Female Icons of the 2000s: Then and Now

#3: Madonna Then

Madonna was already the Queen of Pop in the 00s — but she wasn’t done reinventing herself. After ruling the ’80s and ’90s, she kicked off the millennium with Music and Hung Up, proving she could still dominate the charts. Her tours were massive spectacles, and her image, ever-changing.

Madonna also dove into film, motherhood, and controversy, adopting children from Malawi and sparking global conversations about fame, faith, and family. Whether it was her Confessions on a Dance Floor leotard or her MTV kisses, Madonna knew exactly how to stay shocking — and relevant — in a new pop era.