The Lasting Influence of the Women of Y2K
These noughties starlets are the blueprint for the trends of today.
Before Instagram influencers altered our perception of It girls today, iconic women of the early 2000s paved the way for celebrity culture as we know it. At a time when the Internet and social media were first emerging as a mysterious black hole of endless content, tabloid magazines plagued the social sphere with a direct focus on pop stars, socialites, and party girls of the generation. Prior to the early 2000s, in order for an individual to be graced with fame and unrelenting paparazzi and media attention, they would have to be box-office superstars; but thanks to the likes of Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, and many more, rising to fame has become a seemingly effortless pursuit.
Despite how the tabloids may paint these women, they have become key figures to a new generation of style lovers as Y2K dressing dominates our present-day trends. Every guy wants her, and every girl wants to be her—the women of the early 2000s are regarded for redefining what it means to be an icon as their influence continues to be referenced in our popular culture.
Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton's party girl persona was a cultural reset that followed the '90s grunge era. The headline-making heiress popularized the infamous Juicy Couture tracksuit trend where she was persistently spotted wearing by paparazzi. At twenty-two years old Hilton starred alongside childhood best friend Nicole Richie in The Simple Life where the duo attempted to leave behind their glamourous lifestyle to live an average everyday life. Today, Hilton is a staunch advocate for "Troubled Teen Industry" reform.
Britney Spears
Pop diva Britney Spears influenced a generation of young fans who to this day hold unrelenting loyalty to the Princess of Pop as she embarks on her journey to freedom after 13 years of being under a conservatorship. Credited for changing the music and fashion landscape of the early 2000s, her legacy persists to this day with many referencing her looks as the resurgence of Y2K dressing lures back into our wardrobes.
Gwen Stefani
Starting her career as ska-pop band No Doubt's frontwoman, Gwen Stefani has made a name for herself in the music and entertainment industry and contributed to the punk-pop era of the early 2000s. In 2005, Stefani released her first album as a soloist titled Love.Angel.Music.Baby which includes the infectious pop track "Hollaback Girl." In 2021, the "Rich Girl" singer married her long-time partner and The Voice co-judge Blake Shelton.
Nicole Richie
Alongside former bestie and The Simple Life co-star Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie was a style chameleon in the early 2000s. The adoptive daughter of singer and producer Lionel Richie, Nicole launched her own jewelry line House of Harlow 1960 in 2008.
Lindsay Lohan
Starring in the early 2000s most iconic movies from Freaky Friday to Mean Girls, style mavens of the generation today continue to reference Lindsay Lohan's unmatchable Y2K looks. As a Disney child star with a breakthrough role in The Parent Trap, Lohan reintroduced herself in the mid-2000s as a perennial party girl whose current endeavors include opening several beach clubs in Mykonos and Rhodes.
Kim Kardashian
Before Skims, KKW Beauty, and Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kim Kardashian was just your average girl from California wired for fame. Growing up in upscale Beverly Hills with her father, renowned lawyer Robert Kardashian and ex-flight attendant Kris Jenner, Kardashian grew up surrounded by a circle of celebrity friends, including Paris Hilton. Today, Kardashian is one of the most famous figures in pop culture and has redefined our understanding of celebrity status.
