Jacks of hearts and climate saviors: These personalities are currently making our hearts beat faster.
Oobah Butler
Stuntman
At the royal court, it was often only a court jester who was allowed to speak the unpleasant truths.
Today, monarchy only takes place on commemorative plates.
But in our corpocracy, Oobah Butler is up to mischief.
His journalistic hussar rides take the Englishman undercover in the Amazon logistics center or to the top of the TripAdvisor rankings with invented restaurants.
Now that his old home Vice has folded, the bestselling author continues to write for institutions such as the Guardian with the same razor-sharp edge.
Means it seriously, but in a funny way.
Jake Bongiovi
Jersey Boy
“You give love a bad name”, sang Papa Jon.
But the Bon Jovi frontman can’t have been referring to his offspring.
At the side of his newlywed wife Millie Bobby Brown (star of the Netflix series “Stranger Things”), Jake Bongiovi is as romantic as the heart-shaped box of chocolates in a swan pedal boat.
The dream couple is now also a professional couple: in the movie “Rockbottom”, the model makes his acting debut as the singer of a glam rock band.
Hm, maybe Dad had a few old cans of hairspray left over for the role.
Dress: black, future: golden.
Aya Nakamura
Miss Liberté
When idiots talk, Aya Nakamura has to sing all the louder.
When it was announced that France’s most successful pop star would be singing at the Olympic opening ceremony in Paris, the most stupid voices between Strasbourg and Biarritz came forward tout de suite.
The diva, whose parents once immigrated from Mali, was not French enough.
The woman in question confidently kept out of the heated debate – probably accompanied by hectic accordion music.
But she will certainly strike the right note with her answer on the big day.
Vive la hair flip!
Anna Sawai
Screen Queen
She flees from Godzilla and wears a kimono.
But Anna Sawai doesn’t just tick boxes on the cultural cliché bingo card in her TV career.
In “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters”, the Japanese actress is the protagonist of a kaiju spectacle that focuses on human conflicts.
And in “Shōgun”, the actress shines as a feudal lady-in-waiting who mediates between East and West.
The former J-pop star’s success stands for a new Hollywood that celebrates Asian traditions without announcing them with a gong.
Nothing new in the East? Not at all.
Paul Mescal
Softcore
It doesn’t get any greener than this. Most recently, it was mostly actors of Irish origin who made us forget that there was still popcorn in the tub with their enigmatic performances. But while Cillian Murphy wins the Oscar and Barry Keoghan goes viral dancing naked, Paul Mescal has yet to be found like a hidden treasure. He masters the jackpot type of sensitive-masculine in films such as “Aftersun” or “All of Us Strangers”. And as the narrator in the Gucci documentary “Who is Sabato de Sarno?”, you immediately want to befriend him for the next party night.
One shot of mescal, please.
Wawa Gatheru
Natural wonder
Mother Earth is in a bad way.
But more and more daughters are at her bedside and fighting for her recovery.
Just like Wawa Gatheru.
In 2021, the highly decorated Oxford University graduate founded the Black Girl Environmentalist youth movement.
Its aim is to get women of color who are particularly affected by environmental damage more involved in the fight against climate change.
In the meantime, not only millions of people are listening on social media, but also Joe Biden’s government, which is officially advised by the 25-year-old.
Saving the planet, no big deal.
Simon Porte Jacquemus
Daddy Frais
Are we allowed to simply print the designer’s new home address here?
We’ll take the risk: Simon Porte Jacquemus, Cloud 7, Seventh Heaven.
In spring, he and his partner Marco Maestri became the father of twins.
At the same time, the Frenchman launched his first bridal collection and then had enough white left over to dress Zendaya for her “Challengers” press tour.
As an orderly icing on the cake, the master of romance was finally made a Knight of Arts and Letters, France’s highest cultural honor.
Oh là là, a knight in sneakers.
Caitlin Clark
Fever Dream
It seems like the USA can’t even agree on what color ketchup is these days.
But when Caitlin Clark takes to the basketball court, the whole country is amazed.
Thanks to her, the NCAA Women’s Championship tournament achieved the highest viewing figures in its history – 18.9 million people watched the final.
Now the 22-year-old plays in the professional league for the Indiana Fever team and makes her opponents sweat.
Sporting records?
Almost all broken.
Advertising deals?
28 million dollars with Nike alone.
Swish!
That it will go in? Safe bet.
Sacha Naspini
Favorite Libro
Already packed your suitcase for your beach vacation?
Scusi, it needs to be opened again.
If necessary, take one pair of shoes less.
Because Sacha Naspini’s novel “Behind Closed Doors” belongs in there too.
After “Nives” (please also take it with you on your trip, perhaps in your hand luggage), this is the Italian’s second work to be published in German.
The author tells stories from his home country and translates them into universal longings.
And he does this so elegantly, wittily and bizarrely that even Fellini would reach for his bookshelf.
Summer reading? Check!
Alyssa Carson
Space Ace
When our great-grandchildren take their bike ride on Mars one day, they may cycle past a statue of Alyssa Carson.
The 23-year-old astrobiologist is currently positioning herself to be one of the first humans to set foot on the red planet.
At the age of three, the American discovered her desire not to reach for the stars, but to land on them.
Since then, she has been ticking off the requirements on the NASA qualification form and is an inspiration for young women who want to aim high in STEM professions.
Rocket Girl in Training.
That’s not cool enough for you? Then scroll through this list.
