Nobel Laureate winner Malala Yousafzai is married

The wedding was celebrated privately amongst close family and friends, following the traditional Muslim Nikkah. Malala’s announcement may come as a surprise to some, after she expressed a disinterest toward marriage during an interview with British Vogue in June.

Speaking with Sirin Kale, she said, “I still don’t understand why people have to get married” … “If you want to have a person in your life, why do you have to sign marriage papers, why can’t it just be a partnership?”.

But having expressed doubt about her post-University plans, marriage marks the next stage in an already astounding life, and it’s bound to be a welcome respite from her hectic schedule.

After publishing her memoir I Am Malala in 2013, she launched the Malala fund at age 15. On her 16th birthday, she addressed the United Nations Youth Assembly, and at 17 received a Nobel Peace Prize whilst juggling a suite of A* grades at GCSE.

In 2018, Malala was accepted to Oxford University to study PPE, and graduated in 2020 amid a global pandemic.

But despite brushing shoulders with world leaders and mobilising her 2 million+ strong Instagram followers, Malala has been vocal about her relative normalcy.

She’s a fan of binge-watching cartoons like ‘Rick and Morty’, ordering McDonalds, and eating her mother’s homecooked food. Her intimate wedding and its beautifully simple announcement are a reminder of the woman she is behind the headlines.

The international press has already exploded in congratulations for the happy couple, to which I add my own well wishes. Though, admittedly, it’s hard to envision a time when we won’t have reason to celebrate Malala Yousufzai.