The leading stars of 2021

A new relationship and a new album after eight years: Adele has had a fantastic 2021. After a long procedure with her ex Simon Konecki, she finally signed the divorce papers. In July, she was first spotted with basketball manager Rich Paul. Adele looks radiant and her album '30' promises to break records.

The rivalry between F1-racers Max Verstappen and 7-times World Champion Lewis Hamilton was absolutely legendary this year. It ended with a breathtaking finale in Abu Dhabi on December 12th. In the final round, Verstappen managed to pass Hamilton (who had been ahead of him for the previous 56 rounds) and won the World Championship by a margin of seconds.

With 'Mare of Easttown' she has once again proven to be one of the best actresses of the last decades. Kate Winslet dominated social media and won an Emmy for her portrayal of a stubborn, opinionated local police detective in Easttown, Pennsylvania. Fans are now keeping their fingers crossed for a second season.

She seemed a little timid when she topped the Spotify charts with the sweet song 'Drivers License.' But then came 'Good 4 U,' an angry and danceable song that topped all international pop charts for months. The singer has definitely crawled out of her shell.

Becoming the first lead superhero of Asian descent was immensely important for Simu Liu as an actor and a role model. "He doesn't take his role in 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' lightly," People magazine says. "I know just how much this movie could mean to so many people," he told the outlet.

After ten years playing Natasha Romanoff, Scarlett Johansson said goodbye to the 'Black Widow.' She was the first actress to have her own Marvel franchise. On a personal level, 2021 was unforgettable: Johansson had her first child, Cosmo, with comedian Colin Jost.

Lil Nas X is a truly revolutionary figure in 2021 pop culture. At the age of 22, the rapper/singer has smashed the industry's doorstep with great performances, ground-breaking music videos and an openly LGBTQ image that is rocking the United States and the world. His award-winning music video 'Montero (Call Me By Your Name)' may not be suitable for children but definitely for everybody else.

With immense support from fans and activists, Britney Spears managed to shake off the conservatorship that had controlled her life for 13 years. She's happily engaged to Sam Asghari and can finally make her own life choices again. Definitely one of the big winners of 2021!

The year 2021 brought Harry Styles his first Grammy, worldwide industry recognition, a new relationship with Olivia Wilde and a starring role in 'Don't Worry Darling,' directed by the same Olivia Wilde. It's clear that Styles' life is only going in 'One Direction' this year: success!!

Olivia Wilde was the subject of gossip columns at the end of 2020, because she left her fiancé (with two children) after a relationship of ten years and appeared soon after with Harry Styles (ten years her junior) by her side. However, it never really became the scandal that some feared it would be. And who knows, 'Don't Worry Darling' may be the directorial success Olivia Wilde really deserves.

Everyone on social media and awards committees is raving about the fourth season of his 'Ted Lasso' on Apple+. He is also one of the best relationship comeback kids of the year. After the break with Olivia Wilde, Jason Sudeikis has followed the adage, "Living Well is the Best Revenge."

His pop/rock band Måneskin dominated the Eurovision Song Contest with its catchy song 'Zitti e Buoni'. As the oldest member of the group, the 22-year-old singer with his androgynous appearance and charismatic performance is often seen as the key figure of the band. In addition to the winning Eurovision song, Måneskin has also had success with the songs 'Beggin' and 'Themselves.'

When she took office at age 29, AOC became the youngest woman to ever serve in the United States Congress. A year before that, she had been working as a bartender in New York. A left-wing Democrat, with a program more progressive than Joe Biden's, AOC wants to change the way politics is conducted in her country and make it more social. An example of her refreshing profile is the dress she wore to the 2021 MET Gala: 'Tax the Rich,' it read.

Along with Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc was one of the most anticipated guests on 'Friends: the Reunion.' The actor has fully embraced the physical changes that come with aging. His appearance at the reunion the world had awaited for 17 years was charming and radiant.

She is the actress of the moment. Rue, her character in 'Euphoria', resulted in her first Golden Globe. In 2021 she also appeared in 'Space Jam 2', 'Dune' and 'Spider-man: No Way Home'. In addition, she's dating Tom Holland and steals the show on every red carpet with her impeccable sense of style.

He is one of the trendiest actors in Hollywood right now. Tom Holland's eternal smile, sobriety and charisma have earned him the sympathy of the whole world. He also has a good film year with 'Spider-Man' and Nathan Drake in the 'Uncharted' film. After all, his love for Zendaya seems to be getting stronger and stronger.

'The Fades', 'Skins' and especially 'Black Mirror' already made it clear that Kaluuya's talent is enormous. 'Let Me Out' (2017) caused the actor to believe he could someday win an Oscar. 'Judas and the Black Messiah' confirmed that theory: in 2021 Kaluuya won his first Oscar after two nominations.

For those who did not know Nicky Tutorials from YouTube and other social media, Nikkie de Jager became a familiar face through the Eurovision Song Contest. The festival took place in Rotterdam in 2021 and it was a dream came true for the transgender makeup influencer: she presented three evenings of the gala viewed by tens of millions of people.

This actor must have serious back problems after single-handedly carrying the weight of the entire 'Star Wars' franchise. In 'The Mandalorian' he matched the charisma he had given to Oberyn Martell – his spectacular character in 'Game of Thrones.'

In just three years, Doja Cat has become a trendsetter in rap for the United States and the world. Her incredible outfits are comparable to those of Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. 'Kiss Me More' was one of the biggest hits of 2021.

You've seen her in 'The Handmaid's Tale,' 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' and 'Euphoria.' In 2021, Sydney Sweeney appeared in the new comedy miniseries on HBO called 'The White Lotus', among others. Great things are on the horizon for this young actress.

Three albums in three years have made Megan Thee Stallion the queen of American rap. She also won two Grammys (Record of the Year and Rap Performance) with 'Savage', and her collaboration with Maroon 5 resulted in one of the songs of the year: 'Beautiful Mistakes.'

Her not-so-surprising divorce from Kanye West has come so quickly that the world hasn't even had time to recover from it. The businesswoman topped off her single status with a remarkable increase in her already significant social media presence. She continues to be one of the most popular celebrities and her social media following still grows. Kim Kardashian's net worth is estimated at over $1 billion.