news

Angelina Jolie Finally Joins Instagram (& You'll Wanna See Her First Post)

Instagram just got a pretty notable new user: Angelina Jolie.

This weekend, the 46-year-old actress finally joined the social media platform, and she marked her arrival with a moving post.

Jolie wrote, “This is a letter I was sent from a teenage girl in Afghanistan. Right now, the people of Afghanistan are losing their ability to communicate on social media and to express themselves freely. So I’ve come on Instagram to share their stories and the voices of those across the globe who are fighting for their basic human rights.”

The slideshow Jolie shared is titled, “A Letter from an Afghan Girl,” and the middle image is a snapshot of the actual letter that was sent to the actress.

Further in her caption (which can be read in its entirety here), Jolie explains her history with Afghanistan. “I was on the border of Afghanistan two weeks before 9/11, where I met Afghan refugees who had fled the Taliban,” she said.

Then, after detailing many of the horrors facing this country, Jolie ends her message with a call to action and a request for people to come together to try to help the nation. “Like others who are committed, I will not turn away,” she says. “I will continue to look for ways to help. And I hope you’ll join me. #Afghanistan #AfghanWomen #AfghanGirls #HumanRights.”

Fellow celebs were very moved by Jolie's inaugural post. “Thank you for being you,” Alyssa Milano said. British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful wrote, “Thank you for using your platform for good.” Meanwhile, the official UN Refugee Agency account commented, “Welcome to Instagram Special Envoy - your voice and those who join you are needed now more than ever.”

We couldn't agree more.

Want to stay up-to-date on all things news and entertainment? Subscribe here.

Angelina Jolie Brings the Heat in Nerve-Racking Trailer for Her New Movie


Joel Calfee

Associate Editor, News and Entertainment

Joel is the Associate Editor for News & Entertainment and has been reporting on all things pop culture for over 5 years. Before working at PureWow, he served as a Features...
read full bio

Why You Should Trust Us

PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.