King Charles, Taylor Swift, Barbie among TIME's 2023 Person of the Year finalists

Time Magazine has unveiled the nine finalists for the 2023 Person of the Year, recognizing individuals who have made the most significant impact this year.

Among the finalists is King Charles III, who ascended to the throne following the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. King Charles’ coronation marks the beginning of a new era in the monarchy.

Award-winning singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, who had a stellar year, is also on the shortlist. In addition to re-releasing some of her albums this year, she set record-breaking streaming numbers and even released a concert film.

Taylor Swift headlined (and will continue to do so next year!) “The Eras Tour,” poised to become the highest-grossing global tour, amassing an estimated $900 million this year alone.

Also making the list is Barbie! Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” movie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, became the highest-grossing film of 2023, earning $1.4 billion.

Other finalists include Hollywood screenwriters and actors who went on strike throughout the year, advocating for fair wages, improved labor practices, and safeguards against the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Trump Prosecutors, who indicted Donald Trump—the first U.S. president to face such charges, are also in contention.

Political figures Russian President Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping also made the list.

Additional nominees include Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, renowned for his game-changing work at ChatGPT, and Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve since February 2018, noteworthy for his efforts in controlling excessive inflation in the United States.

The final result will be announced on Wednesday, December 6.

—Jade Veronique Yap/CACM, GMA Integrated News