Earlier this year, the Joy Awards awarded 15-year-old (14 at the time) Saudi influencer Rateel Alshehri for Favourite Female Influencer. It was a moment to remember as Alshehri became the youngest ever winner. But breaking down barriers is nothing new for Alshehri. Starting her content journey at 11 years old, Rateel quickly became the MENA’s youngest podcaster with her series Rateel Alpha Talk, a podcast by a Gen Alpha for the Gen Alpha. She also became the youngest TEDx host in history and uses her platform to inspire and encourage her peers to take charge of their lives.
Her speech echoed similar sentiments. In a pale blue Adnan Akbar gown, the influencer took to the stage and boldly asserted that she expected the win, stating, “This isn’t arrogance. It’s confidence!” She goes on to mention that her win isn’t for her alone but for young people everywhere. She takes her role as youth leader once again during the speech, encouraging her generation to speak up for themselves. She mentions how the Kingdom provides ample opportunities to those brave enough to catch them, and further explains how her age isn’t a barrier to real influence because of this. Her closing words, “Gen Alpha… a generation that creates, not follows,” have since gone viral for the young Arab community, becoming a mantra to live by.
Since its release on social media, the speech has gained over 94 million views, 12 million likes, 3 million shares and 1 million comments across social media platforms. It’s another mark that proves Alshehri’s point, how her voice can capture the right ears when given the platform. Her work following the awards continues to be a testament to her message as one of Saudi Arabia’s leading digital voices. Whereas the Kingdom continues to amplify digital voices, especially those that are female-led. Alshehri showcases the power of youth-led ideas as she fosters inter-regional and inter-generational dialogue about empowerment, empathy, and navigating the current world.
