Sonita is an Afghan activist against forced and child marriages. As a child, Sonita was almost married twice—once when she was ten years old, and again when she was sixteen. To gain attention about forced marriages, she released a video called “Brides for Sale.” This was a huge risk—she was living in Iran at the time, where, by law, women are not allowed to sing in public. Despite this, her song became a viral hit, and she received a scholarship that gave her the opportunity to study in the United States. She continues to perform music and inspire young women to stop conforming to restrictive, outdated traditions.
“Everyone is important—both world leaders and everyday people. I hope that together we can create the biggest campaign in the world to end child marriage.”
—Sonita Alizadeh
This excerpt is fromThe Book of Awesome Girlsby Becca Anderson, which is available now through
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The Free 