singh, known by her digital alias Superwoman, will use her unique cyber presence to engage children and young people and empower them to speak out about the challenges they face.

&#8220I am honoured to join UNICEF as a Goodwill Ambassador, and to use my voice to support its mission of reaching every child,&#8221 she said at a special event today in New Delhi. &#8220The children I have met here are overcoming so many challenges &#8211 and they are living proof of what a child can achieve, if given a chance,&#8221 she added.

According to a press release on her appointment, the 28-year-old has gained a huge fan base of over 11 million YouTube subscribers. This year, she released her international and New York Times bestselling book How To Be A Bawse, and was recently cast in HBO’s film adaptation of &#8220Fahrenheit 451.&#8221 Additionally, she was ranked 1st on the Forbes Magazine Top Influencers List in the entertainment category.

&#8220Lilly Singh is already a Superwoman, helping empower girls around the world &#8211 and we are delighted that she will lend her passion and her powerful voice to speak up on behalf of the most vulnerable children,&#8221 said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Justin Forsyth.

&#8220Lilly is a role model to so many young people, especially girls, and we look forward to the role she will play in generating greater discussion &#8211 and greater action &#8211 around the value of girls in India and everywhere,&#8221 said Yasmin Haque, UNICEF’s Representative in India.

More than 50 per cent of India’s population are below the age of 25 and India is already the second largest market for YouTube, Facebook, and many other video platforms.

Ms. Singh joins a list of other UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors that includes David Beckham, Orlando Bloom, Jackie Chan, Muzoon Almellehan, Danny Glover, Liam Neeson, Priyanka Chopra, Ricky Martin and Shakira.