Liyana Illyas, 19, is the creator of The Latest with Liyana, aka The Latest.

Illyas is an aspiring journalist and attorney, with a mission to give a voice to the underrepresented and to represent marginalized communities through her writing and advocacy. Illyas attends New York University, where she is pursuing Journalism and Political Science with a minor in Data Science on a Pre-Law track. She is currently a Deputy News Editor for the acclaimed Washington Square News, NYU’s independent student newspaper.

She has been writing for a decade, aiming to inspire and educate minds from all generations. She was the Editor-in-Chief of her high school’s newspaper, the Journalism Director of Dear Asian Youth’s Bergen County Chapter, a published NYU Urban Journalist, and the newsletter editor for TASMINA, The Association of Sri Lankan Muslims in North America.

Illyas also enjoys singing, playing instruments (guitar, ukulele, piano), reading fiction, cooking, and spending time with her friends, family, and five cats.