2017 is bound to be a great year for black-ish star, Yara Shahidi.
Last year, the 17-year-old modeling actress started trailblazing her path as a leading advocate for various movements including the fight for feminism and the revolution rooted in youth activism. Her ability to showcase such a multifaceted persona has earned her the opportunity to deliver powerful speeches about diversity in media while also serving snapshots as one of the new faces of Beyoncé's athleisure line, Ivy Park. Yara's streak of accomplishments has continued into this year as ABC announced its plans to create a spin-off show for her character, which would follow everyone's beloved Zoey Johnson as she experiences college life.
On one of this season's episodes, Anthony Anderson, who plays Shahidi's father on the sitcom, emphasized the need to provide his daughter with an internship at Teen Vogue in order to strengthen her image as a competitive applicant for college.
But who could have guessed that Yara's life off screen would start to mirror her life on screen?
Just a girl from the Southside.
To aid in Shahidi's real-life journey of applying to top-tier colleges, Yara recently told W Magazine how former First Lady, Michelle Obama wrote her a college recommendation letter.
“She is very amazing and such a supporter, which is something very surreal to say,” Shahidi said.
Who better to have your back than Michelle?
The two ladies, icons in their own right, have formed quite the relationship after bonding during tours of the White House and teaming up last October to talk about girls' education for the International Day of the Girl.
Although they have built a quality connection, no one could have expected such a powerful stamp of approval from one of the world's most admired humanitarians. Similar to the Obama's eldest daughter, Malia, Shahidi plans to take a gap year before attending a school where she will double major in African-American studies and sociology.
After the many accomplishments Shahidi has received over the last few years, this must surely rank as one of the highest.
Shout out to you Michelle – that's how you pass the torch to one of the leaders of the new school.
Photo: Giphy
