NEW YORK – In a powerful move that signals a seismic shift in global leadership, the United Nations has unveiled its 2025 cohort of Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But this announcement is more than just a list of honorees; it’s a declaration that the architects of a better tomorrow are already at work, and they are overwhelmingly young, bold, and female.

"The ocean’s survival depends on women. Across the globe, women are the backbone of coastal communities—managing fisheries, preserving Indigenous marine knowledge, and leading grassroots conservation efforts. The truth is simple: when women thrive, oceans thrive. To turn the tide, we must invest in their leadership, amplify their knowledge, and dismantle the inequities drowning their potential. The future of our blue planet isn’t gender-neutral—it’s female."

A Parisian socialite famously wore Couture’s "Neural Lace" gown—a real-life dress embedded with sensors—to a gala while its digital counterpart was displayed as a living artwork in a virtual gallery.