Harry Styles has come a long way since One Direction. After the band broke up, he went on to achieve an incredible solo career, and his fans, who have always stayed loyal to him, have not once been disappointed. His songs have quickly become hits and he's never been afraid to experiment with different genres and sounds.
But aside from his songs and his good looks, he's also a hero to many for different things. Throughout his musical journey, his actions and words have spoken even louder than his melodies. Here are ten things that make Harry Styles a great role model.
10 His Support For Cancer Patients
There are many struggles cancer patients face, and one of them, particularly for young kids, is the loss of hair. A few years ago, when Harry had let his hair grow long, he posted a picture of a lock of hair with the description: “Whoops. #Littleprincesstrust.” Little Princess Trust is an organization that provides young kids who have lost their hair to cancer with "a free, real hair wig to help restore their confidence and identity." Harry fans were both proud of their hero and sad that the long hair was gone, quickly filling social media with jokes about it.
9 Gender Equality
Gender equality is an issue everybody should talk about and support. Thankfully, Harry is well aware of that. Years ago, Emma Watson became a UN Goodwill ambassador and helped set up the HeForShe campaign, which encourages men to get involved in the gender equality conversation. Harry's attitude about it is admirable. He's supporting and spreading the campaign, but he's not taking the spotlight. He acknowledges it is a women's issue, so instead of making it about him, he shows his support and pushes men to listen to the women involved. Bravo.
8 Animal Rights
When Harry was only 21 and he was on tour with One Direction, he was already speaking out for animal rights. The band was touring the US and during a San Diego show, Harry took the mic to speak to the fans.
“Do you like dolphins?” He asked. After the crowd responded with their cheers, he added, “Don’t go to Sea World”. This gesture was celebrated by many animal rights organizations that have been fighting against SeaWorld for the way they treat their show animals.
7 The Lalela Project
Everybody knows that when bands are in their prime the tours are never-ending, and the few days off are a treasure used for a well-deserved rest. Harry didn't seem to see it that way. For those who don't know, The Lalela Project is a charitable organization in South Africa that helps underprivileged kids. In the middle of a One Direction world tour, Harry decided to spend his day off visiting the charity and helping the kids and workers. To top it off, he also gave all of them tickets for the band's show in Cape Town.
6 His Respect For His Heroes
Despite being one of the most successful artists of his generation, Harry recognizes the importance of the influences of his heroes and still acts like a fan around them. One of the most significant cases is his admiration for legendary singer Stevie Nicks. Harry and Stevie have shared the stage numerous times, and his expression whenever he sees her is heart-melting. He also had the opportunity to honor her by playing guitar and singing for her when she was inducted in the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame. He's remained humble and honest, and that's admirable.
5 His Passion For Art
Even if music is his main interest, Harry is not afraid to experiment in different areas in show business. It's only natural that he wants to try everything, and that's a great example for his fans, especially younger kids. So far, he's been in two One Direction movies and has played a role in Christopher Nolan’s film Dunkirk.
Nolan said that he didn't really know how famous Harry was "so the truth is, I cast Harry because he fit the part wonderfully and truly earned a seat at the table." He's also hosted James Corden's show a few times and he's hosted SNL.
4 LGBTQ+ Ally
Harry has shown his support for the LGBTQ+ community many times, despite getting backlash from the most conservative sectors of society. He's always made sure to create an atmosphere of inclusion and safety in his concerts and has even sold pride merch for which he didn't get any profit. All the money from the sales went to LGBTQ+ support organizations. "I want to make people feel comfortable being whatever they want to be," he said. "Maybe at a show you can have a moment of knowing that you're not alone."
3 Treat People With Kindness
"Treat people with kindness" is Harry's motto for life, which should give people an idea of the kind of person he is. That kindness can be spread through little gestures which might get no recognition but will impact a person's life. This is one of them. While he was on vacation with Adele, the two friends went out to eat at a restaurant and tipped their waiter with 1500 pounds. They didn't make a big deal out of it, they just paid the check and left the money, with a little note that said "Happy New Year".
2 He Takes Care of His Fans
An artist with the level of success that Harry has plays to huge stadiums. However, whenever he notices something strange, he stops his performance until he's either sure that everything is fine or that he's helped anyone who might be in trouble.
During a show in London, Harry saw a fan having a panic attack and immediately helped her: “Is everyone OK? You still with me? Do you want to help her up? If everyone could give her some space. If everyone could chill for one second, we’ll get some people.”
1 He Donated The Profits From His Tour
Harry's first solo tour after One Direction was a huge success and it surpassed the fans' expectations. It was both an artistic and commercial success, as it sold almost a million tickets, with 89 sold-out shows. But that's not the important thing here. During the tour, Harry raised 1.2 million which he donated to 62 different charities around the world, among which there are The Hunger Project in Stockholm and The Children’s Cancer Society in Oslo, Norway. Hopefully, after this, more artists will follow his example.
