Ms Rachel’s activism on Gaza lauded in Glamour Women of the Year nod

When Glamour magazine revealed its 2025 "Women of the Year" list, it felt less like a celebrity roll-call and more like a statement: that courage and conscience still matter in popular culture.

At a time when many public figures stay silent about Israel’s genocide in Gaza, YouTube personality Ms Rachel and actor Rachel Zegler are being celebrated for doing the opposite, using their platforms to speak courageously, show compassion and stand with Palestine.

Rachel Accurso, commonly known as Ms Rachel, a 42-year-old educator beloved by millions of toddlers and parents, found herself trending not only for her signature pink shirt and sing-along lessons but for her outspoken support for Palestinians in Gaza.

Across social media, fans flooded timelines with praise after her Glamour honour. “Glamour having Ms Rachel woman of the year really warmed my heart,” one post read. Another said, “Ms Rachel has been using her massive platform to change people’s perspective on what’s happening in Gaza. She deserves this!” 

A relentless voice against Israel’s genocide and advocate for Palestinian children. It’s well deserved. pic.twitter.com/cYg3Gdy5D2

— Assal Rad (@AssalRad) October 27, 2025

For many, her inclusion on the list felt like vindication after months of online backlash for her stance on Israel’s war on Gaza, which has been officially recognised as a genocide by the United Nations, with over 68,000 Palestinians dead and tens of thousands injured. 

Ms Rachel has often spoken about the danger of not speaking out for Palestinian children. “I also think about what kind of pain I would feel, if I knew that I didn’t say anything and could have helped,” she said during a podcast.

The honour, shared with Snow White and Hunger Games star Zegler, has been read by supporters as a cultural turning point even in the entertainment industry’s most cautious corners.

Zegler has faced waves of criticism for her pro-Palestinian posts, but she has never backed down. In March, reports surfaced that Disney executives had attempted to silence Zegler over an August 2024 X post where she wrote, "and always remember, free Palestine".

Zegler's refusal to retract her statement of solidarity reportedly infuriated the film's producers, who mounted a public campaign against her. Jonah Platt, son of  Snow White producer Marc Platt, slammed Zegler in a since-deleted Instagram comment, partially blaming her social media activity for the movie's disappointing box-office debut. 

Many online thought it important that both Accurso and Zegler were honoured by Glamour. 

Both anti-genocide advocates, children’s educator Ms. Rachel Accurso and actress Rachel Zegler are featured in Glamour’s “Women of the Year” issue, celebrating voices using their platforms to champion compassion, justice, and global awareness. pic.twitter.com/ZEk09ERyXN

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 27, 2025

Along with her Glamour honour, Ms Rachel’s name has been trending again this week after she posted a tearful video revealing she’d tried to host a party for Rahaf, a double-amputee Palestinian child who survived Israeli air strikes, and was rejected by three venues who told her “it’s complicated”.

The clip, filmed from her car, quickly went viral, with supporters writing, “Imagine claiming that you feel unsafe because of a 3-year-old child. I never saw this level of dehumanisation anywhere.”

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The duo’s celebration by Glamour comes at a time when artists, educators and influencers who voice solidarity with Gaza have found themselves censored, unfollowed or blacklisted. That both women are now being honoured, despite or perhaps because of their moral clarity, has struck a chord with audiences disillusioned by celebrity fence-sitting.

For Ms Rachel, who began making educational videos to help her own son with speech issues, the recognition marks an evolution: from nursery-song teacher to symbol of empathy in a brutal news cycle. 

For pro-Palestine people online, this week’s trending story offered something rare: a win that felt both morally sound and joyful.

The moment also fits into a wider wave of cultural solidarity that has grown despite repression and boycotts. From student walkouts and film-festival protests to musicians wearing watermelon pins on world tours, a new generation of public figures is normalising open support for Palestinian rights.

In that sense, social media sees Ms Rachel and Zegler’s joint recognition as part of a shifting tide - their voices, amplified by millions of parents, fans and young activists, that show that compassion can still trend.