I’ve always been fascinated by the women who are elevated to the status of icons.

Marilyn Monroe biographies, Edith Piaf or Gabrielle Chanel biopics, binders full of Britney Spears magazine clippings, bedroom walls plastered with Spice Girls posters… Beyoncé, Taylor, Oprah, Céline, Gaga… All these women have shaped my life: my dreams, my clothes, my bank account, the way I show up in the world.

So I decided to look closer at these legends — at the ones who mold our imagination and, by extension, entire industries and even the economy at large. At a time when Barbie has become a symbol of mainstream feminism, Kellie Gerardi is heading into space with her friendship bracelets on her wrist, and fangirls flood the internet with glitter and sequins, I wanted to prove that none of this is frivolous.

This is the first of a two-part series where I’ll explore icons (mainly from pop culture) and fangirls. My hope? To show you that these women are far more than artistic inspirations — and that being a fangirl can take you further than you’d ever imagine.

When the Tables Turn

I won’t insult you by rehashing the ways women have been objectified by pop culture. Mona Chollet wrote Beauté Fatale, a brilliant essay on the subject — highly recommend it (unpopular opinion: I think Beauté Fatale is a much stronger book than Sorcières). Just keep in mind that we’ve been used to sell everything — as the faces on the billboards, the target markets, or both (reading that back, it sounds like I was a L’Oréal ambassador for 10 years — I wasn’t, just to be clear).

But here’s the thing: I don’t think patriarchy saw the loophole in mass-producing icons and muses. Because yes, we’ve been endlessly bombarded with injunctions about every square inch of our lives… but today, many icons have decided they no longer want to be puppets of the system.

And I can’t lie: I’m delighted that the era of the “opinionless pop star” (lest they be wiped off the map) is OVER — or at least well on its way out.

Today, the women who reach icon status speak out, loudly, about their political convictions. It’s even a central theme in the documentary Miss Americana, where Taylor Swift takes a public political stance — against every piece of advice from her entourage. (Until then, history had shown that audiences preferred their singers to stay silent.)

Beyoncé just revealed the cover of her upcoming album (out later this week, as I write this), and her use of the American flag sparked controversy. These powerful women now use their influence to defend what they believe in.

Billie Eilish openly discusses her Tourette’s. Selena Gomez created the platform Wondermind to normalize mental health care — she calls it “fitness for the mind.” Simone Biles stepped away from gymnastics for two years to protect her mental health. Women aren’t just objects anymore — they’re taking back their voices and using their power to advocate for causes that matter to them. They’re setting boundaries out loud and reclaiming industries that tried to take everything from them (shoutout to Scooter Braun, who thought he’d won when he bought Taylor Swift’s masters).

So in a deeply patriarchal system where women were reduced to objects, prey, and silent victims of political and marketing campaigns, a shift is happening. By embracing their roles as models and inspirations for young women, they’re building communities in their image. The “be pretty and shut up” box they were forced into is no longer big enough to contain their talent and ambition. Just look at the economic empires Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Rihanna have built over the last decade.

Which brings me to the question: what actually makes a woman iconic?

There’s No Secret Sauce

If you look at what unites Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift, the answer is simple: hard, relentless work.

Just glance at their discographies and you’ll see it.

“There’s always gonna be another mountain, I’m always gonna wanna make it move. Always gonna be an uphill battle, sometimes I’m gonna have to lose. Ain’t about how fast I get there, ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side, it’s the climb.”

— The Climb, Miley Cyrus

“You better work, bitch.”
— Work Bitch, Britney Spears

“I see it, I want it, I stunt, yellow-bone it. I dream it, I work hard, I grind ’til I own it.”
— Formation, Beyoncé (if you haven’t seen the video, go watch it NOW)

Lady Gaga started piano lessons at four. At eleven, she turned down Juilliard. By thirteen, she was writing her own songs. After years of training, performing, and hustling, she created the persona of Lady Gaga in 2007 and released The Fame in 2008 — the album that launched her international career. She was 22, and had already spent nearly a decade working toward that dream.

Gaga isn’t an exception. The quality, the dedication, the humility, and the work ethic of these women are what make them icons.

If we had to sketch the portrait of a typical icon, she’d be hardworking, humble, always reinventing herself, trying new things (because without that, the industry will cancel you). She’d be committed, unapologetically herself, and immune to fleeting trends. That’s what we love about them: watching them emancipate themselves, and, in turn, giving us the keys to our own emancipation.

Social media has only accelerated this. It’s given artists direct access to their communities, cutting out the middlemen who once dictated their every move and pocketed the profits.

As entrepreneurs, we’re sold “miracle methods” as often as anti-aging creams. But the so-called miracle is always the same: know what you want, and work hard toward it. Watch Beyoncé’s Renaissance film, any Oprah interview, Lady Gaga’s Netflix documentary, or even Kellie Gerardi’s TikToks — the takeaway is crystal clear: believe in your dreams and put in the effort.

I’m not here to glorify hustle culture, but we can’t forget the importance of endurance when it comes to making big dreams real. Maybe you don’t dream of singing at the Super Bowl, launching a beauty empire, or becoming a symbol of longevity in music. But your dreams — whatever they are — will also require work, courage, and resilience. You’ll face setbacks, disappointments, and you’ll have to get back up.

Who Sets the Example?

These women aren’t just stars — they’re legends. Why? Because their success goes far beyond personal fame: they’re at the heart of representation, shaping deep societal change.

When the whole world hoped Taylor Swift and Beyoncé would compete, they openly supported each other at their film premieres.

Rihanna revolutionized cosmetics for women of color. She took the market everyone ignored, made it the center of her business, and proved every old theory wrong.

Miley Cyrus showed that you can go through crises and come back stronger, winning her first Grammy after years in the industry.

Why do these stories matter?

Because they shape representation. We get to witness their success, identify with them, and see our everyday lives impacted by their cultural influence.

Today, young girls can love Taylor Swift, glitter, AND dream of becoming astronauts — all at once. When I was a teenager, being a fangirl was ridiculed, becoming an engineer was for rare exceptions, and loving glitter was a guilty pleasure. Don’t even get me started on belting love songs with your girlfriends… totally unacceptable (we’ll talk later about the internalized misogyny we carry as women).

These women who break codes, shatter glass ceilings, and pave the way are icons precisely because they take their responsibility toward us seriously. They open doors — and they make sure those doors stay open for the women coming after them.

We need these figures in pop culture because they’re accessible. I can blast Beyoncé and remind myself I’m flawless every morning. Taylor Swift might sell out stadiums worldwide, but she still writes entire albums about heartbreak — and heartbreak is universal.

These women are proof of what’s possible. They’re just the visible tip of the iceberg — a reminder that we too can realize our dreams.

Icons exist because we need to believe — the way children believe in the Tooth Fairy, to soften the trauma of losing a tooth. I believe that understanding representation, and the influence you hold (however big or small), is essential.

Whether you inspire your closest circle, a few thousand followers online, or entire arenas (Beyoncé, Taylor, if you’re reading this — I would quit everything to work for you, ANYTIME), you have a responsibility. You are accountable for what you share and the messages you spread. That’s where you can truly impact the lives of those around you.

So next time you speak — online, with your kids, with your family — think about it. If you were Céline in Vegas, standing before thousands, what would you say?