TIME has narrowed its l list of finalists for the magazine’s 2018 Person of the Year to 10.
Being on the magazine’s cover isn’t always necessarily an honor, it means that the person, idea or group has influenced the news cycle, for better or for worse.
Depending on who, or what idea, lands the cover- it could be a dubious distinction.
The year’s shortlist, which was released Monday, includes Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, after she married Prince Harry in May.
The American actress caught the attention of the world after finding her way into British royalty and is now due with Harry’s first child. She has some stiff competition for the cover.
American actress Meghan Markle landed on the 2018 shortlist after marrying Prince Harry in May. She is now due with his first child
Political: Who or what lands the cover reflects the biggest news maker of the year, and this year’s list reflects the heightened political climate that has overtaken America in 2018. Both President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have made the shortlist
Special counsel Robert Mueller, who has been tasked with investigating Russia’s interference in the US presidential election and potential collusion with the Trump campaign – has also landed on TIME’s shortlist
President Donald Trump, who made the cover in 2016 after shocking the world with his win has made the list yet again, as has the man who has already rocked his presidency- special counsel Robert Mueller.
Mueller’s probe has yielded cooperation in the form of plea deals from various Trump campaign aides, consultants and advisers.
In 2017 Trump said he was ‘offered’ the cover again, and declined it. Something TIME said was untrue.
This year has been chock-full of political hot button issues, which the list starkly reflects.
Russian President Vladimir Putin made the list, which fits with Trump and Mueller being listed considering the Russian collusion probe Mueller has been working tirelessly on.
Parkland school shooting survivors, who started the March for Our Lives group, lobbying for gun control- and against the NRA, have also landed on the shortlist for 2018
Marjory Stoneman Douglas students, Emma Gonzalez and David Hogg, became the faces of the March for Our Lives movement as they fight for gun control following 17 of their fellow students and faculty being gunned down by a former classmate in February
Putin was featured on the 2007 cover for his leadership of Russia, however this year his presence on the cover would most certainly be in part in light of his government’s alleged attempts at interfering with the U.S. presidential election.
Separated migrant families also landed on the list after America was confronted with the faces of sobbing children being torn apart from distressed parents on television news and newspapers across the country.
At the height of the issue, more than 2,500 children were removed from their parents who had been caught illegally crossing the US- Mexico border.
The president’s zero-tolerance policy was met with global outrage, with his own daughter, Ivanka condemning the practice.
Meanwhile an executive order in June was supposed to have the practice stop and get the children re-united with their families- however a recent report by the Associated Press found that the government continued beyond the deadline to separate children from their parents.
The Parkland school shooting survivors also made the list with their March for Our Lives movement- tirelessly fighting for gun control after watching 17 students and faculty killed at their school on Valentine’s Day this year.
Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist who was killed in his country’s consulate in Turkey, has made the list as speculation continues on if his murder was orchestrated by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
President Trump’s apparent backing of the Saudi government has been met with outrage, as investigations continue into who is responsible for Khashoggi’s murder.
Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who accused a not-yet-seated Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were both teens growing up in Maryland, also made the list.
Ford’s powerful, unwavering Senate testimony about Kavanaugh, who vehemently denied the allegations she made against him, sparked a greater conversation about women who never go public about their sexual assaults and the reasons behind staying silent.
Her testimony sparked the hashtag ‘Why I didn’t report’ with women sharing their own reasoning behind remaining silent. Kavanaugh was ultimately confirmed to the Supreme Court.