Ambassadors & Celebrity Advocates
UNICEF works with nearly 200 Goodwill Ambassadors worldwide to increase public awareness of the rights of children and women, and of UNICEF’s work in protecting those rights.
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Ambassadors and high-profile celebrity supporters are icons in sports, cinema, music and other industries, with strong influence on their audiences. They use their voices, reach, and achievements to support UNICEF’s mission and share a commitment to improving the lives of children.
In the nearly 50 years since celebrities began working with UNICEF, they have helped raise awareness of children’s issues and raise funds for UNICEF-supported programmes.
UNICEF’s ambassadors and high-profile celebrity supporters bring a wide range of talents and experiences, but each association is rooted in a demonstrated commitment to children’s rights.
Their ability to attract attention enables them to focus global and national conversations on the needs of children, whether through public advocacy, field visits, or engagement in emergency response. They can also make direct representations to decision-makers and support fundraising efforts for critical programmes.
UNICEF was the first among many global organisations to engage celebrities in this way. Danny Kaye pioneered the role of Ambassador-at-Large in 1954, later taken on by Audrey Hepburn and others, building the distinguished roster of international, regional and national Goodwill Ambassadors we see today.
In India, ambassadors and high-profile celebrity supporters from film, music, theatre and sports have strong national, regional and international appeal. UNICEF Ambassadors help build trust, raise awareness and advocate with key audiences to mobilize resources for children. These audiences include the Indian diaspora and high-net-worth individuals globally.
UNICEF India’s Goodwill Ambassadors Amitabh Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra, Regional Ambassador Sachin Tendulkar, National Ambassadors Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ayushmann Khurrana, and Celebrity Advocate Keerthy Suresh have strong reach across India, the diaspora and global audiences.
These ambassadors and celebrity advocates also support opportunities to work closely with the Government of India, particularly in national and international campaigns where their engagement strengthens outreach and impact.
These pages provide background on UNICEF’s celebrity representatives and highlight the positive power of their influence in advancing children’s rights.