As artists, professionals of communication, and mostly young women, we’re all quite aware of the challenges faced in our professional and personal lives. Hollywood and the music industry are no strangers in that regard. Still, some actresses and singers managed to build up an inspirational career, despite personal issues, which as we all have a clue, can be very dangerous. With that in mind, let’s dig deeper into the famous names behind our influences and understand how the 2000s girls set the game for our favorite celebrities in recent years.
Lindsay Lohan
It wouldn’t be possible to start citing such names without mentioning Lohan. The actress, singer, producer and businesswoman is fondly remembered to this day from her contributions in Disney productions, such as The Parent Trap (which was her breakthrough role), Freaky Friday, alongside Jamie Lee Curtis and most recently its long-awaited sequel Freakier Friday. Her role of Cady Haron in the teen comedy Mean Girls affirmed her status of a teen idol, establishing herself as a leading lady.
The filming of the 2006 dramedy Geogia Rule marked the beginning of personal struggles that plagued her life and career for nearly a decade, targeting tabloid press attention due to legal issues and rehabilitation stints. In 2014, Lohan was the subject of the docuseries Lindsay, guided by Oprah Winfrey. Over the last few years, Lohan has made a successful comeback in the entertainment industry, with Netflix’s romantic comedies: Falling for Christmas, Irish Wish and Our Little Secret.
Hilary Duff
Another one of the major figures during the 2000s, her role as Lizzie McGuire in the Disney Channel series made her a household name and a new teen idol for her relatable portrayal of a junior high school student. Beyond the Disney Channel, one of her most popular films is the teen romantic comedy A Cinderella Story, while also starring in the comedy Cheaper by the Dozen and its sequel.
Aside from acting, she also produced the Emmy-winning Hulu sitcom How I Met Your Father, a spin-off of the television series How I Met Your Mother. Her other accomplishments include a successful music career, with Hollywood Records album’s such as Metamorphosis (2003), Hilary Duff (2004) and Dignity (2007) as well as the 2005 compilation Most Wanted in 2005, which all went to be certified platinum and gold. Duff is also primarily noticed for her fashion and style, particularly the “YK2 aesthetic”, while being part of a group of early 2000s celebrities like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton that defined the era’s aspirational cool.
Mandy Moore
Amanda “Mandy” Moore is a singer-songwriter and actress, that rose to fame with her 1999 debut hit single Candy, and along with her subsequent album So Real, she became an established major pop star at a young age. Moore released five other albums, with her most recent one entitled In Real Life (2022). Unlike some of her peers, Moore successfully managed to transition from music to acting, with roles in films as the memorable A Walk to Remember (based on Nicholas Sparks’ novel), voicing Rapunzel in Disney’s animated feature Tangled, as well as her critically acclaimed role as Rebecca Pearson in the NBC family drama series This Is Us, which earned her nominations for a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award.
The latter role salified her as a versatile and enduring Hollywood star. For This Is Us, Moore also collaborated on the songs The Forever Now, Willin and Invisible Ink (Rebecca’s Demo). Her status as a fashion icon of the era was a defining part of her image, ranging from pop effervescence to soft minimalism.
Selena Gomez
Named after Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla, Selena has built a name for herself in the filmmaking and music industry. She emerged as a teen idol for her leading role of Alex Russo on the Disney Channel sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place and has produced series such as Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why, Living Undocumented and Selena + Chef. Since 2021, Gomez has played a main role and produced the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building, alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short, which she was nominated for the Emmys for her acting and producing.
For her roles in both Wizards of Waverly Place and other Disney films, she became a preeminent figure for the young demographic. Her personal style in the 2000s, characterized as “teen-friendly”, was a significant part of her “it girl status”, with the layering look and colorful pieces.
Gomez had previously been the vocalist of the band Selena Gomez & the Scene, before moving to a solo career. Some singles achieved the top-ten, such as Come & Get It, We Don’t Talk Anymore, It Ain’t Me, Wolves, Taki Taki and Calm Down (Remix), the last of which is widely regarded as the most successful Afrobeats song of all time. Her presence as a Latina woman in a working industry seeking each day for more fair representation.
Britney Spears
Last, but surely not least, Britney Spears. The singer, referred to as “The Princess of Pop” has become a cultural icon in the music industry in the 21st century, beeing recognized as one of the first musicians credited for reviving the teen pop genre. Her dominant hits such as …Baby One More Time, Im a Slave 4 U and Toxic were chart-toppers that defined the era’s sound. Not to mention that Spears was the best-selling female artist of the 2000s in the U.S. and is among the best-selling artists of all time.
Her influence extended beyond music, shaping pop culture through iconic performances and videos. With a fashion legacy, her iconic looks from the era are considered to have launched trends that are popular again. Spears became a main target of the tabloids due to a legal battle, involving a 13-year conservatorship over her personal and financial life, which officially terminated in 2021. Despite public struggles, her ability to remain an icon throughout the decade cemented her legacy.
These five diverse women are just a small, but much significant part of a movement that shaped an era regarding the film and music culture, while embodying impactful factors such as fashion and the leadership positions we should all strive to occupy. To this day, their roles remain as iconic and essential as they were when they first appeared on the scene, not only in films or songs responsible for having been a tremendous part of our childhood and young life, but also for giving us the hope and strength to set out main goals, on which we can achieve and thrive on positions of leadership.
___________
The article above was edited by Sofia Bianco.
Like this type of content? Check out Her Campus Casper Libero for more.