Women in the pop world have always used their music to uplift womens’ voices and change the face of the music industry. In 2024, many pop stars seemed to shoot to stardom almost overnight. However, if you do a little digging into the big names in female pop today, you’ll find a more interesting origin story for each.

Charli XCX released the song “Spring Breakers” on the deluxe version of her 2024 studio album BRAT, which swept the world, from Billboard charts to Kamala Harris’s political campaign. The song told a story of pent-up frustration at the Grammy’s failure to recognize Charli for her years of contribution to the mainstream music industry. The lyrics directly call out the date and location of the award’s show: “February 10, and I’m gonna pull up, Hey, Staples Center, what the f*** is up?” The next February, Charli was a featured performer at the Grammys, winning three out of nine nominations. Charli has put out six studio albums since 2013. Despite her repeated success on several songs off every album, she has only recently become a true household name. Following the release of BRAT and its unique marketing appeal, social media was filled with references to the album and Charli XCX.

Chappell Roan uploaded her first cover to Youtube in 2013 when she was 14. In 2017, she was signed to Atlantic Records but was dropped after her first album failed. After she released several popular singles in 2023, her album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess was released under Sony. The album delves into Roan’s life, featuring catchy choruses highlighting sapphic love stories and breakup anthems. Roan is renowned for her detailed on-stage outfits, her insistence on centering LGBTQ+ representation, and her incredible vocals. In recent days, Roan has received backlash for speaking out against fans’ intrusive behavior. Many have accused her of not handling fame well, while others defend her statements, calling for better protection of artists’ privacy. Nevertheless, Roan remains loved by millions of adoring fans.

Addison Rae grew her fame back in 2020 on Tiktok, gaining popularity for her involvement in the content house “The Hype House” with social media stars such as Charli D’amelio and Lilhuddy. She was, in general, not taken seriously as a star for any particular talent. However, she executed an incredible transition in the public eye, going from Tikok dancer to pop star in a couple of years. Her new unique clothing style and artsy marketing techniques, combined with her collaboration with Charli XCX on the first BRAT single, “Von Dutch,”  have helped shape her image into an it-girl of the music industry. With only a few breakout singles under her belt, Addison Rae has garnered an incredible amount of support for her projected upcoming debut album.

With these unique creative energies at the forefront of women in pop today, 2025 is sure to have a vibrant and explosive pop scene.