Jay-Z, Lena Dunham, Jennifer Lawrence and Bryan Cranston are among Time Magazine's 10th annual 100 Most Influential People in the World, a list which also includes Pakistani teenager Malala Yousufzai and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.
Rapper-turned-business mogul Jay-Z joins NBA player Lebron James, music manager Scooter Braun and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos as one of 20 "titans."
In a short piece accompanying Jay-Z's portrait, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg praises him as "an artist-entrepreneur who stands at the center of culture and commerce in 21st century America."
Also read: 60 Summer Movies Looking for Your Box Office Bucks: 'Iron Man,' 'Star Trek,' Pacific Rim (Photos)
"In nearly everything he’s tried, he’s found success. (He even put a ring on Beyoncé.)," Bloomberg wrote. "And in doing so, he’s proved that the American Dream is alive and well.
Yousufzai, who survived a bullet to the head from a Taliban thug for trying to discourage Pakistani women from pursuing an eduction, joins "Girls" creator Dunham in Time's "icon" category.
Also read: Pakistani Schoolgirl Shooting: Write, Paint, Pin, Tweet, Broadcast Outrage
"The Taliban almost made Malala a martyr; they succeeded in making her a symbol," Chelsea Clinton wrote of the 15-year-old activist.
"Homeland" actress Claire Danes argues that Dunham is also a symbol. If Yousufzai gives oppressed women the courage to educate themselves, then Dunham's honest (and frequently topless) portrayal of a 20-something New Yorker on her HBO comedy series empowers viewers to accept themselves, she said.
"Lena’s unique lack of vanity or shame allows us to consider that we may also be able to accept and express ourselves fully," Danes wrote. "This is not only impressive, it’s important. Because it turns out that girls don’t just want to have fun. They also want to be known for who they really are."
Oscar-winning actress Lawrence and "Breaking Bad" star Cranston are two of 16 most influential "artists," each garnering flattering acclaim from Jodie Foster and Jon Hamm, respectively.
Also read: Hollywood's New Movie Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Jessica Chastain, Ryan Gosling (Photos)
The "Silver Linings Playbook" star is hailed by Foster for both her talent and "her good-humored, ballsy, free-spirited alter ego," while Hamm calls Cranston's "fearless" portrayal of chemistry-teacher-turned-crime-lord Walter White "mesmerizing."
Paul, a Republican politician son of former presidential candidate Ron Paul, joins President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Pope Francis and 19 others in the "leaders" category.
"Senator Rand Paul is a voice of reason awakening the public to what must be done to restore our prosperity and preserve the blessings of liberty for future generations," Sarah Palin wrote.