The TIME 100 Gala 2012

This year TIME’s editors divided the honorees for TIME 100 issue into five categories: Breakouts, Pioneers, Moguls, Leaders and Icons. Even within those groupings, the 2012 TIME 100 honorees represent one of the most eclectic assemblages in the world. So, many of these icons gathered in one room on Tuesday evening – the TIME 100 Gala. The event was a meditation on and examination of America’s place in the world; a sweeping discussion of U.S. education; a tribute to those figures who most greatly influenced the honorees.

The TIME 100 Gala that celebrates TIME’s 100 list which honors the 100 most influential people in the world was held yesterday at Lincoln Center in NYC

Rick Stengel, TIME’s managing editor, detalied the core mission of the TIME 100 – to provide a louder voice to those people who already are changing the world. In this time of emerging technologies and pervasive social media, Stengel explained that influence, “has never been easier to achieve, but harder to maintain.” Stengel then introduced a woman whose influence only grows each year, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. She said as she took the stage:

Welcome to my announcement to run for president of Malta.”

Clinton talked about many things, but focused her most important remarks on America’s changing role in the world.

We needed to change the way we do business top to bottom. We call that smart power.”

When it came time for the evening’s toasts, Cardinal Dolan led the field and revealed himself to be quite the jokester:

My name is Timothy ‘Cardinal’ Tebow. I had the pleasure to sit with Jeremy Lin. I asked him to pass me a roll and it’s still flying around the room somewhere.”

Okay, politician and big shots aside – let’s talk about those people we know well. Who comes to your mind? Huh, let me guess – Rihanna! Of course, I’m right! Nowadays she’s everywhere – and she’s even managed to perform at the Time 100 Gala. Btw, she has also made Time 100 most influential list. I wonder what criteria are taken into consideration while selecting these 100? I mean RiRi’s ones. Overexposure? Anyway, she took center stage at TIME magazine’s 8th annual TIME 100 gala at New York City’s Jazz at Lincoln Center yesterday.

Oops, she surprised me a bit. No leather, no studs, no denim, no plunging neckline, no thigh-high split, no crazy tights; just fuchsia pink prom dress from Marchesa. Is she pretending fairy princess?

She joined soul crooner Raphael Saadiq in celebrating the magazine’s hotly anticipated list of people who’ve influenced the world.

Here are some guests of the TIME 100 Gala:

Tyra Banks

Chelsea Handler

Claire Danes

Tilda Swinton

Kristen Wiig

Check out TIME 100 Gala honorees and guests:

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