In a glittering yet grenade-lobbing announcement that has Hollywood’s fault lines erupting once more, Glamour magazine has anointed Rachel Zegler as one of its 2025 Women of the Year, thrusting the 24-year-old triple-threat into the spotlight alongside icons like Demi Moore and rising forces in sports and music. The October 27 reveal, themed around “Sisterhood,” celebrates Zegler not just for her vocal cords and screen presence—from the shimmering stages of Evita to the enchanted forests of Disney’s Snow White—but for her unfiltered activism that has made her a lightning rod in the culture wars. Penned by Hollywood legend Helen Mirren, the profile paints Zegler as a “rising star building a powerful platform—and she isn’t afraid to use it,” highlighting her journey from high school theater kid to global provocateur. Yet, as congratulatory toasts clink in Manhattan’s elite circles, the honor arrives shadowed by Zegler’s vocal pro-Palestine stance, which critics brand as “anti-Israel” vitriol that torpedoed her latest blockbuster. With the magazine’s November 4 gala at The Plaza looming, Zegler’s nod raises thorny questions: Is this empowerment or endorsement of division? In an industry grappling with boycotts, box-office bombs, and geopolitical grenades, Glamour’s embrace of the outspoken Latina star signals a defiant pivot—or a tone-deaf tumble—into the fray, proving that in 2025, being a “woman of the year” means wielding influence with one hand and dodging backlash with the other.
From Jersey Stage to Global Stage: Zegler’s Meteoric Rise
Rachel Zegler’s story reads like a fairy tale scripted by a union organizer: born in 2001 to Colombian and Polish parents in New Jersey, she was belting show tunes in high school productions by 16, her viral rendition of “Shallow” from A Star is Born catching Steven Spielberg’s eye. Cast as Maria in his 2021 West Side Story remake, Zegler exploded onto screens with a Golden Globe win for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, her fresh-faced fire rekindling the Bernstein classic’s Latinx heart. “She has that rare gift: a voice that shatters glass ceilings,” Mirren gushes in the Glamour feature, recounting their Shazam! Fury of the Gods collaboration where Zegler’s “pussy power” pep talks rallied the all-female crew.
The ascent accelerated: voicing Anthea in Shazam! (2023), then landing the poisoned-apple role in Disney’s Snow White reboot, released amid 2025’s summer scorcher. Filmed in the UK’s Pinewood Studios with a $270 million price tag, the Marc Platt production swapped dwarves for diverse “magical creatures” and a stalking prince for a leadership arc, aligning with Zegler’s feminist reframing: “It’s weird that the love interest stalks her through the woods,” she quipped in promo clips, igniting early skirmishes. Post-Snow White, Zegler conquered London’s West End as Eva Perón in Evita, her “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” drawing standing ovations and Tony buzz for a Broadway transfer. At 24, she’s a Sundance darling, a Grammy whisperer (her West Side soundtrack hit platinum), and now, Glamour’s emblem of sisterhood—profiled in Erdem lace, her eyes fierce as she chats Mirren about “holding up crews with unapologetic grace.”
This isn’t mere meteoric; it’s methodical. Zegler’s platform—10 million Instagram followers, TikTok clips blending belting with banter—amplifies Gen Z’s roar, from climate pleas to voting drives. Glamour’s nod, part of a class including WNBA stars like Napheesa Collier and makeup maven Pat McGrath, underscores her as a bridge-builder: “From West Side Story to Snow White to Evita, she’s forging paths where Latinas lead,” the mag declares. Yet, as Mirren notes, “Talent alone doesn’t make waves; it’s the courage to speak that creates tsunamis.” For Zegler, those waves crash hardest on the Israel-Palestine shore, turning triumph into trial.
The Palestine Post That Poisoned the Apple: Zegler’s Activism Ignites Inferno
Zegler’s firebrand ethos—rooted in her immigrant heritage and theater’s activist roots—has long simmered, but 2025 boiled over. As Snow White‘s trailer dropped in August 2024, she captioned her share: “and always remember, free Palestine.” The phrase, a rallying cry for Palestinian statehood amid the Israel-Hamas war’s grim toll, landed like a hex in a fairy tale. Co-starring Israeli superstar Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, the post was dissected as a subtle shade: Was it solidarity or a subtweet at her on-screen foe, whose pro-Israel fundraisers post-October 7 had drawn boycotts? Online sleuths pounced—#BoycottSnowWhite trended, with trolls flooding Zegler’s feed: “Antisemite!” screamed one; “Jealous of Gal’s glow-up?” jeered another.
The backlash metastasized. Jonah Platt, son of producer Marc Platt, fired a deleted Instagram salvo in March 2025: “Rachel’s personal politics clearly hurt the film’s box office—Dad had to fly cross-country to reprimand her.” Snow White, hyped as Disney’s empowerment epic, cratered: $150 million domestic against a $270 million budget, prompting whispers of reshoots and a live-action rethink (Moana 2 delays ensued). Zegler clapped back in an i-D profile: “My heart breaks for Gaza’s children—speaking out isn’t politics; it’s humanity.” Yet detractors doubled down: Fox News dubbed her “anti-Israel agitator,” linking her to a “Jew-hating” wave, while pro-Israel voices like @StopAntisemitism branded the post a “Gadot diss.” Zegler, unfazed, doubled down: Instagram lives decrying “genocide,” fundraisers for Doctors Without Borders, and a Variety op-ed: “Art must mirror injustice, not ignore it.”
This isn’t isolated; Zegler’s activism spans spectra. Post-2024 election, her “May Trump supporters never know peace” post—later apologized as “hasty hurt”—drew MAGA ire. She’s rallied for abortion rights, climate strikes, and DACA dreams, her Evita run benefiting migrant aid. Critics carp: “Talent subsidized by tantrums,” one podcaster sneered. Supporters counter: “She’s the voice my generation needs—unfiltered, unafraid.” In Glamour’s lens, it’s sisterhood incarnate: Mirren praises her “raw integrity,” echoing Zegler’s crew pep: “Pussy power holds us up.” But as Snow White‘s ashes settle, the honor feels like gasoline on embers—celebrating a star whose shine singes sacred cows.
Glamour’s Gamble: Honoring the Unapologetic in a Polarized Pantheon
Since 1990, Glamour’s Women of the Year has been a velvet rope for visionaries—from Oprah’s media empire to Malala’s bullet-defying bravery—crowning 35 classes who “define the year.” 2025’s “Sisterhood” theme spotlights bonds forged in fire: Demi Moore’s ageless allure profiled by her daughter; Tyla’s Afrobeats ascent lauded by Charli XCX; the WNBA’s Fab Five chatting equity with Napheesa Collier. Zegler slots in as the entertainment firecracker, her Mirren-penned spread a love letter to “strong women who lead without apology.” The gala—November 4 at The Plaza, livestreamed on TikTok—promises A-list alchemy: Brooks and Grace Ann Nader hosting red carpet, Zegler belting an Evita medley?
Yet, the Rachels duo—Zegler and YouTuber Ms. Rachel (Accurso), whose Gaza prayers (“Jesus starves in Gaza”) sparked 2024 fury—has turned triumph toxic. Fox News blasts: “Glamour glorifies Israel-haters,” citing Ms. Rachel’s Motaz Azaiza interview (the photojournalist praised “armed resistance”). New York Post headlines: “Rachels Win for Perfecting Israel-Hating.” X erupts: #BoycottGlamour trends with 50k posts, pro-Israel accounts decrying “DEI disasters,” while pro-Palestine allies reframe: “Pro-humanity heroes.” Zegler responds via Stories: “Grateful for platforms that amplify empathy—sisterhood means standing together, even when it stings.”
Glamour’s editorial? Unwavering. Global Head Samantha Barry: “We honor women who use their voices for change—Zegler’s integrity inspires.” The mag’s pivot—from 2024’s quiet diplomacy to 2025’s bold solidarity—mirrors a post-Roe, post-Gaza media shift: 68% of Gen Z prioritizes activism in idols, per Nielsen. Critics howl “woke pandering”; defenders hail “progress.” As the issue hits stands—Zegler in lace, eyes defiant—it’s clear: Glamour isn’t curating consensus; it’s courting conversation, betting Zegler’s spark outshines the smoke.
Backlash Bonfire: From Box-Office Blues to Boycott Blues
Zegler’s controversies are a greatest-hits reel of 2025’s rage machine. Snow White‘s flop? Blamed on her “trailer sabotage”—the “Free Palestine” post allegedly halved Jewish turnout, per anonymous execs. Platt Jr.’s rant: “She signed for promo, not protests.” Zegler fired back: “Art evolves; so must we.” Her Trump tweet? A viral villain origin, scrubbed after death threats, but etched in meme lore. And the Gadot gulf? Whispers of set tension—Gadot’s pro-Israel posts vs. Zegler’s pleas—fueled feud fictions, though both stayed mum.
Social media’s the real coliseum: X’s algorithm amplifies antisemitism accusations, with @HenMazzig’s thread (“What qualifies them? Normalizing Jew-hatred”) hitting 100k likes. TikTok counters with Zegler edits: “Slaying while speaking truth,” 20 million views. Boycotts bite: Disney stock dips 2% post-gala tease; Evita tickets surge among progressives. Yet resilience reigns: Zegler’s follower count climbs 500k, her Variety cover outsells rivals. As Mirren muses, “Controversy is the cost of conviction—Rachel pays it gladly.”
This echo Ms. Rachel’s saga: the YouTuber’s 10 billion-view empire—ABCs with empathy—crumbled under Gaza grief, her “starving Jesus” clip demonetized, sponsors fleeing. Both Rachels embody the activist’s paradox: platforms as pulpits, peril as price. Glamour’s gamble? Betting their fire forges futures, not fractures.
A Star in the Storm: Zegler’s Defiant Path Forward
At 24, Zegler’s ledger dazzles: Spellbound voice work with Javier Bardem; rumored In the Heights sequel; a YA novel ghostwritten in quarantine. Off-screen, she’s union firebrand—sagely striking for residuals—and Latinx beacon, mentoring Jersey teens via her foundation. “Sisterhood isn’t silent; it’s symphonic,” she tells Mirren, envisioning collabs with Bad Bunny or Rosalía. Post-gala, eyes on Romeo + Juliet Broadway whispers and a potential Wicked cameo.
The honor? A double-edged Excalibur. Critics crow “cancel culture’s coronation”; allies applaud “courage curated.” Zegler, ever the showwoman, teases in Glamour: “I’ll keep singing—for the silenced, the sidelined, the sisters rising.” In Hollywood’s hall of mirrors—where Gadot’s Cleopatra faced fury, Zendaya’s MJ memes endure—Zegler’s saga scripts the script: activism as armor, outrage as oxygen. As 2025 wanes, her Woman of the Year mantle gleams amid the gale, a testament to a star who doesn’t dim for detractors. In the end, Zegler’s not just honored; she’s harbingered—a Latina lightning bolt illuminating entertainment’s endless eclipse, where voices like hers don’t just echo; they electrify.
