In the last ten years,the music industry has seen its fair share of musical divas that take the world by storm. These women are inspiring to many women around the world for their tenacity, beauty, creativity and of course, their amazing voices! And, when I say diva, I definitely don’t mean women who have constant attitude and are high maintenance! Divas are just proud and confident with who they are and what they have to offer to the world! So, here are my top 15 choices of lovely musical divas in the last decade.
1 Beyonce
I think it’s safe to say that Beyonce has solidified her place as one of the top musical divas in the last decade a million times over. She started her career in the '90s with Destiny's Child, and has since blossomed into a grown woman who can dance amazingly (read: "Single Ladies," anyone?), sing beautifully and has a fantastic body and stage presence. While she can be a little overexposed in terms of her being in the media, I do still enjoy her music, especially with the release of her new self-titled visual album. It’s a whole new side of her we get to see. Queen Bey is definitely here to stay for as long as she wants!
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2 Lady Gaga
Some hail Gaga as the queen of weird, but I think she’s great. She may be a little avant garde and eccentric in the way she dresses, but that certainly adds to her charm! She’s not afraid to try new things and push the limit. You just have to admire that kind of courage and confidence! Her voice is phenomenal, of course, and she puts on a great performance. Plus, she can play the piano and is a great dancer. I’m not even sure it’s fair that one person has all that creativity!
3 Taylor Swift
Oh, Taylor. She is the idol of many girls around the world! She may get a bad rep for bashing her exes in her songs, but you can’t help but love her resilience! She’s still looking for the one, so I’d say she gets a pass. She is a great role model because she writes all of her songs, is always brilliantly (and modestly) dressed and can play the guitar, piano, ukulele and banjo! Her songs are so catchy too. If a Taylor Swift song is playing, I dare you not to sing along--it’s inevitable!
4 Adele
Adele is the definition of taking the world by storm! Her album “21” spun out breathtakingly lovely songs that showcased her beautiful voice and talent. The first album she put out, “19,” was great as well, but “21” showed her vocal and musical maturity and produced vocals that are unmatched by a lot of today’s popular singers. She’s truly an inspiration. And from what I hear, a fantastic mother as well! Some people criticize her weight, but I love the way that she is comfortable with who she is (which is beautiful, of course) and often shares her thoughts on the over-sexualization of female pop stars. I’m with you on that one, Adele!
5 P!nk
I’ve always been a huge fan of P!nk. She has a badass appeal which gives off the idea that she doesn’t take crap from anyone. Women definitely need more role models like that! I love her punk style and beautiful raspy voice too. Over the years her music has evolved so much and I really appreciate the uniqueness she has added to the music industry by refusing to conform to the pop star norm.
6 Rihanna
Though I’m not a fan of Rihanna, it’d be silly not to include her in a list of musical divas. She did, after all, receive the first ever Icon award at the AMAs in 2013. She has a great fashion sense and has inspired fashionistas everywhere to copy her style. And let’s not forget about her fabulous haircuts, those are often trendsetting too. She’s a great singer and brings lots of enthusiasm to her shows. Rihanna has definitely been on top of her game over the last few years!
7 Florence Welch
I love Florence so much. She is so different and quirky. Unlike most of the lovely ladies on the list, Florence hails from the Indie rock band Florence + The Machine. Her voice is glorious and I just can’t get enough. It has a very soulful feel to it. I especially like the earthy vibe she gives off with her fashion sense and her fiery red hair! She definitely represents for all the Indie rock fans out there!
8 Britney Spears
While Britney’s years of stardom have taken a toll on her sanity on some occasions (i.e, shaved head, barefoot at a gas station), she has undoubtedly made a huge mark on pop culture with her music. Earlier in her career she spun out hits that were so popular they stayed on the charts for weeks on end! She’s not as popular as she once was, but there’s definitely a reason she gets the title Princess of Pop!
9 Christina Aguilera
Though Christina hasn’t had a hit since the mid 2000s, I couldn’t have a list of divas without her on it! Her voice is very distinct and her vibrato and range are really impressive-- you instantly know Christina is on a song after she sings just one note! She has the ability to change up her musical style too.
10 Katy Perry
Katy Perry has such a great, bubbly, down to earth personality. She just seems like someone who always has a smile on her face! This definitely comes through in her fashion, which often features bright feminine colors and flamboyant one-pieces. But, what’s most important is her great voice! She has a powerful voice which she puts to use in many of her fun, catchy songs! To top it off, she can also play the guitar and writes her own songs!
11 Hayley Williams
If I wasn’t one to count for talent, I would’ve put Hayley in for just her awesome hair alone! She has great style and has so much spunk. As the lead in pop-punk band Paramore, her incredible voice conveys such emotion. She's definitely unique and unafraid to be different! I think she truly deserves more attention than she gets in the music industry!
12 Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys burst onto the music scene with her breathtakingly beautiful voice and piano playing on “Fallin.’” Since then, she’s continued to wow us with her talent and skills and has remained as soulful, meaningful and classy as when she first started. She’s certainly someone to look up to for that!
13 Demi Lovato
If you listen to Demi’s songs it’s clear that she puts all of herself into her music. She sounds like it really comes from the heart with such raw emotion and feeling. She has had a troubled past, but through her music she has been able to express herself quite beautifully! Plus, she seems like the kind of a girl I’d want to hang out with for sure!
14 Kelly Clarkson
Kelly has been in the industry for so long and I feel as though she is underrated! She has a lot of power and range to her voice and that shines through in many of her songs. While she has songs that are catchy and upbeat, she also has some that are emotional and others that send empowering messages to women! Kelly is the first American Idol winner and has really used that to her advantage to become the great singer she is today!
15 Amy Winehouse
Though Amy’s life was brief and tragic before she left from the Earth, she managed to get her art out to the world! She had such a beautiful, classic, soulful voice that was truly one-of-a-kind. When her album came out, there was no escaping her infectious tunes! Her music will live on and show that even through pain, beauty (in every sense of the word) can be ever-lasting.
Though these ladies are ranked in no particular order. Each and every one of them has made a huge impact on the music industry, and women and girls all around the world in the last decade. They have talent, style, creativity and most of all, they inspire others to find their inner divas! Who are your favorite female musical divas? Are there any musical divas that you’d like to add to the list?
