Let's hear it for the girls: The best girl power moments of 2016

Marie-Claire Dorking

·Contributor

20 December 2016 at 9:33 am

Lady Gaga urges women to speak up about sexual assault

Ashley Graham becomes the first ‘plus-size’ model to front Sports Illustrated

Indonesian designer Anniesa Hasibuan made history by showcasing first all-hijab catwalk at NYFW

Jennifer Aniston calls out the baby-bump rumour mill

Taylor Swift stuck it to her haters (well, hater)

Katy Perry helped women reclaim the word ‘nasty’

Beyonce changed the music game (again!)

Just when we thought we couldn't love her anymore, Queen Bey went and dropped Lemonade. Described by some as a love letter to black women, the stunning visual album explores some of the complex struggles many black women face all within twelve badass songs. Touching on issues including police brutality and racial tensions, the seemingly autobiographical album also got social media in a spin thanks to it's 'I’m-not-gonna-take-your-cheating' lyrics which sent the rumour mill into overdrive about husband Jay Z's alleged infidelity. But whether or not the music was about her own personal experiences, there's no doubting the album itself was boundary-breaking. Hardly surprising therefore that it went on to receive four Emmy nominations, nine Grammy nominations and a “Best Album of the Year” award from Rolling Stone. [Photo: Getty]

"Who runs the world? Girls!" Beyoncé famously hollered. But while it's not strictly true that the world is entirely ruled by women (wouldn't it be nice though?), it's fair to say the female of the species has delivered some pretty awesome empowerment moments in 2016.

From Hillary Clinton’s history-making presidential run to Team GB kicking butt at the Olympics, celebrities throwing light on important women's issues to Taylor Swift sticking it to the haters, 2016 has to been a pretty killer year for girl power.

So what better way welcome in the New Year than celebrating the fiercest female moments of the old one? Here are the ten girl power moments that broke social media and helped make 2016 rock.

This year’s biggest fashion moments

The definitive guide to 2016's best and worst dressed celebrities

Cosmo
EmRata goes braless in red jumper with *HUGE* underboob-baring cut-out
Emily Ratajkowski went braless in a Gimaguas red knit jumper featuring a giant underboob-baring cut-out hole, per a photo shared on her Instagram stories.
Evening Standard
OPINION - World War Three imminent? No, but the West is about to sell out Ukraine in a world-historic betrayal
As Vladimir Putin threatens nuclear escalation and Joe Biden promises to send more military equipment to Ukraine, there are warnings of “World War Three” on all sides. The present tensions are mostly a choreographed show of strength – in Washington and Moscow – to fill the time before Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. Having so often delayed the despatch of weapons or dithered over the use to which they might be put by Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden seeks to salvage some personal honour before he creeps from office and to give the Ukrainian president marginally more negotiating power when the talks begin.
People
Hiker Whose Heart Stopped for 45 Minutes After Mt. Rainier Rescue Is Now Accused of Murder: Court Docs
Michael Knapinski, 49, is charged with second-degree murder
BuzzFeed
I Went To A Nudist Swingers Resort Without My Girlfriend. Here's What Happened.
"As I walked outside and felt the breeze and sun on my skin ― all of my skin ― for the first time, I quickly found myself nodding and waving hello to other naked travelers on their way to the pool or the beach."
Lancashire Telegraph
Police make shock discovery after driver parked illegally outside school
Officers were called to Higham St Johns Primary School, on Higham Hall Road, after complaints of parking issues around the school at closing time.
OK! Magazine
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 'sad' decision over Archie and Lilibet - with just one hope for future
EXCLUSIVE: With the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly purchasing a property in Portugal, leading royal experts explain who will benefit most from the couple's decision
HuffPost
A Husband And Wife Were Fighting For A Restraining Order. They Were Killed Outside The Courthouse.
Rachael Martinez and Jose Medina leave behind four children, ranging in age from 3 to 15.
The Telegraph
Trump and Musk’s awkward body language decoded... and it’s bad news for one of them
Donald Trump and Elon Musk have been virtually joined at the hip since the president-elect’s election victory two weeks ago.
OK! Magazine
I'm A Celeb's two new arrivals confirmed as they threaten to upset the balance in camp
The next two celebrities to join the line-up in the I'm A Celebrity jungle have finally been confirmed, and one has confessed they're worried about being 'the biggest wimp in the camp'
BuzzFeed
"It's Going To Look Really Dated": People Are Sharing The Terrible Home Design Trends That Are Found In Many Newer Homes
"My next house will either be laid out by me or made in the '70s or '80s — back when they designed homes to be lived in."
The Telegraph
Starmer saddles taxpayers with his £15k ‘nanny tax’ bill
Sir Keir Starmer will saddle the taxpayer with a £15,100 “nanny tax” bill as he hires four new housekeepers for No 10.
The Northern Echo
Drivers could be hit with £2500 fines amid 'snow bomb' weather warning
After reports suggest the UK will be hit by a 'snow bomb' soon, motoring experts have warned Brits about potentially huge fines.
The Northern Echo
The 12p kitchen item that'll stop your windscreen freezing over this winter
Car experts have revealed how motorists can prevent their windscreens from freezing over using this 12p item.
People
Prince Andrew Is Almost Thrown from His Horse in Dramatic Photos of His Morning Ride in Windsor
The Duke of York avoided a fall from his horse after it seemed to get spooked
Euronews
Five largest EU countries back joint defence bonds to stop Russia's 'imperial ambitions'
The development followed Putin's signing of a revised nuclear doctrine that declared a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on the country.View on euronews
Hello!
BBC Breakfast star interrupts Carol Kirkwood's weather report with personal plea
The BBC Breakfast presenter halted her report while speaking to a co-star during Wednesday's episode
Manchester Evening News
BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Shayne Ward given show 'return' boost after upsetting exit
The singer and actor was the seventh celebrity to be elminated from the BBC One dance contest earlier this month
The Independent
Killer drink driver tells police ‘I don’t care’ as he’s breathalysed after crash
A drunk driver who crashed his car in Kent and killed a passenger told police "I don't care" and "I just want to go to bed" as he was breathalysed. Jack Nixon, 27, of Lancaster Road, Dover, had spent the night drinking in Canterbury before giving a lift to three people in the early hours of 9 October 2022.
Hello!
Jules Hudson flooded with support as he reveals career move away from show
Escape to the Country's Jules Hudson was flooded with support earlier this week when he unveiled his latest career move away from the beloved show. Details here...
The Northern Echo
Martin Lewis exposes 'complete urban myth' around NS&I Premium Bonds
Martin Lewis discussed the popular form of savings during his Martin Lewis Podcast on BBC Sounds.

Hurry, this No7 gift set saves you £100 on skincare and make-up bestsellers

Let's hear it for the girls: The best girl power moments of 2016

Beyonce changed the music game (again!)

Latest stories

EmRata goes braless in red jumper with HUGE underboob-baring cut-out

OPINION - World War Three imminent? No, but the West is about to sell out Ukraine in a world-historic betrayal

Hiker Whose Heart Stopped for 45 Minutes After Mt. Rainier Rescue Is Now Accused of Murder: Court Docs

I Went To A Nudist Swingers Resort Without My Girlfriend. Here's What Happened.

Police make shock discovery after driver parked illegally outside school

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 'sad' decision over Archie and Lilibet - with just one hope for future

A Husband And Wife Were Fighting For A Restraining Order. They Were Killed Outside The Courthouse.

Trump and Musk’s awkward body language decoded... and it’s bad news for one of them

I'm A Celeb's two new arrivals confirmed as they threaten to upset the balance in camp

"It's Going To Look Really Dated": People Are Sharing The Terrible Home Design Trends That Are Found In Many Newer Homes

Starmer saddles taxpayers with his £15k ‘nanny tax’ bill

Drivers could be hit with £2500 fines amid 'snow bomb' weather warning

The 12p kitchen item that'll stop your windscreen freezing over this winter

Prince Andrew Is Almost Thrown from His Horse in Dramatic Photos of His Morning Ride in Windsor

Five largest EU countries back joint defence bonds to stop Russia's 'imperial ambitions'

BBC Breakfast star interrupts Carol Kirkwood's weather report with personal plea

BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Shayne Ward given show 'return' boost after upsetting exit

Killer drink driver tells police ‘I don’t care’ as he’s breathalysed after crash

Jules Hudson flooded with support as he reveals career move away from show

Martin Lewis exposes 'complete urban myth' around NS&I Premium Bonds