Atena Ghaibi
(she/her)Young Leader 2026
Atena Ghaibi is an 18-year-old British journalist, presenter and Managing Editor of The Loop, a youth-led online news platform with over 10,000 followers on TikTok. Based in the UK, she works at the intersection of politics, culture and youth voice, using media as a platform to amplify perspectives that are often overlooked.
As a radio host and news presenter of Youths Choice, she creates space for young people to share their views, blending current affairs with cultural conversation. She has reported from live events, conducted artist interviews and led editorial strategy for a growing digital newsroom, developing both on-screen authority and behind-the-scenes leadership.
As a Hazara/Afghan woman in media, Atena is committed to widening representation while resisting being defined solely by identity. Her activism focuses on empowering young people, particularly young women and those from underrepresented backgrounds, to question power, challenge narratives and step into leadership themselves. She sees journalism not simply as storytelling, but as a tool for accountability and change.
Her long-term ambition is to build an international broadcasting career and use media to shape more inclusive, informed and courageous public discourse.