Emma Watson has been voted the top feminist celebrity of 2014 in a Ms. Foundation for Women online poll, which was conducted in partnership with Cosmopolitan.com.
The “Harry Potter” star’s win is due in part to her work as a U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador, the announcement of which crashed the U.N.’s website.
According the U.N.’s site, which is now up and running, Watson planned to “dedicate her efforts as U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador towards the empowerment of young women and will serve as an advocate for U.N. Women’s HeForShe campaign in promoting gender equality.” To that end, recent Ivy League graduate gave an impassioned speech on feminism and gender at the U.N. (which you can watch below) and launched the “HeForShe” campaign, which aims to conscript men and boys around the world into the battle to end the inequality against women and girls.
“The more I spoke about feminism, the more I realized that fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop,” she said in her address to the U.N. “For the record, feminism by definition is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.”
The 24-year old actress, who proudly calls herself the F-word (that’s “feminist,” people) got Russell Crowe, Tom Hiddleston, Lena Dunham and more to tweet their support for the HeForShe campaign, helping to bring awareness to the important cause.
In addition to Watson, the Top 10 2014 feminists, based on the Ms. Foundation’s poll, are a who’s who of women either in the news or making the news: “Orange is the New Black” star Laverne Cox, news anchor Rachel Maddow, one-named legends Beyoncé and Cher, upcoming Golden Globes hosts Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, “Into the Woods” actress Meryl Streep, “The Mindy Project” star Mindy Kaling, and journalist Ann Curry.