President-elect Donald Trump was recently named Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year.” Here are 16 badass people that deserve recognition for slaying 2016.
Chance the Rapper
Chance the Rapper, aka the “most talented rapper of his generation and a pioneer in the music industry,” released Coloring Book and made history. The album is one of the year’s best-reviewed albums, snagging multiple Grammy nominations including Best Rap Album and becoming the first streaming-only album to chart on Billboard’s ranking. Oh, and he’s done this all on his own and has turned down record deals from numerous labels.
Bernie Sanders
Oh, Bernie. The frazzled uncle we all wish we had. The passionate political trailblazer who unapologetically speaks his mind and has his own flavor of Ben and Jerry’s. Arguably his biggest accomplishment was getting young voters more involved and inspired than ever before. In fact, more young people voted for Bernie than Trump and Clinton combined — by a lot. #FeeltheBern
Lin-Manuel Miranda
HAMILTON. That is all.
But really, Lin-Manuel Miranda literally owned 2016. His work and words have been called “a call to arms and an entertaining refuge.” And let’s not forget his Love is Love speech that still gives me chills.
John Cena
Cena’s anti-discrimination ad resonated with millions of people, proving that he is a fighter for all people.
Lady Gaga
Gaga released Joanne in October, an album dedicated to her aunt who died after a flare up of a pre-existing disease due to being sexual assaulted. Gaga then revealed she struggles with PTSD after being sexually assaulted at 19. She also visited homeless LGBTQ youths in Harlem and a Mexican orphanage, supplying gifts, school supplies, and support to the people who need it most.
David Ortiz
Ortiz had the greatest final season in the last 50 years, and quite possibly MLB history. But Big Papi is so much more than a phenomenal ball player, he is an amazing and generous human being. He recently released his Retired, Not Expired shirts, and 100% of the proceeds go to David Ortiz’s Children’s Fund. 2016 has been good to Ortiz, and Ortiz has been good to 2016.
Simone Biles
The first woman since 1974 to win four consecutive all-around titles at the U.S. national championships. The first woman ever to be the all-around world champion three years in a row. The first American woman to win fourteen total world championships medals. YAAAASSSSSS.
Kate McKinnon
After 3 years of being nominated, McKinnon finally snagged the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. After the results of Election Night, Kate put on her pantsuit and paid tribute to Leonard Cohen with a cathartic rendition of Hallelujah, which was exactly what we needed.
Megyn Kelly
Brave and beautiful, Megyn Kelly took no sh*t from men this year. She united Democrats and Republicans by holding Trump and the rest of the GOP to a higher standard, providing us with impeccable journalism and important conversations. She also stood up to former Chairman and CEO of Fox News Roger Ailes after enduring months of sexual assault, proving that it can happen to the most powerful women.
Jesse Williams
Jesse Williams executive-produced a documentary about the Black Lives Matter movement and serves on the board of directors for a civil rights organization, focusing on reforming the public education system. Arguably his biggest moment in 2016 was his fiery BET speech, where he said, “So, I don’t want to hear any more about how far we’ve come when paid public servants can pull a drive-by on a 12-year-old playing alone in a park in broad daylight, killing him on television and then going home to make a sandwich.”
The Native Americans who Protested Against the DAPL
Long story short: Native Americans have been protesting the 1,172-mile pipeline since August, fearing damage to local water supplies and desecration of sacred land. After enduring extreme weather conditions and excessive police force, these victorious protestors never gave up, proving that protests can work and people can create change.
Chelsea Handler
Becoming an unlikely feminist hero, Handler’s Netflix series Chelsea is educating, hilarious, refreshing, unapologetic, and important. And her dog is in it. Never change, Chelsea.
Beyoncé
On April 23, 2016, Beyoncé changed our lives forever… again. Lemonade, arguably Queen Bey’s best album to date, tackles it all flawlessly: infidelity, police brutality, racial injustices, and feminism. And Serena Williams twerks in a sexy bodysuit. What more could a person want?!
Joe Biden
I could go on and on, but these memes say it all. Thank you for inadvertently providing us with some desperately needed comic relief.
Hillary Clinton
Regardless of your political affiliations, HRC cracked the glass ceiling more than anyone else before and inspired millions of people across the globe. She not only won the popular vote by over 2 mil., but she also received more votes than any presidential candidate other than Obama. #PantsuitNation
Gavin the Meme Child
Thank you, Gavin, for single-handedly saving the Internet. Stay gold, memeboy.