16.08.2025 21:50
TIME has announced its "Girls of the Year" list, honoring 10 young leaders who inspire communities around the world. Among them is 17-year-old Defne Özcan, Turkey's youngest female pilot candidate. Özcan stated, "Being featured in TIME was not something I expected, and I was very surprised."
```html
TIME has announced its "Girls of the Year" list, honoring 10 young leaders who inspire society around the world. The list, created by an award-winning editorial team, celebrates the courage and creativity of girls aged 12 to 17.
TURKEY'S YOUNGEST PILOT CANDIDATE IS ALSO ON THE LIST
Among the list is Defne Özcan, a 12th-grade high school student who is the youngest female pilot candidate in Turkey to start flight training for an Ultralight Pilot License (UPL) and perform a solo flight.
THE 10 PEOPLE ON THE LIST
In the 2025 TIME Girls of the Year List, alongside 17-year-old Defne Özcan, are young writer Rutendo Shadaya from New Zealand, Olympic champion athlete Coco Yoshizawa from Japan, science educator Valerie Chiu from China, anti-bullying advocate Zoé Clauzure from France, child safety advocate Clara Proksch from Germany, race pilot Ivanna Richards from Mexico, biotechnology inventor Kornelia Wieczorek from Poland, engineer Rebecca Young from the United Kingdom who is finding solutions to homelessness, and organ donation advocate Naomi S. DeBerry from the USA.
"IT WAS NOT SOMETHING I EXPECTED, I WAS VERY SURPRISED"
Defne Özcan said, "Being featured in TIME was not something I expected, and I was very surprised," while her father Önder Özcan stated, "I congratulate my daughter for her achievements and wish her continued success."
```