Though it certainly doesn’t bode well for our society that it takes female pop artists undergoing insane amounts of public trauma in order for us to take them seriously, this has undeniably (and rightfully) been Ariana Grande’s year. In an almost demented way, everybody has been on the edge of their seats wondering how our newly-appointed pop princess would cope with everything being thrown her way – her answer? A seemingly unending supply of self-love, hope, and vulnerability. On top of her chart-dominating releases and inspirational presence, she seeks to challenge listeners and music execs to view women in music as legitimate artists without confining them to one particular image or label. - Adison Eyring
