TIME magazine on Wednesday announced that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is its Person of the Year 2015. Merkel beat Islamic State leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, United States Presidential candidate Donald Trump, Black Lives Matter activists, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Uber founder Travis Kalanick and transgender celebrity Caitlyn Jenner to the honour.

Merkel is the first woman in 29 years to win the honour, after former Philippines President Corazon Aquino. Calling the 61-year-old German Chancellor Europe's most powerful leader, TIME's managing editor Nancy Gibbs wrote, "For asking more of her country than most politicians would dare, for standing firm against tyranny as well as expedience and for providing steadfast moral leadership in a world where it is in short supply, Angela Merkel is TIME’s Person of the Year."