Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani Girl Shot by Taliban, Nominated For Nobel Peace Prize

Malala Yousufzai, the 15-year-old Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot in the head by a Taliban for advocating girls' rights and education, has been nominated for the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.

Malala was shot in the head at point-blank range in October while coming home from school in Pakistan's Swat valley.

She underwent a series of crucial surgeries in Pakistan, where doctors removed a piece of her skull to reduce brain swelling, before she was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth hospital in the UK. She has since been recovering at the Birmingham hospital.

Against all odds, Malala did not suffer any major brain damage.

"Today you can see that I'm alive," Malala said in a video message on Feb. 6. for the first time since the shooting.

"I can speak, I can see you, I can see everyone and today I can speak and I'm getting better day by day. It's just because of the prayers of people, and because of these prayers, God has given me this new life, and this is a second life. This is the new life and I want to serve the people."

The young girl first hit the headlines in 2009 when she anonymously blogged for BBC and exposed the unfair treatment of girls in her community. She was 11 at the time.

If Malala were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, she would be the youngest by far.

We're so happy for Malala's nomination. She is truly deserving of the honor.

Get well soon Malala.