What do an international superstar, a first lady and a Nobel Prize winner have in common? They are all strong female role models who headlined the recent Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, New York City to push for girls' education all over the world.
Beyoncé Knowles, Michele Obama and Malala Yousafzai were just three of the many who contributed their voices and influence at the hours-long show on Saturday evening, Sept. 26, to support ending poverty by the year 2030.
Nobel-prize winning author and activist, Malala Yousafzai, delivered a speech on the inter-relatedness of poverty and access to quality education. Pointing out that most countries, and especially the United States, are spending more money on military than on education, she said that it is society that suffers when education is not given the focus it should have.
"It is a book and a pen that can change the life of a child, it's not a gun," Malala said, sharing her own experience of being shot in the head for speaking up for the right of women to go to school. "It was a gun that hit me on the left side of my forehead, it was a gun that hit my two friends... But it was a pen (that) really helped us go forward in our lives."
Music mega-star Beyoncé also took to the stage to perform some of her most female-empowering hits like "Run The World (Girls)," "Single Ladies" and "Survivor." She also teamed up with fellow musician Ed Sheeran to sing a duet of "Drunk in Love," and Eddie Vedder for a cover of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song."
In addition to performing her hits, Beyoncé also shared quotes from various women whom she looks up to, such as Maya Angelou, Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and UFC mixed martial artist Ronda Rousey.
Michele Obama, at first, only appeared in a video to introduce Beyoncé's performance. However, she surprised the crowd when she walked on stage to congratulate the singer and to share her campaign for women's education.
According to the First Lady, there are 62 million girls around the world who are unable to receive an education. She aims to change that figure so that girls everywhere can have the same opportunities to go to school as she did and her own two daughters can.
The First Lady also shared her message in an online video and is encouraging other women to share "In school, I learned _______. #62MillionGirls don't have that chance" to help spread awareness for the campaign.
#62MillionGirls do not have access to education. Share a photo & what you learned in school: https://t.co/A4AkZqxAuL https://t.co/LuDF85C8FC
— The First Lady (@FLOTUS) September 27, 2015
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