Is it really the end of 2021 already?

It’s hard to believe that yet another year is nearly behind us—and what a year it was. It seems like our favorite artists, creators and more packed a whole lifetime of greatness into just one year, and all during a pandemic! Without further ado, keep reading to discover our top 21 people, places and things of the year 2021.

21. You

Netflix’s You, the story of a serial killer and serial killer, was already wild enough, but the series really took things to the next level in the third season in 2021, and no one could stop talking about it. Joe and Love getting married and taking care of their newborn son did nothing to stop them from being who they always were, with awful (and wildly entertaining) results.

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20. Wandavision

Wandavision was the MCU’s first foray into serial TV on Disney+, and they absolutely knocked it out of the park. This exploration of grief, starring Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, was fun and profound, and used the medium of television to its very fullest, starting the year off right.

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19. Regé-Jean Page

While Bridgerton technically debuted in 2020, 2021 was the year that we really took notice of the stunning and talented Regé-Jean Page. We were heartbroken to hear he won’t be returning for Season 2, but we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for wherever we can see him next.

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18. Noa Kirel

Israeli singer-songwriter Noa Kirel had a very big 2021 with her English-language single debut “Please Don’t Suck”—which we’re still getting stuck in our heads. She also performed live at this year’s Miss Universe pageant, and we know even bigger things will be coming from her in 2022.

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17. Now United

18-member global pop band Now United started 2021 off very strong with two singles in January, but they were only getting started. In August, they also released the epic musical, Love, Love, Love, and we know we’re not alone in adoring everything about it.

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16. Addison Rae

Is there anything that Addison Rae didn’t accomplish in 2021? From adding new pieces to her own makeup brand, ITEM Beauty, to starring in Netflix’s She’s All That and being one of the hottest influencers around, she was on everyone’s radars this year.

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15. Doja Cat

2021 was definitely Doja Cat’s year. We loved her collabs with Saweetie, Ariana Grande, Megan Thee Stallion and Lil Nas X, but it was her album Planet Her that really had us recognizing her musical genius as a rapper and singer.

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14. Squid Game

If there’s one series that came out of nowhere this year, it was Squid Game, the series that everyone and their mother was watching in 2021. The South Korean series sees players competing in deadly variations on children’s games for a chance at a huge money prize, and it seemed no one could look away from the screen when it was one.

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13. Gunnar Gehl

Singer-songwriter Gunnar Gehl was someone we were watching very closely in 2021, and with new singles including “Somewhere We Can Be Alone,” Dance Alone” and “In My Head,” he never missed the mark. Plus, Gunnar has been able to tour for the first time in three years in 2021, which made a lot of people very happy.

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12. Jena Rose

2021 was also Jena Rose’s year, not just because she’s been absolutely winning the TikTok game, but also because it saw the release of her sensational single, “Checkmate.” Its The Queen’s Gambit-inspired music video was completely unforgettable.

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11. Lilly K

Dancer and influencer Lilly K was all over our social media this year, making some of the most relatable and captivating content on TikTok and Instagram. We honestly couldn’t stop watching—especially when she was showing off her unbeatable dance movies.

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10. Kamala Harris

2021 was a historic year for many reasons, one of them being that we had our first female vice president in Kamala Harris. She’s also the first African American and the first Asian American vice president, setting the stage for further diversity in the White House in the future.

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9. Lil Nas X

We’ve always loved Lil Nas X’s music, but 2021 was the year when he really showed us what he’s capable of as a musician and artist. Montero was one of the albums of the year, and the way he fearlessly expressed himself in “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” was legendary.

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8. Adele

After six long years, Adele’s highly anticipated album 30 was everything we imagined it would be—and somehow even more heartbreaking. These songs truly bare her heart and soul after her divorce, and just might be Adele at her best yet.

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7. Zoom

As much as we have a love-hate relationship with Zoom, our lives just wouldn’t be possible without it. Whether you used it to connect with family, chat with friends or just log in for class every day, it was an essential part of life—and just maybe, 2022 will be the year we stop relying on Zoom.

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6. Ariana Grande

Just because Ariana Grande didn’t release her own album this year doesn’t mean she wasn’t one of the busiest women in the entertainment industry. In addition to appearing on songs with Demi Lovato, The Weeknd and Doja Cat, she also became a coach on The Voice and appeared alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence in Netflix’s Don’t Look Up. And if that wasn’t enough, she also got married this 2021!

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5. Spider-Man: No Way Home

It’s so hard to talk about Spider-Man: No Way Home without getting into heavy spoiler territory, but let’s just say that it’s the ultimate culmination in everything that’s previously happened in the MCU (and previous Spider-Man films) and sets the stage for the next Marvel phase. What we can say is that Tom Holland and Zendaya have the best chemistry, and we can’t get enough of seeing them together.

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4. Taylor Swift

We can’t get enough of the fact that Taylor Swift is re-recording (and re-releasing) her old albums in order to regain control of her music after the original masters were sold. Not only is it a bold power move for a very influential woman, but the new versions of Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version) have new material—and in our opinions, these recordings are even more gorgeous than the classics.

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3. TikTok

There’s no doubt that TikTok was the social media platform of 2021. We turn from the app for everything, from beauty and style tips to discovering new music, finding recipes, sharing memes and just entertaining ourselves, and we love that for many, TikTok isn’t just another social media app, but a community to turn to every day.

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2. Britney Spears

2021 was the year that the #freebritney movement really took off, and Britney Spears was able not just to escape her conservatorship, but also to truly speak her mind for the first time in more than 13 years. She’s one of many stars reclaiming her own life this year, and the fact she’s also engaged and seemingly living her best life makes us so thrilled for her.

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1. New York City

We have to tip our hats to New York City this year. Even with surges in COVID numbers, with New York seeing the most cases out of any state, besides Washington, D.C., the city continues to bravely fight the virus and keep its community healthy. It’s not an easy task, and we’re all hoping that NYC—as well as the rest of the country—will be able to put this pandemic behind us in 2022.

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