'Time' magazine unveils 100 most influential people from Adele to Wang Yang

Time magazine unveiled its "Time 100," a list of the 100 most influential people in the world, in the April 30 issue available April 19. In its 9th year, the list includes politicians, performers, authors and entrepreneurs.

Time's picks are broken into five categories, Moguls, Icons, Pioneers, Leaders, and Breakouts; one Pioneer is Egyptian activist Samira Ibrahim and a Breakout is Asian-American basketball star Jeremy Lin.

Managing Editor Rick Stengel explains, "Now [one] can tweet a phrase that reaches millions in a flash. Influence was never easier -- or more ephemeral. Which is why we try to choose those people whose influence is both lasting and, with a few notable exceptions, laudable."

For the first time there are more international figures than American with 53 people from 37 countries including North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Egyptian activist Samira Ibrahim, chef René Redzepi and tennis player Novak Djokovic.

Also there are 38 women, more than previously. Names range from Germany's Angela Merkel to Brazil's Dilma Rousseff, Pippa Middleton, Hillary Clinton and the IMF's Christine Lagarde, actresses Kristen Wiig and Tilda Swinton, and E.L. James, the author of the erotic bestseller 50 Shades of Grey.

An enticing feature of the "Time 100" are the illustrious guest contributors who write the profiles, sometimes appropriately paired and sometimes surprisingly. Here are excerpts of some highlights:

Adele by Pink: "There are a few artists in my life who I can think back and remember where I was when I first heard them.... Her success renews hope in me that the world I live in has good taste -- that we still occasionally come back to what's simple, and simply amazing."

Harvey Weinstein by Johnny Depp: "There are producers, and then there are producers. Harvey belongs to the latter batch...Harvey isn't afraid of a duke-'em-out. (I've had the pleasure of being both his ally and his enemy at various times.) He stops at nothing for what he believes in."

Sarah Burton by Sarah Jessica Parker: "She did the undoable. A royal wedding dress that could never live up to the impossible dream. But it did. The whole world gasped in astonishment and sighed in reverie as she made one young woman's fantasy a reality for everyone."

Rihanna by Stella McCartney: "She's one of the coolest, hottest, most talented, most liked, most listened to, most followed, most impressive artists at work today, but she does it in her own stride.... This is the beginning for Rihanna.... She is just getting going, so watch out. "

Tim Cook by Al Gore: "Like the great conductor George Szell, Cook knows that his commitment to excellence is inseparable from the incredible ensemble he leads at Apple. Szell was noted for saying, 'We begin where others leave off.' Cook's chance has come. What a beginning!"

The winner of the Time.com "Time 100" poll was Anonymous, an online network of activists, with more than 395,000 votes.

To read the entire list go to: http://www.time.com/time10