Blake Lively has officially been crowned one of Time Magazine’s Most Influential People of 2025! Yes, you heard right. Blake “Serena van der Woodsen” Lively is no longer just an Upper East Side drama queen — she’s now a full-fledged Titan. Like, Greek mythology Titan. Or at least Titan of Doing Important Stuff While Still Having Flawless Highlights.
She’s rubbing metaphorical elbows with legends like Serena Williams, Simone Biles, and Lorne Michaels, which means she’s now one inspirational TED Talk away from becoming our collective momager.
But the real plot twist? The glowing tribute wasn’t written by a Hollywood BFF or a fellow red carpet regular. Nope. It came straight from Sherrilyn Ifill — an absolute powerhouse of a civil rights lawyer and former president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. That’s like getting a Yelp review from Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s cooler cousin.
In her write-up, Sherrilyn basically said, “I don’t know Blake from the Met Gala or Gossip Girl… because I have taste in television, thank you very much.” Instead, she met a very different Blake — one who doesn’t just slay in couture, but also slays injustice. (With words and donations, not swords. Although I wouldn’t put it past her.)
Turns out, back in 2019, Blake and her husband (you may have heard of him — some indie actor named Ryan Reynolds) reached out to support the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Not with a PR stunt or a vague “thoughts and prayers” tweet, but with actual money and curiosity. Like, genuine “let me study American systemic inequality” curiosity.
Sherrilyn was like, “I get these calls sometimes from celebrities who suddenly realize the world doesn’t revolve around their skincare routine,” but Blake stood out. She didn’t just Venmo some guilt money and ghost. She did her homework. She asked smart questions. She was basically the Hermione Granger of social justice, minus the Hogwarts robes.
One convo that stuck out? Blake being angry that no one taught her the real, raw, messy history of America. You know, the stuff they skip over in textbooks because it’s not “on the test.” Instead of rage-quitting, she doubled down and decided to learn it all. Like a responsible adult with the energy of a millennial who still believes in change and drinks green smoothies.
According to Sherrilyn, Blake is “serious,” “a risk taker,” and “committed to moving the country forward” — not just for her own kids, but for everyone else’s too. Which is… kind of iconic.
So yeah, we stan a queen who can serve looks and justice. Blake Lively: actress, activist, full-time titan, and part-time history nerd. Gossip Girl who? This girl is influencing the world, one smart, heartfelt move at a time.
XOXO,
Change Girl.
