TIME Magazine - 03.09.26 Edition: Women Of The Year Teyana Taylor, Plus 11 Leaders Building A More Equal Future

In an industry that loves to box women in, Teyana Taylor refuses to be defined by one thing. “Never cage a creative,” she says.

After more than 20 years of betting on herself, the Harlem-born artist is stepping into a moment she long envisioned: Grammy nominee, Golden Globe winner, Oscar frontrunner, and now, TIME’s Women of the Year cover star.

Taylor has never picked a lane. Actor. Director. Musician. Choreographer. Entrepreneur. Mother. Even culinary-school student. On any given day, she’s chasing the next challenge. “I love when it’s hard—that means it’s of purpose,” she says. That dedication—the work, the tears, the prayers—is what makes this moment feel earned.

She fronts this year’s Women of the Year list alongside 15 other leaders building a more equitable future across culture, science, sports, advocacy, and the arts, including Mel Robbins, Chloé Zhao, Ulta Beauty CEO Kecia Steelman, Amy Sherald, Brandi Carlile, Sister Norma Pimentel, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.