When New Zealand teenager Rutendo Shadaya was nine, she wanted to make the perfect birthday gift for her best friend—a kind gesture that eventually led to her being featured on the cover of Time magazine.
“I was always good at giving gifts, and I knew she loved reading… so I thought, ‘Why not write a book for her?’” Shadaya told the Guardian.
Two months later, she had finished her fantasy novella, Rachel and the Enchanted Forest. Even though she used to “despise” writing, she enjoyed the process so much that she wanted to keep going.
After learning it was “unrealistic” for someone her age to find a traditional publisher, Shadaya self-published the book. It quickly won over young local readers and went on to sell hundreds of copies.
Now 17, Shadaya has published two more books in the series and was recently named one of Time magazine’s Girls of the Year. She was recognized for creating strong female characters and using her platform to support other young writers.
Born in New Zealand to Zimbabwean parents, Shadaya lives in Tokoroa, a small town on the North Island. She has no idea how Time found out about her—the email invitation was so unexpected she thought it was fake and didn’t reply right away.
“What are the odds they’d reach out to a 17-year-old in Tokoroa?” she wondered.
The reality of the honor only sank in just before the announcement went public.
“It’s surreal,” Shadaya says. “I’m featured alongside these incredible young women, and it feels like such a privilege to be recognized and to see my hard work paying off.”
Shadaya is one of 10 girls from around the world on the magazine’s new list, and the only one representing Oceania.
Her books explore adventure, friendship, mental health, and perseverance. Her main character, Rachel, learns to step outside her comfort zone, use her magical powers for good, and rely on supportive friends.
Shadaya hopes “young girls feel empowered when they read these books” and says it’s “really cool to see people are interested.”
Since publishing, she has used her platform to encourage other young writers by speaking at community events and recently running a contest for writers and artists aged 8 to 13. The winners will be featured in an upcoming book.
Besides writing, Shadaya is an avid netball player, a student volunteer, a YWCA young leader, and is considering a future in dentistry alongside her writing career.
For now, she hopes her story will inspire others, especially young women and girls.
“Never let your background or age define you,” she says. “You’ll always face challenges, but those challenges are part of your journey… Take that risk—you won’t regret it in the end.”
Time’s Girls of the Year list is the magazine’s first effort to highlight the achievements of girls, building on its existing Women of the Year list.
Other honorees include 13-year-old Scottish inventor Rebecca Young, 15-year-old Japanese Olympic skateboarder Coco Yoshizawa, and 12-year-old American organ donation advocate Naomi S. DeBerry.
Time senior editor Dayana Sarkisova said the girls on the list “prove that changing your community and inspiring those around you can create ripple effects across the globe.”
“These girls are part of a generation reshaping what leadership looks like today,” she added. “They understand that change doesn’t require waiting for adulthood—it starts with recognizing problems and refusing to accept them as permanent.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the New Zealand teen author featured in Time magazine designed to be clear concise and natural
General Beginner Questions
Q Who is the New Zealand teen author named by Time
A She is Maya Williams a 17yearold from Auckland
Q What did she do to get this recognition
A She wrote and selfpublished a poetry collection called Take that risk about mental health identity and the experiences of young people
Q What is the Take that risk award or title she won
A She wasnt given an award for the book itself Instead she was named one of Time magazines Girl of the Year honorees for 2023 for her impactful work and voice
Q What is Times Girl of the Year list
A Its a special annual feature by Time magazine that highlights extraordinary young women from around the world who are driving change and leading in their communities
About the Book Its Impact
Q What is the book Take that risk about
A Its a collection of poetry that explores themes like navigating teenage life mental health struggles selfdiscovery and finding courage
Q Where can I buy Take that risk
A Its available through major online retailers like Amazon and Booktopia As a selfpublished book it might not be in all physical bookstores
Q Why is this book so significant
A It resonates deeply with young readers who see their own experiences reflected in her honest writing Its significant because it started a important conversation and came directly from a teens perspective
Q Did a major publisher originally release her book
A No she selfpublished it This makes her recognition by Time even more remarkable as she achieved this success independently
Advanced InDepth Questions
Q What specific themes in her poetry did Time highlight
A Time highlighted her work on destigmatizing mental health exploring queer identity and articulating the unique pressures faced by her generation
Q How does her selection impact the perception of selfpublishing
A It challenges the traditional publishing model proving that powerful widely recognized work can originate outside of major publishing houses and that authors can own their process completely
