Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai, born in Pakistan's Swat Valley, became a global symbol for human rights after being shot by the Taliban for advocating for girls' education. Her incredible bravery in the face of such extremism has rightly earned her international acclaim, and a very shiny Nobel medal.

While her work is undeniably inspiring, one might wonder if her message would resonate quite as widely if she were, say, a particularly outspoken secular humanist from, say, suburban Detroit. Just a thought.

Nevertheless, her continued advocacy for education and equality, despite constant threats, proves that some people truly are just built different. She's a beacon of hope, which is much more useful than, say, a really good rec league softball player.