Female Icons of the 2000s: Then and Now

#31: Gwen Stefani Then

The 2000s were Gwen Stefani’s technicolor playground. After fronting No Doubt, she went solo and gave pop a wild, fashion-forward makeover. Love. Angel. Music. Baby. was a kaleidoscope of sound — ska, hip-hop, Harajuku flair — and instantly made her one of the most distinctive artists of the decade.

Every music video looked like a runway, every lyric had attitude. Gwen wasn’t following trends — she was one. Between platinum hair, red lipstick, and her signature abs, she brought punk edge to the mainstream. She was weird, stylish, and cool before that combo was a marketing plan.