Women in History · Head-to-head
Malala Yousafzai vs Naomi Osaka
Yes — based on their recorded years, Malala Yousafzai (born 1997) and Naomi Osaka (born 1997) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani education activist who survived a targeted assassination attempt by the Taliban at age 15 and became, at 17, the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Key achievements
- Advocated publicly for girls' education in Pakistan's Swat Valley as a teenager.
- Survived a targeted assassination attempt by the Taliban in 2012.
- Became the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in history, winning the Peace Prize in 2014.
- Founded the Malala Fund to advocate for girls' education worldwide.
Fast fact
Yousafzai was shot by Taliban gunmen in 2012 for her advocacy of girls' education, and after recovering, she became the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in history when she won the Peace Prize in 2014 at age 17.
Full profile of Malala Yousafzai →Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka is a Japanese professional tennis player who has won multiple Grand Slam singles titles and reached the world No. 1 ranking, while also becoming a prominent voice on mental health and social justice issues in sports.
Key achievements
- Won multiple Grand Slam singles titles across her professional career.
- Became the first Asian player to reach the world No. 1 ranking in singles tennis.
- Used her platform to raise awareness of mental health issues facing elite athletes.
- Became one of the most commercially prominent athletes in women's tennis.
Fast fact
Osaka became the first Asian player, male or female, to be ranked world No. 1 in singles tennis, and she later drew global attention to athlete mental health by withdrawing from press conferences and tournaments to protect her wellbeing.
Full profile of Naomi Osaka →Who lived first, Malala Yousafzai or Naomi Osaka?
Malala Yousafzai (born 1997) lived first, before Naomi Osaka (born 1997), based on their recorded years.
Were Malala Yousafzai and Naomi Osaka contemporaries?
Yes — based on their recorded years, Malala Yousafzai (born 1997) and Naomi Osaka (born 1997) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
What do Malala Yousafzai and Naomi Osaka have in common?
Both Malala Yousafzai and Naomi Osaka are grouped among our Women in History figures and lived during the Modern Era.