Jennifer Lawrence reached out to touch Sarah Jessica Parker's unique, feathery headpiece while the "Sex and the City" star was being photographed on the red carpet.

Luckily, Parker didn't seem bothered by the bit, People reported, even though she was certainly caught off-guard. The two actors shared a laugh following the photobomb, and Lawrence even got Parker's permission to pet the feathers.

After the 2014 Met Gala, Delevingne posted a video of Reese Witherspoon repeatedly mispronouncing her name in an elevator and the moment went viral. Although Delevingne later took the video down, ABC News shared the clip in a segment on "Good Morning America," which can still be watched on YouTube.

"I love it. I love it when you do it, say it," says British drummer Tennessee Thomas, who was in the elevator with them.

"Dee-luh-vig-nee," Witherspoon responds.

Witherspoon also appeared to struggle pronouncing Delevingne's first name, Cara, switching between "Care-ah" and "Car-ah."

The group was accompanied by Zooey Deschanel and Kate Upton, who also laughed along.

Although police caught the man before he could fully execute his plan, E! News posted a photo of the prankster, who bravely wore a hot-pink mankini and oversized gold chain.

Hayden Panettiere might have jinxed herself.

US Weekly reported that the actress shouted, "Hallelujah! I made it up the stairs!" when she reached the top. Little did she know she'd tumble on her way down.

Panettiere laughed off the mistake and made sure to hold up her dress to prevent a future fall.

After the 2017 Met Gala, audiences reached the general consensus that Rihanna had taken the theme, "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between," more seriously than other celebrities.

Apparently, Rihanna herself agreed. After making a lasting impression in an elaborate gown from Comme des Garçons' fall 2016 collection, Rihanna liked an Instagram post mocking stars who showed up in attire that seemingly had no connection to the theme, Cosmopolitan reported.

The meme read, "What the #MetGala theme was VS how everyone showed up," and showed side-by-side images of over-the-top outfits similar to Rihanna's and a plain, neutral-colored gown.

There are plenty of celebrity couples who love to show some PDA on the red carpet (see: Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker), but something about this kiss just screamed awkward. Maybe it was bad timing or a strange camera angle, but the photo serves as an unfortunate reminder of the duo's short-lived relationship.

The couple dated for 10 months in 2017, making high-profile appearances at Coachella, the Met Gala, and the Harper's Bazaar Icons party before calling it quits that October.

The theme of the 2019 Met Gala, "Camp: Notes on Fashion," confused stars and fans alike.

"Up until today, I had no idea what 'camp' was," Nicki Minaj told an interviewer from "Entertainment Tonight." "So, I don't even know if this is camp, to be honest," she added while gesturing to her pink Prabal Gurung gown.

The New York Times reported that writer Susan Sontag defined "camp" as "an intentional over-the-top-ness, a slightly (or extremely) 'off' quality, bad taste as a vehicle for good art."

"I think I broke the internet, but not in a good way," Kloss told Vogue's "Life in Looks" series in 2023.

Prior to her arrival at the Met, Kloss posted a photo on Instagram of the reflection of her eye in a small handheld mirror with the caption, "Looking camp right in the eye #metgala."

Unfortunately, with competition for best-dressed including Zendaya as a real-life Cinderella and Katy Perry as a literal chandelier, fans were not impressed with Kloss' gold patterned mini dress with exaggerated black puffed sleeves designed by Dapper Dan for Gucci.

"I still get — rightfully get — trolled. I'll accept it. Honestly, I deserved that one," Kloss added.

When reporting on the carpet, Palmer asked Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz Beckham — who were then engaged — what the theme, "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion," meant to them.

"Well, I'm trying to make him an American right now," said Nicola with a laugh, prompting Palmer to ask where Beckham is from.

As the son of famous English soccer player David Beckham and former Spice Girl turned fashion designer Victoria Beckham, that's likely not a question Brooklyn is used to answering.

He took the question in stride and said he's from London.

But the awkwardness didn't stop there; the couple explained they live in Los Angeles and Nicola made a joke that she'd kidnapped her fiancé to which Palmer replied, "Well, I'm always here for a good kidnapping, OK. A fair trade ain't never been a robbery," before wishing them a wonderful time.

At the 2022 Met Gala, YouTube star and influencer Emma Chamberlain and rapper Jack Harlow exchanged spontaneous expressions of affection upon their first time meeting.

When Chamberlain's interview for Vogue came to a close, Harlow let an "I love you" slip out as he walked away from the microphone. Chamberlain responded with "Love ya" before facing the camera wearing a confused expression while (unsuccessfully) trying to hold in a burst of laughter. She seemed to be processing the sentimental exchange.

Jimmy Fallon later had both Harlow and Chamberlain respond to the event live on "The Tonight Show."

"That's like a piece of art because there's so many ways to interpret that," Harlow said on the show in 2022. "Everyone has a different take on what was going through her head, so I'll leave it up to interpretation."

Chamberlain commented on the awkward interaction as well, telling Fallon, "When I'm doing these interviews, it's blank up here. Like, I have no thoughts. And when I go home, and I watch the interviews again, I'm like, watching a completely different person. I have no idea. I'm not thinking about anything. And then I'm like reacting to myself."

In celebration of the 2023 Met Gala theme, "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty," Doja Cat dressed as the late designer's beloved cat, Choupette.

The rapper and singer was committed to her character, replying to every question asked by Vogue red-carpet correspondent Emma Chamberlain with meows.

Chamberlain laughed and continued playing along with the bit, resulting in an awkward, yet funny exchange.

No one wants to show up at an event wearing the same outfit as someone else, especially not when the "event" in question is the Met Gala.

Luckily, the actress and then-Vogue China editor in chief were quick to laugh about their twinning moment.

"Great minds," Wilde wrote on her Instagram story, per People. "If you're gonna twin with anyone, make it @margaretzhang."

Zhang also poked fun at their outfits, reposting Wilde's story on Instagram and adding, "CUE THE STRINGS," in reference to the violin design at the center of their dresses.

While posing with Stella McCartney, Cara Delevingne, and FKA Twigs, Ed Sheeran got his feet stuck in FKA Twigs' gown. The custom Stella McCartney look featured loops of strings in a long train that dragged on the white-and-green carpet.

The moment was captured in a Vogue interview as McCartney walked Vogue's hosts, actress Gwendoline Christie and model Ashley Graham, through the celebrities' looks. As Sheeran twirled around to show off his suit, his feet got tangled in the dress.

"You just wrapped your feet in Miss Twigs here, uh oh, oh God," said Graham as Sheeran unsuccessfully attempted to free his feet.

While brief, the incident did require Delevingne's help to untangle the British singer.

"Luckily there is a designer here," Christie said.

Others commented that Sheeran's look reminded them of one worn by Troy Bolton, the iconic character from "High School Musical."

There once was a time when even Kim Kardashian couldn't get an invite to the Met Gala.

Amy Odell, the author of "Anna: The Biography," told Time in 2024 that an invitation was a "really huge signifier that you are 'in.'"

Eaddy Kiernan, Vogue's contributing editor and Met Gala organizer, told Vogue in 2024 that the seating chart started getting prepped in December but ultimately came together a month before the event.

"We really try to think very carefully about who's sitting next to each other," Kiernan said. "Our ideal pairing would maybe be two people who we think will just get on like a house on fire, but who may not even realize that they have a lot in common. So with each person, we really do take time to think, 'What will they talk about?'"

Such access and quality seating have the potential to yield incredible business outcomes.

Here's Blake Lively at the 2018 Met Gala, which was themed "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination."

Guests of the 2019 Met Gala could enjoy "crispy sea bass hors d'oeuvres, bits of foie gras, or mini-BLT towers," The Associated Press reported.

Here's a tray of one of the signature cocktails served at the 2023 gala.

The 2021 exhibit was "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion."

The Metropolitan Museum of Art said this exhibit included about 100 men's and women's ensembles from the 1940s to the present, each displayed in cases representing 3D quilt patches. The exhibit was organized into 12 sections, exploring emotions such as joy, wonder, desire, and nostalgia.

In accordance with 2024's theme, "Sleeping Beauty: Reawakening Fashion," the tablescape was inspired by children's storybooks that "felt a bit romantic and ethereal," according to caterer Olivier Cheng.

"Drawing on inspiration from the lush gardens and palaces of Sleeping Beauty's fantasy world, we really aimed to build our own bite-sized fairytale," he told Vogue.

Drawing on the night's magical theme, the menu featured a "spring vegetable salad with elderflower foam, raspberry vinaigrette, and olive crumble that resembles soil, complete with butterfly-shaped croutons," inspired by Sleeping Beauty's reawakening.

The night's main course was a "filet of beef topped with a tortellini rose" designed to resemble fantastical castles.

The tables at the event were decorated with "English ivy, candelabras, and lettuce plates," and dark burgundy roses in floral centerpieces.

For the dessert, Cheng said he drew inspiration from Snow White's emblematic apple, which he turned into an "almond cremeux molded into the shape of a miniature apple, blanketed with a bright red mirror glaze."

Dessert was gold-dusted truffles, chocolate-dipped cape gooseberries, and an amaretto Semifreddo cone topped with a gold pearl, Vogue reported.

Bieber's denim-on-denim outfit was more Canadian tuxedo than "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion," but we'd still love to know how the room reacted to his performance.

The tradition of Met Gala performances started in 2010, when Lady Gaga sang "Bad Romance" as part of the year's "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity" exhibit.

Other notable performances include Frank Ocean's "Super Rich Kids" in 2014 and Madonna's "Like a Prayer" in 2018, per The Cut.

Vogue reported that she performed some of her hits, such as "Into You," "Seven Rings," and "We Can't Be Friends." She also performed a rendition of the Disney song "Once Upon a Dream" from "Sleeping Beauty," paying homage to the gala's theme.

Her performance ended with a guest appearance from her "Wicked" costar, Cynthia Erivo.

Here are the rappers Cardi B, Bad Bunny, and Doja Cat striking a pose in 2023.

The Met Gala started hosting its annual after-party in 2010.

Celebrities often change into different looks before hitting another round of red carpets and events.

Richie Akiva hosted the 2024 after-party.

"It wasn't really appropriate that we wore those shirts. Officially, we weren't following the honors of the dress code," Tyler told Vogue in 2020.

Still, as the daughters of famous rock stars Steven Tyler and Paul McCartney, the pair's "Rock Royalty" tank tops unintentionally created an iconic moment in pop culture.

"It was an amazing thing, in a way. We were just being ourselves," Tyler added.

She even had her hair styled to fit the theme.

The theme was "The House of Chanel," and Kurkova's gown featured the words "I love you" across the bottom.

She took John Galliano, the creative director at the time, as her date.

She's always one to take a risk in the name of fashion.

McQueen died in February 2010, and the 2011 Met Gala theme, "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty," was chosen to honor his legacy.

Guinness wore a dramatic feathery frock from the designer's Spring 2011 collection.

The gown featured feather-like tassels on the skirt and bodice.

She paired it with a dramatic silver headpiece.

She went for a gothic romantic look by Zac Posen.

Her pink pumps added a nice pop of color.

Topshop designed her white floral dress.

Kardashian hit the red carpet in a floral gown with a thigh-high slit while eight months pregnant with her first child, North.

She also rocked a spiky 'do to complement the theme.

The dress had a flapper-inspired design.

The look helped establish her status as the undisputed queen of the Met Gala.

It was definitely a daring choice that instantly became iconic.

The gown featured red jeweled accents applied to look like a fiery dragon.

Giles designed the stunning dress.

West even wore silver contacts to match his jacket, while Kardashian completed her look by lightening her eyebrows.

The star had released her sixth album, "Lemonade," just a week before the Met that year.

She completed the look with yellow latex leggings.

Here she is in a sheer black Givenchy dress.

She paired it with a gravity-defying natural hairstyle.

She finished her 2016 look with a pair of sky-high platform boots.

She seemed to be channeling her inner "Black Swan."

The light-blue dress appeared to be inspired by Cinderella.

She paired it with a lace mask for dramatic effect.

She paired the look with matching dark makeup and hair.

She paired the wings with a gold minidress and thigh-high gold boots.

She wore a high-low skirt, plenty of jewelry, and an attention-commanding headpiece.

She paired the look with black latex thigh-highs and shoes.

The headpiece was a daring choice, but her Valentino ensemble ultimately became one of the most memorable looks of the evening.

She was one of a few celebrities to take a literal approach to the theme.

His outfit sparked a lot of conversation on Twitter.

She always nails the theme of the Met Gala, and that year was no exception.

She later revealed three other ensembles underneath through a 16-minute entrance routine that perfectly embodied the theme, "Camp: Notes on Fashion."

She was surrounded by working light bulbs around the skirt and on the headpiece.

He was first carried down the pink carpet with six men in matching ensembles. Porter then stepped down to reveal an eye-catching pair of wings attached to his arms.

Her puffy gown featured feathered detailing at the edge of its dramatic train.

Her head-turning dress featured a blinking eye mechanism at the bodice, which she paired with several top hats. 

Her gown flowed out thanks to multicolored feathers.

She paired her swimsuit-style bodysuit with embellished tights and a feathered black coat.

Her dress featured an abundance of strategically placed silver stars.

Her platform heels were embellished with Swarovski crystals.

Her headpiece was shaped like wings that framed each side of her face.

The singer wore an Oscar de la Renta dress to the Met Gala that year. 

Alessandro Michele, Gucci's creative director at the time, dressed the actor in a Victorian-esque scarlet gown covered in jewels.

The outfit was a nod to Gucci's Autumn/Winter 2018 runway show, which featured models carrying their own heads. 

The comedian and actor was photographed in a Michael Kors flared-leg pantsuit and matching hat designed by Stephen Jones. W Magazine reported that the look comprised 57,000 sequins — 17,000 on the jacket and 40,000 on the pants. 

The actor wore a half-tux, half-gown outfit designed by Christian Siriano.

"Christian Siriano is a genius," he told Page Six then. "And his staff and he made it so impeccably that it was comfortable. I had a high heel that was the same height as a Doc boot, it was brilliant. And I could pee!"

The custom outfit featured a map that was formed in the shape of two men kissing.

Levy told Vanity Fair that his look was a celebration of queer love inspired by the late artist and AIDS activist David Wojnarowicz.

The look featured oversize sleeves, pants with a map pattern, and black boots with gold details and flowers. He completed the look with Cartier jewelry. 

Lil Nas X arrived at his first-ever Met Gala in a gold Atelier Versace velvet cape. It had oversize shoulder pads and a collar.

He then removed the cape to reveal golden body armor underneath. It had spikes on the shoulders, the Versace crest on the neckline, and sculpted abs.

Finally, before he went inside, Lil Nas X took off the armor to reveal a brown bodysuit covered in crystals. He paired it with a Versace choker. 

Kardashian said on Instagram that her inspiration for the "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion"-themed gala was a T-shirt. 

She arrived in a Balenciaga bodysuit that completely covered her. Two trains flowed out of the back of her dress, as did her 75-inch ponytail.

The singer kept it simple in a black suede, three-piece Prada suit with a white T-shirt.

Ocean's robotic baby was dressed in a onesie from Homer, the jewelry brand Ocean founded. It could move, making it seem almost lifelike. 

Rihanna was among the last stars to arrive at the gala, but she brought the drama with this look. 

Balenciaga's creative director, Demna Gvasalia, designed her all-black coatdress. She paired it with a beanie, a crystal headpiece, and custom-made Maria Tash earrings. 

The rapper wore a look from the designer's spring 2022 collection. Underneath the quilt, A$AP Rocky had a black suit that matched Rihanna's Balenciaga ensemble. 

The actor wore the custom design with satin platform sandals and a long train.

Fox told Vogue that her look was inspired by Bram Stoker's "Dracula."

"I think the inspiration, like the color — I wanted a dress that I had seen in Bram Stoker's 'Dracula,'" she said. "I'm very into gothic things and vampires and such."

The Canadian musician told Vogue that her look was inspired by Frank Herbert's novel "Dune." The chrome mask she's wearing is actually an original prop from David Lynch's 1984 film adaptation of the book. 

Monroe famously wore the dress to perform "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" in 1962, and the internet had plenty to say when Kardashian arrived in the iconic look.

Leto's look was inspired by the late designer's cat, Choupette.

The rapper and singer remained committed to her character, causing an awkward moment with Vogue red-carpet correspondent Emma Chamberlain when she replied to questions with meows instead of words.

The Puerto Rican popstar, who served as cochair of the event in 2024, wore a custom Maison Margiela Artisanal ensemble inspired by fairytale princes and their horses.

Also wearing a custom Maison Margiela look, Zendaya arrived in a blue and emerald dress inspired by fictitious villains. That year, the Met Gala theme was "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion."

The singer arrived at the event wearing a custom Alexander McQueen gown completed by a dramatic veil inspired by the Sleeping Beauty tale.

At her first Met Gala, Tyla wore a form-fitting, sculpted Balmain piece made of sand. It adhered to the year's theme and its connection to time. A sand-filled hourglass accessorized the piece.

The sculpted piece was solid and immovable, so the singer had to be carried up the stairs at the event.

The actor and screenwriter wore a piece by Indian designer Gaurav Gupta. The caped gown, called "The Melting Flower of Time," was inspired by the passage of time through the death of a flower, which is referenced by the gown's delicate layers.

The esteemed club, founded and co-designed by legendary golfer and Grand Slam winner Bobby Jones, opened for play in 1932, though women were not allowed to join until August 2012.

One of the highlights of the course is its extensive flora. Per Golf Monthly, Augusta has an estimated 80,000 plants from over 350 varieties, and each hole is named for a corresponding plant. This weekend, pros like Dustin Johnson and Fred Couples will test their skills on holes like Magnolia, Juniper, Azalea, and Holly in pursuit of tournament victory.

And if you're interested in playing this famed course someday, you'll have to get in line. Most memberships are inherited from one of the club's existing 300 or so members, but you could attend as one of their guests. You could also play as a guest of a Masters champion.

If these options sound a little too unrealistic, there is one other way to gain access: volunteering at the Masters. As to be expected, there's a waitlist, but if you volunteer for the full week, you'll be invited to an "Appreciation Day" in May to play a round of golf, per Golf.com. Keep that in mind for next year.

The Mamaroneck, New York, club's East and West courses were ranked on Golf.com's Top 100 Courses in the World of 2023-2024, with the West ranking 29th and the East ranking 80th, so it's no surprise that Winged Foot would be a top choice for the US Open.

"Winged Foot has provided the backdrop for some of the most dramatic moments in the history of our sport, with many of golf's legendary champions being crowned on the club's iconic West Course," said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer, in a press release in 2023, per Golf Digest.

In 2020, Golf.com reported that the Winged Foot Golf Club's waitlist was "supposedly a decade long," and initiation fees are believed to be well above $100,000, so instead of joining, you may just want to think ahead and purchase those 2028 tickets.

Founded in 1754, The Old Course at St. Andrews in Fife, Scotland, is one of the oldest golf courses in the world and home to The Open Championship, the oldest and one of the most prestigious tournaments of the season.

While you can take a walking tour of the course between March and November, the clubhouse is usually only accessible to its 2,500 members. However, once a year on November 30, which is also known as St. Andrews Day, part of it is opened to the public for tours, Golf Digest reported.

St. Andrews is notoriously exclusive, allowing its first female members in 2015. Golf.com reported that the multi-step membership process includes an invitation from a current member, an application, and letters of recommendation — and this doesn't even guarantee admission, as it can take years to get through the waitlist, and applications can be outright denied.

Barnabas Carrega, CEO of the Gr8 Experience, a luxury travel firm specializing in exclusive experiences, told BI that visiting Skibo is "one of the most incredible experiences" he's ever seen from a country club in terms of level of service, privacy, and exclusivity, describing it as "an immense club."

Per the Carnegie Club's website, the golf course Carnegie Links, "is ideal for both beginners finding their feet on the greens and more accomplished players looking to perfect their swing. Lessons can be booked with our resident PGA professionals."

Business Insider reported in 2021 that Michael Jordan's exclusive golf course in Hobe Sound, Florida, has fewer than 80 members. Some famous names allowed in include former president Barack Obama, former tennis player John McEnroe, and current pros Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson.

As you can probably guess, you'd either need to know Jordan — or he'd want to get to know you — for you to get an invite to this ultra-exclusive club.

"Michael Jordan is a huge fan of golf, and even when he was playing for the Chicago Bulls, apparently, in between games, he would go and play golf," said Carrega. "So he's always been very into the sport."

Jordan even hosts an exclusive tournament, gifting winner Keegan Bradley a $4,000 bottle of his tequila, Cincoro Extra Añejo, in 2023.

Another club with high levels of exclusivity is Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, New York. The club will host both the US Open and the US Women's Open in 2036, per Golf.com.

As one of the five founding clubs of the US Golf Association, its history dates back to 1891, which might help explain some of its strict rules.

For example, Shinnecock doesn't allow any cell phones or communication devices to be used or displayed in the clubhouse or on club grounds (except in the telephone room or cars in the parking lot), everyone's shirts must be worn tucked in, and no gratuity may be paid to employees, per the club's Guest Information page.

To play here, you'll need a signature from an accompanying member — no exceptions, sorry.

In 2019, Cypress Point was named one of Golf.com's most exclusive golf clubs in the world. To quote entertainer and comedian Bob Hope, "One year, they had a big membership drive at Cypress. They drove out 40 members."

Business Insider reported that Cypress has only about 250 members, with Golf Addict noting that the clientele is primarily "prominent politicians, businessmen, and movie stars," who split the course's fees equally, no matter how much they actually golf.

Where does one begin with Shell Bay? Perhaps you'll start your day at the yacht club, practice your forehand on the Grand Slam-quality tennis courts, and then play a few holes on the Greg Norman-designed golf course. Or maybe you'll just spend the day at the spa.

The possibilities are grand at the Shell Bay Club — if you've got $1.35 million lying around for fun.

"Basically, all the members are millionaires or billionaires," Carrega said, adding that members include "the captains of industry and the most important of the people in Florida."

In addition to the private club, Shell Bay also has residences with amenities that include a sunset cocktail terrace, an orchid garden, and a private wine-tasting room with secure wine drawers.

Also featured on Golf.com's most exclusive golf clubs in the world in 2019, Hirono Golf Club in Kobe, Japan, has a reputation for being especially private; the last professional tournament played there was the 70th Japan Open Golf Championship in 2005.

While most golf courses are known for having dress codes, some of Hirono's rules are incredibly specific.

Per the club's website, guidelines for playing attire include no clothing with "showy colors or patterns" like red or camouflage, no mock-neck shirts, no shirts without collars and sleeves, no ankle socks, and no clothing or hats "designed with conspicuous advertising intentions."

Only members and their guests are allowed access to Hirono, and both parties are held to the same high standards, with the club noting that members are "fully responsible for the conduct of the visitor," who should be fully informed on the rules and course etiquette before arrival.

Founded in 1913, Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey has been ranked the No. 1 golf course in the state every year since 1985 and the No. 1 golf course in the country every year since 2017, per Golf Digest.

The club is famously invite-only and, until 2021, only allowed women to play as guests on Sunday afternoons.

"The future of golf must move toward inclusion, and I am pleased to report that the Trustees and members of the Pine Valley Golf Club have voted unanimously and with enthusiasm to remove all gender-specific language from our bylaws," club president Jim Davis wrote in an email to members obtained by Golf Digest in 2021.

Pine Valley has only held one elite professional event in its history, further emphasizing its interest in privacy. However, the club will break tradition in 2034 to host the Curtis Cup, a biennial match where the top female American amateurs compete against the best from Great Britain and Ireland.

On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified, granting women the right to vote. However, the law largely applied to white women, as Black women, Indigenous women, and other women of color were prohibited from voting for many decades to come.

Here, a photographer captured celebrations after the newly ratified 19th Amendment in August 1920.

With the rise in women's liberation movements came a wave of modernist short hairstyles.

In the Roaring Twenties, fashion was characterized by fringe, loose fabrics, and glamorous details. The garments differed immensely from the athleisure and street style-inspired looks that fill clothing racks today. But as fashion historians explain, trends are cyclical — '20s-inspired clothes could (and will likely) make a comeback into mainstream fashion again.

Prior to the 1920s, women's bathing suits often included stockings and full-length skirts.

With an increase in popularity in water activities, the decade saw a rise in swimwear fashion styles with less fabric, making it more comfortable for wearers to swim.

Brides Magazine reported that beaded headbands were common additions to wedding gowns during the Jazz Age, as were dresses with high necklines and cape- or flutter-style sleeves.

The 1920s are often looked at as one of the most influential decades of automobile advancements.

The Model T was sold by the Ford Motor Company 1908 until 1927, per History.com. The vehicle was the earliest effort to make a modern car that was affordable to the masses.

As explained by the History Channel, the Model T was so affordable that it helped rural Americans connect to other parts of the country, which eventually led to the creation of the numbered highway system that's known throughout the US today.

Here, a woman was photographed outside a cab vehicle in Los Angeles, circa 1925.

The US Census Bureau reported that the 1920 census marked the first time over 50% of Americans reported living in urban areas compared to rural ones.

Pictured here is a subway entrance in London, circa 1924. Transport for London reported that the city's Underground was the first subway in the world, having opened in 1863.

Here, a group of employees stand in front of a train in 1920.

Train travel was arguably its most glamorous from 1910 through 1950.

Here, a group of people wait to board a bus in Chicago around 1925.

Here, members of a fire department in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, were photographed around 1920.

Here, passengers onboard the Saturnia ship partake in an evening dance in the 1920s. The Saturnia was an Italian liner that sailed until the 1960s. Along with its sister ship, Vulcania, it was among the first large transatlantic liners driven by diesel engines, the Italian Liners Historical Society reported.

Prohibition went into effect in 1920 with the 18th Amendment. Until it was repealed in 1933, the law greatly impacted American culture and society, giving way to organized crime and speakeasies.

Here, people drink at a speakeasy around 1920.

Drugstores weren't just places to grab quick convenience items like they are today; they were central gathering spots in the community. At a 1920s-era pharmacy, customers could sit at the counter and enjoy a root beer float or an egg cream.

These pharmacies of a bygone era were much more ornately decorated — with marble countertops and beautiful light fixtures — than the fluorescent lighting-clad drugstores of today.

General stores became less common after the 1920s, but throughout the decade, they were still popular for various goods for farmers and industrial workers, as well as equipment and food.

At the time, classrooms and schoolhouses were designed to hold as many students as possible to maximize space.

But in the 1920s, more educators and administrators started to support "progressive" schools that were built to house programs that were new at the time, allowing more open-air, light, and access to outdoor activities, per a 2012 report from the National Institute of Building Sciences about school design.

Here, the Queen — then known as Princess Elizabeth — was pictured in 1929 at a train station, apparently on the way to the family's Sandringham Estate for Christmas.

He was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta and became one of the most important figures in the Civil Rights Movement during the '50s and '60s.

Here, two people photographed around 1926 do the Charleston dance.

Per the Charleston County Public Library, it became a mainstream dance after the musical's release in 1923 and defined the rest of the decade.

Jazz music dominated 1920s culture in America thanks to popular musicians like Louis Armstrong.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture reported that after the end of the Civil War, the Great Migration brought over 100,000 Black Americans from a wide variety of backgrounds to Harlem, New York City.

Throughout the 1920s and '30s, Black creatives across disciplines shared their art en masse, documenting what it was like to be Black in America during a period known as the Harlem Renaissance.

Iconic works from the likes of Nella Larsen, W.E.B. Du Bois, Zora Neale Hurston, and more were all produced during this era.

In the photo above, the waiting room on the right was designated for "Colored" individuals while that on the left was for white people.

Segregation was a prominent aspect of life in the US following the Civil War, especially in the South where Jim Crow laws were harshly enforced.

Immigration from Japan to the US was largely limited during the 1920s as a result of the 1907 Gentlemen's Agreement.

However, it had an exception for Japanese wives of current American residents, which led to the practice of American men choosing Japanese women to be their wives solely based on photos.

Many of the Japanese "picture brides" faced discrimination, spousal abuse, and poor living conditions upon arrival to the US, Women & the American Story reported.

Such marriages were made illegal by the 1924 Immigration Act, which barred any immigrant who wouldn't be eligible for citizenship from coming to the US.

People of Asian descent were denied full US citizenship until the 1950s.

After the 1916 Olympic Games were canceled due to World War I, the 1920 summer Olympics were set in Antwerp, Belgium, as a way to honor "the suffering that had been inflicted on the Belgian people during the war," the Olympics reported.

It was also the first year the Olympic Rings symbol was publicly displayed.

Here, people carry newly manufactured tennis balls.

Pictured here, a football team poses in sporting uniforms at Oliver High School in Kentucky in 1921.

This looks way more sophisticated than a sweaty game of kickball.

Here, people attend a horse race at Ascot Racecourse in Ascot, England, around 1920.

Carnivals and state and county fairs in the US were popular summertime activities during the early 20th century.

USA Today reported that Coney Island's Luna Park is believed to have had one of the first bumper car attractions.

Coney Island was an iconic part of the early 20th century that transformed how Americans spent their free time.

The Brooklyn park gave locals and visitors new ways to stay entertained and spend time with one another in the form of roller coasters and rides, animal exhibits, and a lively boardwalk and beach.

Miss Coney Island 1924 and 1925, respectively, appeared to stand on the Coney Island boardwalk sometime during the mid-1920s.

This snapshot from around 1920 shows fair attendees having their picture taken.

Around 1920, a family was photographed at a beach in Germany holding up shrimping nets.

The National Endowment for the Humanities reported that the silent film era began in 1894 and continued through the 1920s. Before there were "talkies," audiences were dazzled by films starring actors like Charlie Chaplin and Clara Bow.

In 1927, "The Jazz Singer" became the first feature-length movie to feature dialogue scenes, marking a transition from the silent film era, per the Museum of Modern Art.

The World reported that the first film (that wasn't a feature-length movie) with talking scenes was actually created in 1898 by Alice Guy-Blaché.

Musical movies produced in the late 1920s, like "Broadway Melody," continued to push "talkies" into the mainstream.

The Dolly Sisters, pictured here, were famous vaudeville performers in the early 20th century.

Another iconic vaudeville production during the 1920s was the Ziegfeld Follies, PBS reported, which preceded the modern Broadway musical and helped launch the career of many theatrical stars of the time.

MGM's first lion named Leo was shown on screen in 1927, per The Hollywood Reporter.

In the almost 100 years since this photo was taken, some states in the US have banned the use of animals in circuses, while others have enacted partial bans.

The famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus show, "The Greatest Show on Earth," shut down in May 2017 after 146 years of shocking the nation with its acrobatic and animal performances. It reopened five years later, but without animals.

Here, women are photographed holding pigs outside of a circus in New York around 1920. 

Willis Carrier invented the first air conditioner in 1902, but it wasn't until 1929 that Frigidaire introduced a unit that was suitable for use in homes, the US Department of Energy reported.

People relied on newspapers for local, national, and global updates, as well as advice columns, entertainment, and other stories.

The Pennsylvania Center for the Book reported that Pittsburgh radio station KDKA produced the world's first radio broadcast on November 2, 1920.

Frank Conrad is known as the "father of radio broadcasting" for inventing the first station, which was located in his garage.

Per MIT Black History, Rufus P. Turner was the first Black radio station operator. He began operating his station, W3LF, in Washington, DC, in 1928.

Phones of the 1920s and '30s were characterized by their rotary dials and "spit cup" receivers.

Being a switchboard operator often required saying the phrase "number please" hundreds of times per hour for eight hours a day, according to a 1922 op-ed in The New York Times, as cited by Time.

The beginning of the 20th century brought many advancements to the home — from gas ranges to the advent of refrigerators, which became commonplace in homes by the 1920s — but kitchens certainly didn't have the multi-functional, high-tech gadgets many homes are equipped with today.

Here, kids were photographed at a soda stand on a street in Paris around 1920.

The only thing that would make this sweeter was if Coca Cola still cost a nickel.

Here's to all the changes and all the lasting pleasures of the next 100 years.

I had no idea that North Carolina residents can purchase alcohol at grocery stores.

However, the alcohol available at stores like Target and Walmart is restricted to beer and wine, and there are a variety of state laws limiting when and where individuals can purchase alcohol.

For example, liquor can only be purchased at liquor stores, and those are closed on Sundays. Meanwhile, beer and wine can only be purchased after noon on Sundays as well.

Still, this was a surprise to me. In Maryland, where I grew up, state law prohibits the sale of beer and wine in most grocery stores, so these products (and liquor) are usually sold at dedicated locations like liquor stores. In New York, beer is available in grocery stores, but wine and liquor are not, and can only be found at liquor stores.

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, it's legal for beer and wine to be sold at grocery stores, but in practice, it's rarely available because of limits on distribution licenses.

Though I'm still getting used to the new rules, I have to admit it's been pretty convenient being able to purchase a bottle of wine and ingredients for dinner in one stop.

In New Jersey and New York, plastic straws were made available only upon request starting in November 2021, while plastic bags were banned in 2022 and 2020, respectively.

This meant I was accustomed to bringing reusable shopping bags and being responsible for bagging my own groceries, so I was shocked when the attendant at my local Walmart in Charlotte started bagging my groceries in plastic bags.

I was similarly shocked when I ordered a milkshake and received a plastic straw without requesting it.

In North Carolina, state law prevents any rules that "restrict, tax, charge a fee, prohibit or otherwise regulate the use, disposition, or sale of an auxiliary container," The News & Observer reported, adding that an "auxiliary container" can include everything from straws and plastic bags to take-out containers. Still, businesses can choose to provide free alternatives.

Even though the plastic bag and plastic straw bans do not exist here, I still plan to bring my reusable bags with me going forward, though I would appreciate help from the attendees.

Growing up outside DC and working in New York City, it was commonplace to ask for a person's Instagram or another form of social media after meeting them for the first time.

Here in Charlotte, though, I've found that other Gen-Zers are much more likely to ask for phone numbers directly, which came as a bit of a shock.

In my experience, starting conversations on social media first allows both parties to investigate each other's feeds and generally be less committed to continuing conversations or making plans, while a direct phone number feels more intentional.

Of the people who shared their numbers with me, I was happily surprised by how comfortable I felt reaching out, which has led to more plans for future hang outs.

In New York and New Jersey, the majority of social events I attended were related to networking primarily because they were the only group events I felt were worth the necessary time and money to attend. As a result, most of the conversations I had with new people revolved around careers and how we could all benefit each other professionally.

Meanwhile, in Charlotte, the cheaper cost of living has afforded me with more disposable income to feel comfortable going out more frequently and to experiment with hobbies.

This, along with access to free parks (which I'll get to later), has allowed me to build a far more robust social life than I had in New York, complete with pilates classes, pickleball, trivia at a local bar, pick-up soccer games, and more.

I cannot overstate how much I missed having my own car before moving.

In New Jersey, limited street parking, excess traffic, and parking costs made having more than one car impractical, so my boyfriend and I got used to sharing his Ford Escape.

Now that we're in Charlotte, though, we have an entire gated parking lot dedicated to our apartment community, so I was able to bring my own car.

I definitely underestimated how nice it would be for each of us to have our own transportation, especially on weeknights when we have overlapping commitments. It also helps that most drives in the city take a maximum of 20 minutes, a far cry from the 40-minute minimum I was used to navigating between cars, trains, and walks in and around Jersey City and Manhattan. Oh, and I rarely have to pay for parking.

So, although we each have to pay for car insurance, the other benefits definitely outweigh the additional cost.

As a new pickleball enthusiast, I was happily surprised to learn that there are multiple free courts in our area.

Most parks I've seen so far have a mix of free, open-play courts and others that can be reserved ahead of time.

As the weather continues to get warmer and the sun shines for longer, I anticipate that booking courts will become much more necessary to ensure we don't have to wait too long to play, so the only thing we'll have to learn is how far in advance we need to book a time slot.

Despite this being the farthest I've ever lived from my hometown, what's surprised me most is how much it reminds me of home.

With its abundance of shopping centers, green space, and residential areas, Charlotte feels like the perfect blend of city and suburban living.

And, as a city of transplants, it's clear that everyone wants to make friends, which has helped to expand our network far faster than I thought was possible.

Though I'm more than willing to return to New York, I'm grateful for the flexibility to try something new and enjoy a different pace of life, at least for a little while.

Passport holders from these countries can visit 182 countries without visas in 2025.

Until April, US citizens were able to visit 183 countries visa-free. However, Brazil now requires US citizens to secure a visa before entering the country, dropping US passport holders one spot on the Henley Passport Index.

Holders of these passports can visit 183 countries without a visa in 2025.

Travelers can visit 184 countries without a visa in 2025 if they have a passport from Estonia, Canada, or the United Arab Emirates.

Travelers can visit 185 countries without visas in 2025 with a passport from Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, or Poland.

Holders of UK passports can visit 186 countries without a visa.

Travelers can visit 187 countries without a visa in 2025 if they have a passport from these countries.

These passport holders can visit 188 countries without visas.

These passports give access to 189 countries without a visa.

Holders of passports from Japan and South Korea can visit 190 countries without a visa.

Travelers can visit 193 countries without a visa in 2025 if they have a passport from Singapore.

Zoe Rosenberg contributed to an earlier version of this report. This story was first published in January 2023 and updates were made in January 2024, June 2024, October 2024, March 2025, and May 2025.

In 2016, American gymnast Simone Biles competed in her first Olympics, winning the individual all-around, team all-around, vault, floor, and balance beam gold medals.

She famously struggled with "the twisties" — a phenomenon that throws off a gymnast's balance — during the Tokyo Olympics and catalyzed a larger conversation around self-advocacy and mental health in athletics. Despite the struggle, Biles still walked away from the competition with a silver medal in the team all-around competition and a bronze on the balance beam.

In Paris, Biles reminded everyone why she's the greatest gymnast of all time, as she became the first American woman to win gold in the Olympic individual all-around competition twice. She also brought home gold medals for the team all-around and vault, as well as a silver medal on the floor.

In addition to the Olympics, Biles is a six-time World all-around champion, with three consecutive victories from 2013-15, then in 2018, 2019, and 2023.

With 11 Olympic and 30 World Championships medals, she is the most decorated gymnast in history.

Biles' two-time Olympic teammate, Sunisa "Suni" Lee, also made history as the first Hmong-American to win the Olympic all-around title in Tokyo when she was just 18 years old.

That same Olympics, Lee brought home a silver medal in the team all-around competition and a bronze medal on the uneven bars.

After Tokyo, she continued her gymnastics career at Auburn University. However, she was forced to stop training in the spring of 2023 as a result of two kidney diseases.

She was able to navigate her diagnoses to return to the sport at the highest level for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where she finished with a bronze medal on the uneven bars, a gold medal in the team all-around final, and another bronze in the individual all-around competition to bring her total medal count to six, making her tied with Aly Raisman for third-most career medals by a female Olympic gymnast.

American swimmer Katie Ledecky has won nine Olympic gold medals and 21 world championship gold medals, both of which are records among female swimmers. She currently holds the world record in women's 800-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle short- and long-course races.

Ledecky made her international debut at the 2012 Olympics in London at 15 years old and surprised everyone when she won the gold medal in women's 800-meter freestyle, becoming the youngest ever to win.

Four years later, she finished the 2016 Olympics with four gold medals, one silver medal, and two world records. In 2020, she added two more golds and two silvers at the Tokyo Olympics; and in 2024, she completed her run in Paris by adding four more medals to her count, for a total of 14 Olympic medals — the most of any American woman.

She has broken more than a dozen world records throughout her career and is widely considered one of the most dominant swimmers alive.

Sprinter Wilma Rudolph was the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympics. She overcame the loss of strength in her left leg and foot, caused by polio at 5 years old, to become the fastest woman in the world at the 1960 Olympics. She held the records for the 100 meters at 11.2 seconds and 200 meters at 22.9 seconds.

Because of worldwide television coverage throughout the 1960 Olympics, Rudolph gained international recognition and became an iconic figure for Black and female athletes.

During the peak of the civil rights movement, Rudolph was a trailblazer for the rights of Black women. She broke the gender barrier of all-male events in track and field, and her legacy lives on today. 

Former World No. 1 professional tennis player Billie Jean King is regarded as one of the greatest women's tennis players of all time. She won 39 Grand Slam titles: 12 in singles, 16 in women's doubles, and 11 in mixed doubles. 

King is an advocate for gender equality and social justice. She campaigned for equal pay when the Open Era began in 1968 and became the first female athlete to earn over $100,000 in prize money in 1971. Two years later, she beat tennis superstar Bobby Riggs in "The Battle of the Sexes" and helped found the Women's Tennis Association, both of which contributed to her legacy of making tennis among the most equitable professional sports on the planet.

Her fight for equity in sports has continued ever since. Today, King remains a primary advocate for women as the founder of the Women's Sports Foundation.

She's also a firm proponent of LGBTQ+ equality. In 1981, she was outed as having been in a long-term relationship with a woman. King and Ilana Kloss, her partner of 40+ years, got married in 2018.

Lindsey Vonn won three consecutive titles at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup from 2008 to 2010 and another in 2012. She was also the first American woman to win a gold medal in the downhill, which she did at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Vonn won her 20th World Cup crystal globe title in 2016 to surpass Ingemar Stenmark for the overall record for men or women. She is also one of six women to win a World Cup race in all five disciplines of alpine skiing.

With three Olympic medals, four World Cup titles, 82 World Cup victories, and two World Championship gold medals to her name, Vonn is widely considered one of the greatest skiers of all time.

After missing parts of several seasons as a result of injuries, Vonn ultimately opted to retire from the sport in 2019.

Aly Raisman is a two-time Olympic gymnast. In 2012, she won the team gold medal, floor gold medal, and bronze medal on balance beam with Team USA. She took home the individual all-around silver medal and floor silver medal in 2016, as well as another team gold medal to become the third-most decorated American gymnast in Olympic history.

As accomplished as she is in the gym, Raisman may be even better known for her work in the fight to end sexual abuse. She was among hundreds of gymnasts who came forward to speak out against former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar.

Since Nassar's trial, during which she delivered a blistering speech, she has used her platform to focus on fixing USA Gymnastics and fighting for justice for all victims of sexual abuse.

Alex Morgan is a United States Women's Soccer Team legend who won her second consecutive FIFA World Cup championship in 2019. She made her World Cup debut in 2011, where the team won silver.

In 2012, Morgan recorded 28 goals and 21 assists to become the second American woman to score 20 goals and 20 assists in the same calendar year, alongside Mia Hamm. She was also the sixth and youngest US player to score 20 goals in a single year.

Throughout her national team career, Morgan accumulated more than 200 caps and 120 goals. She was also one of the first women's soccer players to appear on the cover of a FIFA video game.

Off the field, she was crucial to the USWNT's successful fight for equal pay, which involved a lengthy lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation. She was also instrumental in the National Women's Soccer League's reckoning over pervasive emotional, mental, and sexual abuse.

Morgan announced her retirement from the sport in September 2024.

Nastia Liukin was a pivotal member of the US gymnastics team during three World Championships and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. She won the 2008 Olympic all-around, as well as five Olympic medals, which tied the record for most medals won by an American gymnast in a single non-boycotted Olympic Games. (Simone Biles later tied the record.)

A four-time all-around US national champion, Liukin's strongest events were the uneven bars and balance beam. She attempted a comeback in 2011 with hopes of making the 2012 Olympic team, but fell several times during the Olympic Trials and retired in 2012. 

Since then, she has worked as a gymnastics analyst for NBC Sports. She also hosts an annual Nastia Liukin Cup to support the growth of gymnastics.

Serena Williams is widely regarded as the best female tennis player of the Open Era. She is tied for the third-most Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles on the all-time list and is second in the Open Era.

Her 23 Grand Slam singles titles are also a record for the most tournament wins in the Open Era and just one shy of Margaret Court's all-time record.

She and her sister, fellow tennis legend Venus Williams, are considered pioneers of a new era for women in tennis that focuses on power. And throughout her career, she was often among the only women on the list of the world's highest-paid athletes, according to Forbes.

In 2022, Williams announced her retirement from tennis, playing her final match in the third round of that year's US Open.

Off the court, Williams has been outspoken about the state of Black maternal healthcare, sharing her own near-death experience after giving birth to her first daughter in 2017.

She's also been building her portfolio in venture capital; in an email to Business Insider in 2023, Williams wrote, "Coming from a sports background and a sport that was an individual one, I've developed a habit of trusting my gut. So when it came to venture and founders, it wasn't hard to apply it. I also know what it looks like to be incredibly talented and not given the exposure because of the color of your skin. It's another reason I love investing — to close that gap."

Danica Patrick is the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing. She accomplished multiple firsts for women in the sport, including being the first woman to win an IndyCar Series race at the 2008 Indy Japan 300. 

Patrick also had the highest finish by a woman in the Indianapolis 500 (third) and Daytona 500 (eighth). She did not endure as much success as many expected, but she had an undeniable impact on the sport.

In a predominantly male industry, Patrick is often credited for inspiring more women to take part in auto racing and motorsports.

Ronda Rousey is a retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. She is considered to be one of the greatest female athletes as the only woman to win both a UFC and WWE championship. She is also one of the only women to headline a pay-per-view event.

At the 2008 Olympics, Rousey won a bronze medal in judo, becoming the first American woman ever to do so. She took part in the first UFC women's fight, successfully defending her title against Liza Carmouche.

Rousey was the first female fighter to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018. That same year, Rousey signed a contract with WWE and began professional wrestling.

Outside the ring, Rousey has written an autobiography and starred in several films, including "Furious 7" and "Mile 22."

She left the WWE in 2023.

Maria Sharapova is a retired professional tennis player and the only Russian to have a career Grand Slam. When she was 18 years old, Sharapova was ranked world No. 1 and was the first female from Russia to do so. 

Sharapova accumulated 36 singles titles and five Grand Slam titles, and is considered to be one of the best tennis players to play the game. 

She also has been involved in various humanitarian endeavors, including being a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador focused on the Chernobyl Recovery and Development. She also launched a program in 2018 to mentor women entrepreneurs.

Sharapova announced her retirement from tennis in February 2020.

At just 17 years old, Missy Franklin became the first American woman to win four gold medals in a single Olympics in any sport during the 2012 London Olympics. She quickly captivated America's attention and went on to win six gold medals at the 2013 World Aquatics Championship.

Franklin previously held the record at the World Aquatics Championships with 11 gold medals, but Katie Ledecky broke it in 2017 with 14.

If not for chronic pain cutting Franklin's career short, many believed she would go on to dominate women's swimming the way Michael Phelps dominated men's. In December 2018, Franklin announced her retirement due to shoulder issues, but she will always be remembered as one of the greats in women's swimming.

Megan Rapinoe has been one of the most recognizable faces on the US Women's National Soccer Team for more than a decade.

She put on a dominant performance to lead the Stars and Stripes to a second consecutive FIFA Women's World Cup championship in 2019, scoring six goals to earn the Golden Boot and Golden Ball Awards. All the while, she was publicly feuding with then-US President Donald Trump.

Rapinoe was also on the 2015 team that won the World Cup, as well as the 2012 Olympic team, which took home gold.

Rapinoe has made noise both on and off the field as an advocate for numerous LGBTQ+ organizations, women in sports, and other social justice issues.

She retired from club and country in 2023.

Former German tennis player Steffi Graf is the only tennis player to win each Grand Slam tournament at least four times and achieve the Golden Slam by winning all four Grand Slam singles titles and the Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year. She won 22 Grand Slam singles titles overall.

She was ranked world No. 1 for 377 weeks by the Women's Tennis Association, which is the longest for any player, male or female, since rankings began being issued. 

Along with Margaret Court, the two are the only players to win three Grand Slam tournaments in a calendar year five times, among male and female players. 

Her aggressive game has been noted as the starting point for today's modern style of play. She is regarded as the greatest female tennis player of all time by many, including by tennis great Billie Jean King. She is credited with helping to increase the sport's popularity in Germany, where it has remained popular since. 

Graf retired in 1999 and was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2004.

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings are considered the greatest beach volleyball team of all-time. They won three consecutive Olympic gold medals from 2004 to 2012. They also won 21 consecutive Olympic matches and only lost one set during their 11-year run. 

May-Treanor announced her retirement following her and Walsh Jennings' third gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. She was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2016.

Walsh Jennings began playing with former teammate April Ross in 2013 after May-Treanor's retirement. The two won the bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, making her the most decorated beach volleyball Olympian, male or female, in history.

Recently retired Diana Taurasi is the all-time leading scorer in the WNBA. Since being drafted No. 1 overall by the Phoenix Mercury in 2004, she won the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award, three WNBA championships, and five Olympic gold medals from 2004-2020.

She also won the WNBA MVP Award in 2009, two WNBA Finals MVP Awards (2009, 2014), and was selected to 11 WNBA All-Star teams. She is also one of just a handful of women who have won an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA championship, and a WNBA championship.

Taurasi is considered one of the greatest women to play basketball, with late legend Kobe Bryant dubbing her the "White Mamba."

Larisa Latynina holds the record for most Olympic medals by any gymnast, male or female, with 18, nine of which were gold.

Latynina retired in 1966 but went on to coach the Soviet's women's gymnastics team for the 1968-1976 Olympics. She is often regarded with the establishment of the Soviet Union's dominance in gymnastics.

One of the greatest American track-and-field athletes of all time, Jackie Joyner-Kersee was known for the heptathlon (where athletes compete in seven different track and field events in two days) and long jump. Over four Olympic Games, she took home three gold, one silver, and two bronze medals in the two events.

Joyner-Kersee established the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation in 1988, which is dedicated to providing youth, adults, and families with athletic lessons and resources to improve their quality of life. She also is one of 11 athletes who founded Athletes for Hope, which helps professional athletes take part in charity events and volunteering.

She is also an activist for children's education, racial equality, and women's rights.

Candace Parker was the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game. Drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks No. 1 overall in 2008, she became the second player to dunk in a WNBA game in June 2008 and went on to become the league's only player to earn Rookie of the Year and WNBA MVP honors in the same season.

Parker was named WNBA Finals MVP after leading the Sparks to the 2016 WNBA championship alongside Alana Beard and Nneka Ogwumike. She was named league MVP again in 2013 and Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. 

After more than a decade in Los Angeles, Parker made a blockbuster free agency move to join her hometown Chicago Sky in 2021. She led the franchise to its first-ever WNBA title that same year.

Parker retired from the sport in the spring of 2024 and was named president of Adidas Women's Basketball. She also serves as an NBA analyst and commentator.

Nadia Comaneci competed during the 1976 and 1980 Summer Olympics in gymnastics and is credited with bringing attention to the sport worldwide. From Romania, she won five gold medals in individual events and was the first to be awarded a perfect 10 score. 

In two Olympics, Comaneci had nine perfect 10s. She won nine Olympic medals and four World Artistic Gymnastics Championship medals. 

Now retired, Comaneci has remained a prominent figure in gymnastics. She also is involved in fundraising for various different charities.

Martina Navratilova is considered to be one of the best female tennis players in history. She is the only player to be ranked No. 1 in singles (332 weeks) and doubles (237 weeks) for more than 200 weeks. She won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, a record 31 major women's doubles titles, and 10 major mixed doubles titles.

She won the Wimbledon women's singles title a record nine times, including six consecutive titles, which is regarded as the best performance by a player at a major event.

Navratilova is one of only three women to achieve a Career Grand Slam in women's singles and doubles, and mixed doubles, which consists of every senior Grand Slam title. Over five seasons from 1982-86, she won 428 out of 442 singles matches. She owns the best win-loss record in the Open Era going 86-1, as well as the longest winning streak with 74 consecutive wins.

Navratilova came out as bisexual in 1981 and has been an activist for gay rights, along with animal rights and underprivileged children. However, she has also been criticized for making "transphobic" comments. 

Marta Vieira da Silva, more commonly known as Marta, was the first soccer player to ever score at five FIFA World Cups, men's or women's. Her 17 total goals set the all-time record for most goals scored at the tournament by any player.

Marta has been named FIFA World Player of the Year six times, including five consecutive from 2006 to 2010, and is regarded as one of the best female players of all-time. She won a silver medal at the 2004, 2008, and 2024 Olympics, as well as the Golden Ball and Golden Boot at the 2007 Women's World Cup. 

The Brazilian is highly regarded as a prolific scorer and leader who excels as a creative playmaker.

Lexi Thompson was the youngest golfer to qualify to play in the US Women's Open at 12 years old. At 15, she turned professional and a year later set a new record as the youngest-ever winner of an LPGA tournament. She was 16 years, seven months, and eight days old. 

Thompson won her first major championships at 19 years, 1 month, and 27 days old, making her the second-youngest LPGA golfer to win a major at the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship.

She has accumulated 11 LPGA Tour victories and one major.

Regarded as one of the greatest figures in American women's basketball, Nancy Lieberman played for several different teams and leagues before being drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Diamonds. 

She was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. Lieberman played for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA's inaugural year in 1997, when she was the oldest player at 39.

In 1998, Lieberman became the general manager and head coach of the WNBA's Detroit Shock, where she coached for three seasons. She broke her own record as the oldest player in WNBA history when she signed a seven-day contract in 2008 at 50 years old with the Shock, playing in one game.

She moved on to become a broadcaster for the New Orleans Pelicans and is now head coach of the Power in the BIG3.

Soccer icon Mia Hamm was a member of the USWNT from 1987 to 2004, where she became a two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion. During her college years, she led the University of North Carolina Tar Heels to four consecutive NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championships. 

Hamm was a member of the USWNT during the 1991 inaugural Women's World Cup in China and remained on the team for the three tournaments that followed. She was also a member of the US team during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, which was the first games that held women's soccer as an event. 

Hamm ranks fourth in USWNT history with 276 international caps and first in career assists with 147, NBC Sports reported. She was the first woman inducted into the World Football Hall of Fame. 

She retired in 2004 but has inspired many in the sport, including 2019 World Cup Champion Rose Lavelle. 

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Abby Wambach is the highest all-time goal scorer for the US Women's National Soccer Team. Upon retiring, she held the record for most international goals among male and female players with 184.

Wambach was a member of USWNT from 2001 to 2015, winning the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup title. She is known for her skillful play and diving headers to score goals.

Her equalizing header against Brazil in 2011 in the 122nd minute off a cross from Megan Rapinoe is often called one of the greatest goals in the history of the Women's World Cup and it set a record for the latest goal ever scored.

She was awarded the Bronze Boot and Silver Ball after the tournament. That same year, she also became the first soccer player of either gender to be named Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press. 

Wambach retired in 2015 and is regarded as one of the best to play US soccer. She's now a partial owner of the National Women's Soccer League club Angel City FC.

At the boycotted 1984 Summer Olympics, Mary Lou Retton became the first-ever American woman to win the all-around gold medal in gymnastics. She won by .05 points, beating Romania's Ecaterina Szabo. It marked the first time a female gymnast outside Eastern Europe won the individual all-around gold. 

She also took home two silver medals and two bronze medals, helping her rise to popularity in the United States.

Retton coined her move on the uneven bars "The Retton Flip." The move consists of a transition from low-bar to high-bar, ending with the gymnast sitting on top of the high bar. It was removed from the Code of Points because it was a "belly beat" move, which is when the gymnast hits their hips into the low bar to gain momentum.

Retired American figure skater Michelle Kwan is a five-time World Champion and nine-time US champion, which ties her for the all-time National Championship record. She is a two-time Olympic medalist, winning a silver in 1998 and bronze in 2002.

She is the most decorated figure skater in US history and is considered one of the greatest figure skaters of all time. Kwan stole the hearts of the American people to become one of the country's most popular female athletes.

Kwan also served as the US Ambassador to Belize from 2022 to 2025.

Along with her sister Serena Williams, Venus Williams is highly regarded as one of the greats of tennis. She was the first Black woman to be ranked No. 1 by the Women's Tennis Association in the Open Era, and second all-time. 

She has seven Grand Slam singles titles and is also unbeaten in Grand Slam Women's doubles titles. She and Serena have 14 together.

Williams has four Olympic gold medals, one in singles and three in women's doubles. She also has a silver medal in mixed doubles, which ties her with Kathleen McKane Godfree for the most Olympic medals won by a male or female tennis player. She is the only tennis player to win a medal at four Olympic Games.

Following in the footsteps of Billie Jean King, Williams fought for equal prize money at Wimbledon, gaining the backing of then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair and winning the fight.

WNBA star Maya Moore was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx after leading the University of Connecticut women's basketball team to back-to-back national championships. Her standout career with the Huskies included an unbeaten streak of 90 games, which is an NCAA record among men's and women's teams.

Moore won four WNBA titles with the Minnesota Lynx, as well as the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award. She also won MVP in 2014. She won titles in the Spanish league, EuroLeague, and Chinese League.

In February 2019, Moore penned an article for The Player's Tribune saying that she would take a sabbatical for the 2019 season to focus on family and ministry dreams. She has since fought for social justice reform, specifically in the realm of wrongful convictions. Moore helped free her now-husband, Jonathan Irons, after 23 years of wrongful imprisonment.

She officially retired from the WNBA in 2023, and co-wrote the memoir "Love and Justice" with Irons, Time magazine reported.

Multi-sport American athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias won two gold medals in track and field at the 1932 Olympics and won 10 LPGA major championships. She also participated in basketball, baseball, softball, diving, roller-skating, and bowling.

Zaharias was known for breaking the boundaries of what it meant to be a woman in her time.

She was inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame in 1951 and the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1976. 

Zaharias was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1953 and she became known as an advocate for cancer awareness, using her popularity to raise money for her cancer fund. (At the time, many Americans refused to seek treatment for cancer.)

She died three years later in 1956 at just 45 years old.

Sheryl Swoopes was the first player to sign a WNBA contract, and for good reason; she was a generational talent who went on to win three WNBA MVP awards. She won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA and was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. 

Swoopes was the first WNBA player to have a triple-double in the regular season and playoffs. She was also the first women's basketball player to have a Nike shoe named after her, called the Air Swoopes.

In 2005, she publicly announced that she's gay, becoming one of the highest-profile athletes to do so. Since retiring from the sport, Swoopes has coached various women's basketball programs.

Gold medalist and University of Southern California women's basketball star Cheryl Miller is one of the most well-known collegiate players to ever play the game. Miller never played in the WNBA but led the USA basketball team to a gold medal during the 1984 Olympics.

Her jersey was the first retired jersey at USC from both basketball teams. She scored 3,018 career points and had 1,534 career rebounds. She helped the Trojans to two NCAA titles, winning NCAA Tournament MVP both seasons.

Miller still holds multiple records at USC, including career scoring, scoring average, rebounds, rebound average, and free throws. After playing, she worked as a coach and sportscaster.

In January 2024, USC reported that she was one of 10 Californians chosen to be inducted to the California Hall of Fame.

Golf great Nancy Lopez left college during her sophomore year to turn professional in 1977. She won nine tournaments during her first full season on the LPGA Tour in 1978.

She was named LPGA Rookie of the Year and LPGA Player of the Year, and won the Vare trophy, which is given to the player with the lowest-scoring average for the season. She was the only woman to achieve all three in the same season.

From the late 1970s to late 1980s, Lopez was the game's best player, winning three majors, all at the LPGA Championship. She never won the US Women's Open, but finished second four times.

In 1997, Lopez became the first woman to score under 70 for all four rounds but finished second to Alison Nicholas. She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1987.

Lisa Leslie is a three-time WNBA MVP and a four-time Olympic gold medalist. She was drafted No. 7 overall in the 1997 inaugural WNBA draft and went on to win two WNBA championships with the Los Angeles Sparks. She was also selected as a WNBA All-Star eight times. 

Leslie was the first player to dunk in a WNBA game and is widely considered one of the greatest in the league's history.

Since her retirement in 2009, she has served as a sports commentator in several sports networks and in 2018 joined Fox Sports Florida as a studio analyst on Orlando Magic broadcasts. She currently coaches the Triplets in the BIG3.

At the 2012 London Games, then-16-year-old Gabby Douglas made history as the first Black woman to win gold in the all-round Olympic gymnastics competition. Known with her teammates as the "Fierce Five," Douglas also became the first US gymnast to win gold in both the all-around and team titles at the same Olympic Games.

She returned to Olympic competition in 2016 alongside 2012 Olympic teammate Aly Raisman, winning the team gold medal alongside Simone Biles, Madison Kocian, and Laurie Hernandez, dubbed the "Final Five."

In 2017, Business Insider reported that Douglas was facing swift criticism for a deleted tweet that appeared to victim-blame Raisman, who'd recently spoken out about sexual abuse. She later apologized, writing that she was "deeply sorry for coming off like I don't stand alongside my teammates."

In July 2023, Douglas announced her intent to return to the Olympics after an eight-year hiatus, but a foot injury during practice in May 2024 forced her to drop out of the running, the Olympics reported.

Ons Jabeur is a professional tennis player from Tunisia who made history in 2022 when she became the first African and Arab woman in the Open Era to reach the final of a Grand Slam, finishing as the runner up at Wimbledon, the WTA reported.

Jabeur had previously made history in 2021 when she became the first Arab woman to win a WTA title. 

CNN reported that at a press conference at the 2022 US Open, Jabeur told media, "I hope I can send a powerful message that if I made it here, everybody can make it here. Especially for women from different countries, especially from women from the Middle East, from the Arab world."

Jabeur's success has been highly influential in attracting young girls in Tunisia to tennis, with CNN noting that "membership in the Tunisian Tennis Federation has grown and the number of young Tunisians showing interest in the sport has climbed with Jabeur's success."

As of March 2025, she is ranked the No. 30 player in the world and has been to three Grand Slam finals.

When the public remembers the 1999 Women's World Cup final, they often envision Brandi Chastain celebrating on the ground, jersey in hand. What they may forget, though, was the incredible save made by legendary USWNT goalkeeper Briana Scurry that allowed the US to raise the trophy for their second World Cup title.

Scurry played 173 full international games throughout her career, including four World Cups and two Olympics, in which the US brought home gold medals in both; giving her the second most appearances of any female goalkeeper.

In addition to being the only Black starter for the 1999 Women's World Cup final, Scurry was also one of the first out lesbians in professional soccer, the National Museum of African American History reported.

She was elected to the FIFA Hall of Fame in 2010 and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2017, becoming the first Black woman and first female goalkeeper to receive the honor.

Scurry now works as an influential speaker, focusing on advocating for concussion awareness, having suffered a career-ending concussion in 2010.

Tessa Virtue and her skating partner Scott Moir are widely regarded as one of the best ice-dancing teams of all time. By 2025, their Olympic-winning 2018 routine to "Moulin Rouge" has been viewed more than 24 million times on the Olympic YouTube channel, demonstrating the captivating nature of their performances that have resonated with audiences for years.

In the ice-dancing event, the duo won gold at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, silver in 2014 at the Sochi Games, and gold again in 2018 in Pyeongchang. They also have won two team medals, making them the first figure skaters to own five career Olympic medals, the Olympics reported.

At just 19 years old, Amy Purdy lost both legs below the knee, her spleen, and hearing in her left ear after contracting bacterial meningitis.

Despite the immense change, she told NIH MedlinePlus Magazine in 2023 that "mentally, I adjusted right away to my new reality." Purdy returned to her love of snowboarding just seven months later, and went on to compete at the 2014 Paralympic Games in 2014 in Sochi, bringing home the bronze medal for snowboard-cross standing, an event the International Paralympic Committee said she was "instrumental" in getting included in the games.

After her Olympic success, Purdy returned to the US to compete as the first double amputee on "Dancing With the Stars," placing second with her partner Derek Hough. She also released her New York Times bestselling memoir, "On My Own Two Feet: From Losing My Legs To Learning The Dance Of Life," that same year.

Purdy returned to Olympic competition in 2018, competing in the Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang and winning a silver and bronze medal in the women's snowboard cross SB-LL1 and women's banked slalom SB-LL1 events, respectively.

Since retiring from the sport in 2022, Purdy has continued to work with her non-profit, Adaptive Action Sports, which she founded in 2005 with her now-husband Daniel Gale. The group works to help individuals with physical disabilities who want to get involved in action sports, art, or music.

When NIH MedlinePlus Magazine asked what the future holds for her, Purdy said that she wants to help others live a life as accomplished and fulfilled as hers. "I'm at the beginning of writing my second book, and I have plans to help people find their voice and use their own stories to impact the world," she said.

Naomi Osaka is a Japanese-American tennis player known both for her abilities on the court and her advocacy of mental health and social justice issues.

She has previously held the No. 1 world tennis ranking, becoming the first Asian player to do so in the singles category. Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, with two wins at both the Australian and US Opens, as well as seven WTA titles.

In 2020, she was an influential public figure during the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, penning an essay for Esquire, attending protests, and even withdrawing from the Western & Southern Open in August after the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She posted her decision on Instagram, writing, "Before I am an athlete, I am a black woman. And as a black woman I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need immediate attention, rather than watching me play tennis."

Osaka won that year's US Open wearing masks with a different name of a victim of police brutality for each match, a gesture that caught the attention of the families of Ahmaud Arbery and Tamir Rice, who thanked her for remembering their loved ones, The New York Times reported.

She has also been honest about her experiences with depression as an athlete, telling reporters after a loss in 2021's US Open, "I feel like for me recently when I win, I don't feel happy. I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don't think that's normal," NPR reported.

Osaka took an extended break from playing and gave birth to her daughter in 2023. She has since returned to the court with recent appearances at the US Open, China Open, and Australian Open.

Allyson Felix is the most decorated American track-and-field athlete of all time, with 11 Olympic medals — seven of which are gold — from five consecutive Olympic games, per the Olympics.

Another of her biggest accomplishments in her career was raising public consciousness about the issues female athletes face when they become pregnant, penning a powerful op-ed in 2019 for The New York Times saying Nike planned to reduce her pay by 70% after giving birth to her first child.

Her article, in addition to experiences shared by fellow runners Alysia Montaño and Kara Goucher, gained widespread attention and sparked Nike to create a new maternity policy for its athletes.

Felix has also been outspoken about her birthing experience after having an emergency C-section because of complications with preeclampsia. In 2022, she partnered with Pampers to help combat disparities in Black maternal healthcare.

She told Business Insider in 2022, "All Black women, all women of color are at risk. It doesn't matter how great of medical care that you have, or being a professional athlete. I never would've imagined that this would be my situation. And I think that that's what a lot of people think."

"When I went through this situation, my eyes were just opened. I wanted to take action, but I think what's even more incredible is these organizations and companies who are stepping up and have been doing this and been in this space for so long," she added.

She retired from the sport in 2022.

The all-time NCAA leading scorer — and first overall 2024 WNBA Draft pick by the Indiana Fever — is undoubtedly changing the way women's sports are viewed.

Her appearance in the 2023 Women's NCAA March Madness championship game against LSU and its own major star, Angel Reese, was watched by nearly 10 million people, a 103% increase from 2022's viewership, Nielsen reported.

Later that year, she helped attract nearly 56,000 people to Kinnick Stadium for an outdoor exhibition game against DePaul University, Just Women's Sports reported.

Clark has embraced her role as a leading figure in the sport, telling post-game press after a win against Indiana University in 2024, "I'm all about growing the women's game and I'm glad I've given something that little girls can scream about at the top of their lungs," the Des Moines Register reported.

She was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year, having averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Althea Gibson is best known for breaking the color barrier in tennis, but she did so in golf, too.

In 1950, Gibson became the first Black person to compete at the US National Championships, defeating Barbara Knapp in the first round, the International Tennis Hall of Fame reported. A year later, she also became the first Black player to compete at Wimbledon.

Throughout her career, Gibson appeared in 19 major finals, winning 11 titles. She won the French International Tennis Championship in 1956, then became the first Black person to win Wimbledon, doing so back-to-back in 1957 and 1958. She also won the US Open those same years. In addition to her five singles titles, Gibson won five titles in women's doubles and one title in mixed doubles.

She was the first Black person to be ranked No. 1 in the world in tennis.

After her tennis career, Gibson transitioned into golf where she became the first Black woman to compete on the women's professional golf tour in 1963.

ESPN reported that she played 171 events from 1963 to 1977 and although she never won, her presence was highly influential in creating representation for young Black female athletes.

At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Simone Manuel made history as the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic medal in swimming when she set an Olympic and American record in the 100-meter freestyle at 20 years old.

She finished Rio with an additional two silver medals and another gold, for a total of four medals.

She returned to the Olympic stage in 2021, winning the bronze medal in the women's 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay. In 2024, she helped the same relay team reach silver as well as the women's 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay team.

Manuel is known for her activism in swimming, advocating for more diversity and inclusion in the sport.

US Women's Rugby made history in Paris when they reached the Olympic podium for the first time with a bronze medal — and the player everyone was talking about was Ilona Maher.

Maher was a member of the Tokyo Olympics' squad, where she began to make a name for herself on social media as an influential advocate for body positivity.

She's continued her activism on TikTok, building a community of more than 3.5 million followers as she shares glimpses of life interacting with other athletes, comedy, outfits, and advice.

Though Dawn Staley is now known as the award-winning head coach of the University of South Carolina women's basketball team, she was a star player, too.

Staley won three Olympic gold medals, was selected for five WNBA All-Star games, and was inducted to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

As head coach of the Gamecocks, she has won three NCAA Championships, including 2024's perfect season victory over Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

She is the only person to have won the Naismith Award as a player (1991, 1992) and as a coach (2020, 2022, 2023, 2024).

The team will be looking to repeat their success during this year's March Madness tournament.

At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, sabre fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad made history when she became the first Muslim American woman to compete in a hijab and win a medal.

Muhammad and her teammates won bronze in the women's sabre event, and she was also recognized as one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of the year.

She retired from the sport in 2019.

Early in Blanco's career, he was mentored by producer Dr. Luke (full name Lukasz Gottwald) who signed him to his production company, Kasz Money Productions.

In a July 2018 episode of "The Zach Sang Show," Blanco said he learned how to produce pop music from producers like Gottwald and Max Martin.

"From those guys, I learned so much about how to write songs and how to craft the perfect pop hook," he said.

One of Blanco's early projects with Dr. Luke was Britney Spears' 2008 hit "Circus," which they wrote with fellow producer and songwriter Claude Kelly. Blanco was only 20 years old at the time of its release.

"Circus" reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Also in 2008, Blanco and Dr. Luke worked together to write and record Kesha's "Tik Tok."

Kesha told Vulture in 2024 that she was encouraged to make the lyrics of the song "dumber."

"After I wrote them, I was like, 'This is too dumb, right? It doesn't make sense to brush your teeth with a bottle of Jack Daniel's.' But I remember Benny Blanco was like, 'No, it's sick. Just don't overthink it.' That's what we ended up with," she said.

The song was certified 12x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has more than one billion streams on Spotify.

In 2014, Kesha sued Dr. Luke, alleging he had drugged and raped her, and psychologically abused her during their working relationship. They settled the suit, and his subsequent countersuit for defamation, in 2023. Gottwald denied the accusations and was never charged with a crime.

Blanco told the "Behind the Wall" podcast that it took eight days to write the lyrics to "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry.

"There's a version that says like, 'Before you know it, you're just a mom in a minivan' and it was all about like coming of age," he said, adding, "We just changed it like a million times."

Perry, Blanco, Bonnie McKee, Dr. Luke, and Max Martin were all songwriters on the project, while Blanco, Dr. Luke, and Martin produced it.

The rewrites paid off, as "Teenage Dream" was certified Diamond by the RIAA and was Perry's second-consecutive No. 1 single after "California Gurls," which Blanco also helped produce.

It's hard to imagine anyone other than Rihanna singing "Diamonds," but that's exactly what Blanco, Sia, and Stargate (a Norwegian songwriting and production duo) had in mind when they wrote and produced their demo in the early 2010s.

Blanco told "The Howard Stern Show" in 2024 that they originally wanted to give the song to Kanye West or Eminem. "But then, once Rihanna sang it, I was like 'Oh my God, this is something,'" he said.

But getting the song finished came down to a mad rush; Blanco told The Source in October 2012, "We had one day to finish it. We didn't even have her vocals yet. We had to finish all the music around it without even having her vocals, and I was like 'There's no way this is happening.' Then, we get the song the next day, we had to mix the song the same day and master it and then it was out like a few days later."

"Diamonds" was released in September 2012 as the lead single on Rihanna's seventh studio album, "Unapologetic," and went on to become her 12th No. 1 single — tying Madonna and the Supremes — and was certified Diamond by the RIAA.

After achieving massive mainstream success with "Moves Like Jagger," Blanco teamed up with Maroon 5 again in 2012 for the song "Payphone," featuring Wiz Khalifa.

In 2012, Blanco told Rolling Stone, "I love when things don't make sense," adding, "I like when bands dip into a whole different genre."

In 2013, Maroon 5 front man Adam Levine told The New York Times, "It's almost as if [Blanco] has the Midas touch in putting the right people together at the right time to create a musical moment. He's about the collaboration. And he's so good at nailing down who does everything best."

"Payphone" was a commercial success and was nominated for the Grammy for best pop duo/group performance in 2013, but ultimately lost to Gotye and Kimbra for "Somebody That I Used to Know."

Blanco was a key collaborator on Sheeran's third studio album, "Divide" (2017), which included hits like "Shape of You," "Castle on the Hill," and "Happier."

After starting the song with Ryan Tedder, Blanco and Sheeran continued to write and produce "Happier" on a cruise ship — Blanco has a fear of flying — from New York to London.

Filmmaker Murray Cummings documented the process in the 2018 documentary "Songwriter," capturing Sheeran and Blanco recording vocals and brainstorming lyrics in a studio on the ship.

Speaking of Ed Sheeran, he and Blanco also wrote "Love Yourself" while working on "Divide."

Blanco told "The Howard Stern Show" they wrote the song on a tour bus from Canada to the US, and that it was inspired by Sheeran's lack of wanting to discuss his personal life in a song.

However, Blanco famously changed the original lyrics of the song from "F— Yourself" to "Love Yourself."

"I don't like to curse unless it's really important to curse in the song," he said, adding, "I wanna leave a little bit up to the audience, 'cause you know you're saying go f— yourself, you don't have to say it."

Ultimately, the pair gave the song to Justin Bieber, who was finishing his album "Purpose."

Long before Gomez and Blanco started dating, the pair worked together on the 2015 hit "Same Old Love."

The song was largely written by fellow pop star Charli XCX and Ross Golan, though producers Blanco and Stargate contributed to the lyrics, too.

Charli XCX told Grazia in 2016 that she actually wished she'd kept the song for herself, "But then, I kind of realised it was actually the perfect home for that song because coming from [Gomez], it meant kind of a lot more than coming from me."

In 2017, Halsey spoke with iHeart Radio about creating "Now or Never," the lead single from her album, "Hopeless Fountain Kingdom."

"Benny Blanco and I did 'Now or Never' together and he is one of my favorite people in the whole world," she said, adding, "When he and I were working together, he had a lot of faith in me and he knew that he could pull a really really incredible song out of me, and he was so respectful of me."

The song went on to be certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA and Halsey was included in Blanco's debut single, "Eastside," with Khalid in 2018.

In 2017, Julia Michaels told Billboard's "How It Went Down" series that she wrote "Issues" with Justin Tranter, Blanco, and Stargate in about an hour after getting into a fight with her boyfriend.

"I just thought, well I've got issues and he's got 'em, too, and it's really crazy that nobody's written a song like this because everybody goes through something like this," she said, adding, "Once we figured out that that was the concept, words just kind of flew out of me 'cause I was so in it."

"It was the first time in my life that I kept a song for myself," Michaels added.

Similar to Blanco, Michaels has had a prolific career as a songwriter in addition to her work as a solo artist; some of her writing credits include Justin Bieber's "Sorry," Hailee Steinfeld's "Love Myself," and Fifth Harmony's "Miss Movin' On." More recently, she contributed to songs on Sabrina Carpenter's album, "Short n' Sweet."

Blanco and Stargate produced the song, which was nominated for song of the year at the Grammys in 2018.

Clemson University quarterback Cade Klubnik is preparing to enter his fourth season with the Tigers. Last season, he threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns and rushed for an additional 463 yards and seven touchdowns.

He finished the season as a Maxwell Award semifinalist, and as a top-10 finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

Per Essentially Sports, head coach Dabo Swinney told reporters that Klubnik is a "veteran leader, very confident. And that can only come from being battle-tested and having the type of experience that he's got from really good success but also some failure as well."

Throughout his career at Clemson, Klubnik has signed NIL deals with brands like EA Sports, Fred Caldwell Chevrolet, Rhoback, and ONIT Athlete. He was also a member of the inaugural "Beats Elite" class of 2023 alongside Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Shedeur Sanders, and others. He has a roster value of $3 million and a total NIL valuation of $3.3 million, per On3.

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is preparing for his fifth season — and second as a starter — with the Tigers. Last season, he threw 337 completions for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns and was named MVP of the 2024 Texas Bowl in LSU's 44-31 win over Baylor.

"Building a relationship with all of his receivers is what we're looking for in that, timing, and you know he's got some deep threats," head coach Brian Kelly told reporters on March 12, per LSU Wire.

Kelly added, "I think what we'll see is a quarterback that comes through the spring and just feels really confident with the options that he has."

On3 reported that Nussmeier has a roster value of $3.3 million and a total NIL valuation of $3.6 million thanks in part to deals with brands like Cheez-It, Powerade, EA Sports, Signature Ride, and Bayou Traditions.

Nussmeier is the son of New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier.

South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers has a roster value of $3.5 million and a total NIL valuation of $3.7 million.

As a redshirt freshman last season, Sellers threw for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for an additional 674 yards and seven touchdowns, leading the team to a 9-4 record. Coaches voted him the SEC Freshman of the Year and he was also named the National Freshman Offensive Player of the Year by the Football Writers Association of America, among other accolades.

Throughout his college career, he's signed NIL deals with brands like EA Sports, Palmetto Autographs, Famously Garnet Sports, and Garnet Trust. His most recent NIL deal came from Cheez-It alongside Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer ahead of their Citrus Bowl matchup in December 2024 (Illinois ultimately won the game 21-17).

In a March 2025 interview with On3's Mike Uva, Sellers said "it's going to be an exciting year" with the team's new talent.

"I've been in this system, and I know our system. I know our guys. We've got our timing stuff down. It's all about focusing on the details now," he added.

University of Florida quarterback DJ Lagway played in 12 games last season and started seven. In that time, the true freshman threw for 1,915 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for an additional 101 yards from 50 carries.

On a March 4 episode of the "Outta Pocket with RGIII" podcast, Robert Griffin III said Lagway was "literally the best quarterback" he's ever seen "coming out of high school."

Lagway's NIL portfolio includes deals with Nintendo, Gatorade, Leaf Trading Cards, and Florida Victorious, the Florida Gators Collective. He has a roster value of $3.4 million and a total NIL valuation of $3.8 million.

On the podcast, Lagway shared that NIL has been a blessing, allowing him to take care of himself and his family, but said the end goal is the NFL.

No. 1 college basketball prospect AJ Dybantsa has chosen to attend BYU in the fall and already has an estimated NIL valuation of more than $3 million.

At 6-foot-9, the 18-year-old helped the USA's U17 National Team win gold at the 2024 U17 FIBA World Cup in Turkey, averaging 14.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.

In December 2024, Dybantsa's business advisor Leonard Armato told CBS Sports that his decision to attend BYU "wasn't a money decision as much as it was a culture fit, a decision for the family, basketball, all those things that should be the determining factors." It was widely reported that Dybantsa had an asking price of about $5 million from schools, but his On3 NIL valuation is reported at $3.8 million with a roster value of $3.3 million

On an episode of ESPN's "First Take," Dybantsa also highlighted head coach Kevin Young, who coached his "favorite player of all time," Kevin Durant.

"I'm trying to get to the NBA and I think it's gonna be the best development program for me," Dybantsa said, per Forbes.

Dybantsa's current NIL portfolio includes Red Bull and Nike, though Armato told CBS Sports that the Nike contract will expire in June.

"His deal will be up before he goes to college and he will be a free agent in the athletic footwear market," Armato said, leaving the door open for a potentially record-breaking deal in the fall.

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has a roster value of $3.2 million and a total NIL valuation of $4 million.

In his freshman season with the National Championship-winning Buckeyes, Smith caught for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns, earning him the titles of Big Ten Wide Receiver of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Some of his NIL deals include Nintendo, Red Bull, Lululemon, Battle Sports, American Eagle Outfitters, and the 1870 Society.

With a combined social-media following of 13.5 million followers, Dunne, 22, is one of the most-followed student-athletes ever, which likely helps brands gravitate toward her.

On3 reported that her portfolio of deals includes American Eagle Outfitters, Too Faced Cosmetics, Leaf Trading Cards, GrubHub, and Nautica. Her most recent deal came earlier in March when she signed with Crocs.

In October 2024, she was ranked No. 31 on Forbes' Top Creators list of the year, finishing above other popular creators like Addison Rae, Nara Smith, and Monet McMichael.

Dunne is competing with LSU in her final year of NCAA eligibility as the team strives for back-to-back national championship titles.

After spending the last four years at the University of Georgia, quarterback Carson Beck has decided to take his talents to the University of Miami for his final year of NCAA eligibility.

Despite continuing to recover from a UCL injury to his right elbow, Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson told reporters that Beck is already making an impact, Sports Illustrated reported.

"Obviously, it's a unique situation, surely, but his football IQ is really high. You can tell just in meetings and talking football with him, and I think it's important for him to just get injected with the team. Just be around and be around those guys and build rapport," Dawson said.

Prior to injury, Beck finished last season with 3,485 passing yards for 28 touchdowns; he also rushed for 71 yards and an additional touchdown.

On3 reported that Beck has a roster value of $3.9 million and a total NIL valuation of $4.3 million. His NIL portfolio includes deals with Chipotle, Powerade, private jet company Airstar Charter, EA Sports, and Leaf Trading Cards. He was also a member of the second "Beats Elite" class in 2024.

The 6-foot-9 freshman from Newport, Maine, is starting his Duke basketball career strong. Before the season even started, Flagg signed with CAA for NIL representation and inked his first major deal with New Balance.

The brand announced its partnership with Flagg in August, highlighting his status as a five-star prospect who was the only teenager selected to train with the USA Basketball Men's National Team before their gold-medal-winning run in Paris.

So far this season, he's started in every game he's played and averaged 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. Oh, and multiple outlets have already named him the projected No. 1 pick for the 2025 NBA Draft.

Flagg has a roster value of $3.4 million and a total NIL valuation of $4.8 million. In addition to New Balance, some of his other NIL deals include Gatorade and Fanatics.

Arch Manning comes from a long line of football royalty. His uncles, Peyton and Eli Manning, were Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks in the NFL, and his grandfather, Archie Manning, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.

Now, with Quinn Ewers having declared for the NFL Draft, it's Arch's time to shine as the starting quarterback of the Texas Longhorns.

"The thing about Arch is this, from the day he arrived, there's been a real sense of humility about him," head coach Steve Sarkisian told reporters on March 11, Sports Illustrated reported. "If you didn't know his last name and didn't know the face, and just looked at the body of work, the teammate that he is, the work ethic that he has, his commitment to his craft, his commitment to his teammates, this process has been underway for a couple of years."

Last season, Manning started just two games but appeared in nine; he threw for 939 yards and nine touchdowns.

He has a roster value of $4.1 million and a total NIL valuation of $6.5 million, thanks in part to deals with brands like Uber, Red Bull, EA Sports, and Panini America.

The women's rights movement reached a national scale after the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, in which leaders Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott spoke on the need for women's suffrage. 

When the 19th Amendment was ratified in August 1920, it largely benefited white women.

Voter intimidation and discriminatory policies kept many Black women from the polls. The government also often denied Native American and Asian-American women citizenship, so they were also unable to vote. It wasn't until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and voting rights amendments in 1975 that some Black women and other women of color were finally able to cast their ballots.

Women protested for their right to vote for nearly a century before the amendment was finally passed in 1920.

Those who protested faced arrest, jail time, and harassment in their efforts to secure women's rights.

They voted in the 1920 election for either Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge on the Republican ticket or James Cox and Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the Democratic ticket. Harding won by a landslide and became president in 1921.

Women's suffrage in Great Britain was put into law differently than in the United States, The Independent reported. The country saw two stages of granting women the right to vote: the 1918 declaration of suffrage for women, and then the declaration of full suffrage for women in 1928.

The 1918 declaration was highly exclusionary, only allowing women over the age of 30 who were married to members of their local government register.

It was only in 1928 that women were granted equal voting rights to men, allowing women over the age of 21 to cast a ballot.

Though the Women's Christian Temperance Union was behind the movement that sparked Prohibition, there were also women against the alcohol ban.

Female bootleggers were often far more successful than men at the time, reported "Whiskey Women" author Fred Minnick, because it was illegal for male officers to search women.

In addition to using devices like this, women would hide bottles of liquor in their socks or under their jackets to smuggle alcohol.

Prohibition lasted nationwide from 1920 to 1933, but that didn't stop these ladies from enjoying a drink in 1925.

Georgia Ann Hill Robinson was the first Black female police officer appointed to the Los Angeles Police Department, and possibly the country, in 1916. She worked for the LAPD for 12 years, and fought against segregation and for women's welfare.

Before the job became popular for women, teenage boys worked as the first switchboard operators, History.com reported. However, they reportedly proved to be too rude and unruly, and bosses brought in women instead, believing them to be naturally more polite and soft-spoken.

World War I saw the first time that factory jobs, previously viewed as male positions, were taken over by women in the US.

Women began doing all sorts of jobs in the 1920s, per CCSU. They ran drill presses, did welding, operated cranes, used screw machines, and many other jobs that required heavy machinery.

These women spent their days weighing and packing candies in York, England.

In the 1920s, farms still didn't have electricity, plumbing, or heating and cooling, PBS reported. Despite the hardship, families in the Midwest focused on growing fruits and vegetables, while also producing eggs and meat.

Farmers across the US struggled to make a profit throughout the 1920s as a result of overproduction and the subsequent drop in prices. With farmers unable to pay their debts, "between 1920 and 1932, one in four farms was sold to meet financial obligations," the Library of Congress reported.

As pictured above, many Black women in the South picked cotton to make ends meet. 

A study indicated that two in three Black women from Black landowning families were involved in cotton farming in the 1920s.

Black women were often barred from working in the same jobs as white women, like these construction workers pictured above.

Segregation, both de jure and de facto, continued to exist into the 1960s and we can still see its legacies today.

The Louisiana lumber boom lasted from about 1880 to 1925, resulting in 4.3 million acres of trees being cut down, the Louisiana Forestry Association reported.

Henrietta Vinton Davis established the Black Cross Nurses in 1920 as a part of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League. They offered health services and hygiene education to Black members of the community.

At the time, hardly any nursing programs would admit people of African descent and many health facilities provided unequal care to Black patrons, an issue that persists today especially in maternal health care. The Black Cross Nurses became key figures for civil rights.

In early 1921, the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma was home to an affluent Black community who ran newspapers, churches, and scores of businesses and was known as the "Black Wall Street." By June 1, it would largely be burned to the ground in "the single worst incident of racial violence in American history," per the Oklahoma Historical Society.

Although the exact details remain lost to history, it's believed that on May 30, 1921, a Black man named Dick Rowland stepped on the foot of a white woman named Sarah Page when he entered the elevator of the Drexel Building. Page screamed and the town quickly exaggerated their tellings of the incident, leading to an attempted lynching of Rowland that night.

An altercation at the courthouse led the unsuccessful, angry members of the white mob to riot and attack Black people and their businesses. The Tulsa Historical Society and Museum reported that 35 city blocks were burned down in the attacks, possibly killing as many as 300 people and injuring more than 800.

In 1918 and 1919, there was a surge in protests at textile mills in Japan, where women demanded shorter working hours and wage increases. They were receiving far less money than their male counterparts, and they were doing important work like constructing war uniforms, for which there was huge demand at the time.

Though women were perceived as cooks, the role was relegated to the home, rather than a restaurant. However, the 1920s began to see women studying to be professional chefs.

Though the first practical dishwasher was invented in 1886 by Josephine Cochrane, The Independent reported, they did not become popular in homes until the 1920s.

The introduction of permanent plumbing in homes made machines like dishwashers possible, though they were expensive and only found in the homes of wealthy families.

In 1909, 22-year-old Alice Ramsey (not pictured) became the first woman to drive across the continental United States, in part to prove that women were capable behind the wheel, the Smithsonian reported.

These women are seen cooling down on a block of ice on a hot summer day. Bikinis were not yet popularized, so these outfits were likely the most skin women in the 1920s would be seen showing.

The 1920s was the first decade to see free and unbridled movement on many dance floors. Dances called the Charleston, the Black Bottom, and the shimmy were all highly popular. 

Women who went dancing at late-night parties were referred to as "good time girls."

The National Women's History Museum reported that Baker first became known in the US for her Vaudeville shows, but she really became a star when she moved to Paris. Baker's shows became famous for her African-inspired dance moves, her singing, and her elaborate costumes.

She was a key figure in the French Resistance during World War II as well as an activist for civil rights in the US. Although she died in 1975, Baker became the first Black woman to be buried in France's Panthéon, the country's highest honor, in 2021.

The Oscars described Pickford as the definition of a "movie star," known best for her work throughout the silent film era with movies like "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," "Stella Maris," "My Best Girl," and "Sparrows."

She was a founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and in 1930 was the recipient of the second Oscar for best actress.

She starred in the first best picture winner, "Wings," alongside Charles Rogers and Richard Arlen, and was widely known as a popular movie star throughout the decade.

You may also recognize her name from Taylor Swift's 2024 album, "The Tortured Poets Department," which had a song titled "Clara Bow."

Wimbledon opened its famous courts to women in 1884. Here, American Helen Wills competed against Brit Kitty McKane in the 1924 Ladies' Singles Final.

Though modest by today's standards, French tennis star Suzanne Lenglen, right, was known for her provocative style on display above.

The International Tennis Hall of Fame reported that Lenglen was first female player to forgo bulky undergarments and was known for wearing tops that displayed her bare arms and silk dresses that were trimmed above her calf. Coupled with painted nails, red lipstick, bobbed hair, a tendency to drink alcohol between sets, and a winning record, Lenglen was "a rare and fascinating champion."

The first swimsuits were actually made of wool, as other materials like nylon and elastane weren't yet invented.

It wasn't until the 1920s that tanning became popular. The Guardian reported that fashion designer Coco Chanel "may have inadvertently" created the trend with a photo showing her stepping off a cruise ship in Cannes after too much sun. The image was in every paper and created a new standard of beauty.

Stretching, rather than vigorous exercise, was viewed as the ideal method for women's bodies and health, Byrdie reported.

Stationary bikes and rowing machines were also invented in the 1920s, along with the Vibro-Slim, a machine with a vibrating belt that was meant to reduce belly fat.

Before the mechanical bull became a fun attraction at a bar, it was invented to train rodeo competitors. In the 1920s, it became a popular exercise fad after women realized it could help tone their abs and strengthen their core.

Here, movie star Helen Chadwick used the rowing machine to stay fit. 

With New York Yankees stars like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, it's no surprise that the sport attracted the attention of both men and women in the city.

Women would go on to make their mark in baseball in the following decades, with 60 playing in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II, the National Baseball Hall of Fame reported.

Women's swimming was the first aerobic sport accepted by the International Olympic Committee, according to USA Swimming, and was first introduced at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm.

Pictured are US Olympic swimmers Aileen Riggin, Gertrude Ederle, and Helen Wainwright.

Bleibtrey won all three women's swimming races, including the 100-meter freestyle, 4x100-meter relay, and the 300-meter freestyle, per the Olympics.

Just one year prior, she had been arrested at Manhattan Beach for taking off her stockings before swimming, an act considered "nudity." However, outrage from her arrest sparked a change in "acceptable" swimwear — women no longer had to wear stockings — and Bleibtrey was not penalized.

After graduating from Cornell University with a degree in classical languages in 1905, Fauset spent time as a teacher before turning to writing in 1912.

Poets.org reported that she wrote poems, essays, and reviews for the NAACP's magazine, The Crisis, for seven years before becoming literary editor.

During the 1920s, Fauset introduced the world to legendary writers like Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, and Anne Spencer while also publishing her own novels "There Is Confusion" and "Plum Bum."

Lil Hardin Armstrong (pictured above) was just one of many women who would influence jazz music from the 1920s on.

The New York Times reported that Hardin helped her future husband Louis Armstrong become band leader of King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band; she also served as his first manager and was a pianist and frequent co-composer.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture reported that Smith was mentored by "Mother of the Blues," Ma Rainey, who taught her how to navigate the music industry and capture an audience's attention. Smith signed a record deal with Columbia Records in 1923, releasing "Down-hearted Blues," a major hit.

Smith became the highest-paid Black entertainer of the time and she recorded with iconic jazz musicians like Sidney Bechet and Louis Armstrong.

The Great Depression caused Smith's career to be cut short, and she later died from injuries sustained in a car accident in 1937.

1920s female fashion was characterized by loose fabrics, lots of fringe, and glamorous jewelry and details. Hair cut short into a bob was also popular, as seen in the woman above.

Long, straight skirts with low waists were the dominant style.

The loose skirts and dresses were very different from the constricting clothes of the previous decades, and were far more movable and comfortable.

Art Deco style and Gatsby-esque outfits were also popular for 1920s women. Showgirls and Vaudeville performers would dress up in decadent velvet and satin dresses, with pearl and gem details throughout.

Zelda was a major influence on Scott's writing, with the couple drawing lots of public attention throughout the 1920s. A writer and painter, too, Zelda's first and only novel, "Save Me the Waltz," was released in 1932.

Unfortunately, her life was largely cut short after being diagnosed with schizophrenia (now understood as bipolar disorder) and committed to sanatoriums. She died at age 47.

Though they were popularized 100 years ago, there are plenty of vintage outfits like these that are still trendy today.

1920s Halloween costumes were more about inspiring fear than dressing up as celebrities and TV characters. Clowns, ghosts, and witches were all highly popular costume choices back then.

Elizabeth Arden helped popularize makeup — once believed to be exclusively for movie stars —for the masses in the early 1920s. Arden started a marketing campaign that helped create the idea that wearing makeup was "appropriate and even proper," per the Library of Congress.

By 1925, Arden had salons open around the world in cities like New York, Paris, and London.

Beauty companies even made stencils, like the one above, to help women achieve the perfect Cupid's Bow.

Though the first nail salon in the US was opened in the late 1870s, nail polish began to really take off in the 1920s, Byrdie reported, thanks to the work of brands like Cutex and what would later become known as Revlon.

Wedding dresses followed the 1920s style: They were short, like the flapper dresses, with form-fitting bucket hats.

It used to be popular to have weddings on Christmas Day in Britain, as churches would hold nuptials for brides and grooms every year. It was often the only time that working class couples could get married, as they'd have Christmas and Boxing Day off.

The 1907 Gentlemen's Agreement limited immigration from Japan to the US, but it had an exception that Japanese wives of current American residents could enter the country. This exception started a system where men would choose Japanese wives based on their pictures alone.

These "picture brides" immigrated between 1907 and 1924, and faced many hardships. Many of their husbands were older and poorer than the women anticipated, and the wives faced spousal abuse in addition to societal racism fueled by anti-Asian sentiments, Women & the American Story reported.

The 1924 Immigration Act ended the practice, as it barred any immigrant "who by virtue of race or nationality was ineligible for citizenship," per the US State Department. People of Asian descent were denied full citizenship based on laws dating from 1790 and 1870.

In 2015, the Pew Research Center reported that in the 1920s, the US government enacted quotas reducing the number of immigrants granted entry. The first quota on immigration was passed in 1921 and allowed only 350,000 total immigrants; this was decreased to 165,000 in 1924. Nationality quotas were also imposed on Europeans.

The quotas were largely fueled by xenophobic fears toward Southern and Eastern European migrants, who'd come to the US during the second wave of migration from 1890-1919.

Meanwhile, immigration from most countries in Asia was already prohibited.

Prior to the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act, passed in 1965, 70% of the quota visas available belonged to residents of Ireland, Germany, and the UK, the Pew Research Center reported.

Women of the Osage Nation were among those targeted and killed by William K. Hale and his accomplices in the early 1920s.

The Osage Nation reported that Hale and his associates are believed to be connected to more than 20 killings, though there were more than 60 murders total from 1920 to 1925. The killings were motivated by Hale's desire to inherit money held by the Osage people from the oil boom.

The tragedy was the subject of Martin Scorsese's Oscar-nominated film "Killers of the Flower Moon."

Known as the "first lady of television" and "queen of the small screen," Betty White made her debut in 1939. She was the first woman to produce a national TV show and to star in a sitcom thanks to her variety show, "Life with Elizabeth" (1953-1955). She was also one of the first women to be nominated for an Emmy.

She's best known for her roles on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1970-1977) and "The Golden Girls" (1985-1992), both of which earned her Emmys. She made many appearances on game shows and even hosted a few like "Just Men!" (1983); White became the first woman to win an Emmy for outstanding game show host.

She won another Emmy for her episode of "Saturday Night Live" in 2010 where she hosted and drew in over 12 million viewers. She then won a Guinness World Record for having the longest TV career as a female entertainer, spanning around 80 years.

After her death on December 31, 2021, White's legacy lives on, especially through the many female TV entertainers she's influenced and inspired.

"The Carol Burnett Show" (1967-1978) was a variety and comedy series that featured Burnett and other comedians performing various sketches. Her infectious presence, slapstick comedy, and signature ear tug were favorites across the nation. It was cited as one of the best sketch-comedy TV shows by Rolling Stone in 2020.

Burnett had a pool of entertainers like Betty White, Lucille Ball, Cher, and Sammy Davis Jr. guest star on her show, too.

Her contributions to comedy and TV have been so great that the Golden Globes created the Carol Burnett award in 2018, which has been given to Burnett, Ellen DeGeneres, Norman Lear, Ryan Murphy, and Ted Danson.

The first ever sitcom broadcast on network television was "Mary Kay and Johnny" (1947-1950) and starred real-life couple Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns. They were the first small-screen married couple to share a bed, which was taboo and uncommon, and wasn't seen more consistently for another decade.

In 1948, Stearns was pregnant, so it was written into the show, making her the first onscreen pregnant character.

Stearns died in 2018 at the age of 93.

From her start on the comedy "I Love Lucy" (1951-1957), Lucille Ball changed the world of television many times over. When "I Love Lucy" premiered, she advocated for her Cuban husband, Desi Arnaz, amidst the racist mentalities surrounding interracial relationships.

The real-life and on-screen couple created their show and filmed it in a new format: live in front of a studio audience and with three cameras rolling rather than one. Ball even helped invent syndication and was successful with "I Love Lucy" being filmed on tape, rather than being broadcast live.

Ball made TV history (similar to Mary Kay Stearns) with her second pregnancy being written into her character's storyline. In 1953, the subject almost wasn't allowed on TV, and the word "pregnancy" wasn't used either. The episode where the character gave birth was also aired the same night the actress actually gave birth, and a record-breaking near 72% of homes with television sets tuned in to watch, MeTV reported.

After co-founding Desilu Productions in 1950, divorcing Arnaz in 1960, and buying the company from him in 1962, Ball became the first woman to own and run a major television production company. It went on to produce "The Lucy Show" (1962-1968), "Star Trek" (1966-1969), and "Mission: Impossible" (1966-1973).

She died in 1989 at 77 years old.

While "I Love Lucy" primarily focused on the wife in the married duo, "The Donna Reed Show" (1958-1966) was the first family sitcom to do the same.

Donna Reed, who lived until 1986, was an Academy Award winner before she had her own TV show and helped develop the series. Reed's impact of placing the focus on the wife rather than the husband, and touching on controversial and important topics like women's rights, was all groundbreaking during the 1950s.

Roker, who died in 1995, played neighbor Hellen Willis in the "All in the Family" (1971-1979) spinoff series, "The Jeffersons" (1975-1985). The Black actress was married to a white man on the show (and also in real life), making her part of the first Black and white interracial couple on TV.

This came at a time when there were still strong prejudices against interracial relationships. But Helen and Tom were a strong and positive representation of what love could look like.

One of the first and most significant interracial kisses on TV was on "Star Trek" (1966-1969). In 1967, on an episode entitled "Plato's Stepchildren," Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) kisses Lieutenant Uhura (Nichelle Nichols). 

Although interracial kisses had been seen between white and Asian characters on TV, this was the first with a white man and Black woman. Nichols made history, first breaking the typecast for Black actresses and second for being part of this significant kiss and moment in TV history. She died in 2022 at the age of 89.

The first sitcom to focus on a female lead who was single was "That Girl" (1966-1971). Living on her own, unmarried, and without children, actress Marlo Thomas' real-life experience matched that of her character, Ann Marie.

Despite few women being leads on TV before this, they were typically wives and mothers. Thomas helped represent and normalize independent, single women.

Mary Tyler Moore's most notable contributions to TV were through her role as Mary Richards on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1970-1977). A single, 30-something-year-old woman who was career-oriented and freely dated, Moore's character was distinctly different from the typical TV housewife.

She was a role model for women entering the workforce in the '70s, and was also sex-positive, something that wasn't highly represented. In one episode, it was likely the first time birth control was mentioned on television, with Richards' mother telling her, "Don't forget to take your pill," The New York Times reported.

She died in 2017 at the age of 80.

On "Murphy Brown" (1988-1998), Candice Bergen's character decided to raise her child as a single mother in the 1992 season finale. This caused a debate that even prompted Vice President Dan Quayle to comment.

On May 19, 1992, Quayle delivered a speech during his re-election campaign with George W. Bush, where he added, "It doesn't help matters when prime-time TV has Murphy Brown, a character who supposedly epitomizes today's intelligent, highly paid professional woman, mocking the importance of fathers by bearing a child alone and calling it just another lifestyle choice," The Washington Post reported.

This turned Quayle into the butt of the joke and only heightened Bergen's profile. After already winning two Emmys for her role, Bergen won a third after the pregnancy episode and after Quayle's speech — the actress sarcastically thanked him as she accepted the award.

It's not a shock that in 1972, a year before Roe v. Wade was originally decided, abortion was a highly sensitive and controversial topic, especially to be discussed on TV. So, on the sitcom "Maude" (1972-1978), when Bea Arthur's lead character became pregnant at 47 years old when she was already a grandmother, an abortion storyline was highly taboo.

Over the course of the two-part episode, Maude decided to go through with an abortion. This sparked protest, but it also made Arthur an icon for the feminist movement.

Arthur, who died in 2009, continued to take roles that defied societal and gender norms, ageism, and that touched on feminist topics, most notably as Dorothy in "Golden Girls" (1985-1992).

Cicely Tyson became the first Black woman to star in a TV drama in "East Side/West Side" (1963-1964). She played a social worker's secretary. While her character's job wasn't revolutionary for women, her representation was revolutionary for Black women. Tyson is also widely reported to be one of the first Black women to wear her natural hair on TV.

She told Parade magazine in 1972 that she refused to play a drug addict or a maid, according to the National Portrait Gallery.

"I won't play that kind of characterless role any more, even if I have to go back to starving," Tyson said.

The trailblazer died at 96 years old on January 28, 2021.

Diahann Carroll was the first Black female lead on TV in a non-stereotypical role. On "Julia" (1968-1971), Carroll was a nurse, widow, and single mother. Single mothers weren't typically represented on TV, so her role broke boundaries.

In 1969, Carroll became the first Black actress to win a Golden Globe for her performance in "Julia," the Golden Globes reported.

Earlier in her career, she also became one of the first Black actresses nominated for an Emmy.

Carroll died in 2019 at the age of 84.

The legendary choreographer, actor, director, and producer starred as Lydia Grant in the film and television adaptation of "Fame," which ran from 1982-1987.

While appearing on the show, Allen became the first Black woman to win a Golden Globe for best actress in a television series — musical or comedy in 1983, an award that wouldn't belong to a Black woman again until 34 years later when Tracee Ellis Ross won for her role in "Black-ish."

She also served as the show's lead choreographer, winning two Emmys for outstanding achievement in choreography in 1982 and 1983, respectively, and later became its director.

Allen's career has progressed to include a large range of acting, directing, producing, and choreography credits which range from projects like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Insecure" to "Dolly Parton's Christmas On The Square."

Allen has won a total of five Emmys, receiving a total of 21 nominations, Emmys.com reported.

Some of her other achievements include five NAACP Image Awards, four honorary doctorate degrees, one of which came from her alma mater Howard University; entry to the Television Academy Hall of Fame, a Governors Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Frederick, who died in 1990, had many significant firsts in her career and made impactful differences in the world of news for women. In 1948, she became the first full-time female news correspondent on ABC. This early success broke ground for other newscasters. She went on to work for NBC, where she covered the United Nations for 21 years.

In 1976 she made history again when she was the first woman to moderate a televised presidential debate. This transformative moment was for Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford's campaigns.

After writing and producing women's interest stories on the "Today" show, Walters became its first female co-anchor in 1974. She also became the first female co-anchor for ABC's "Evening News" in 1976.

She created the daytime talk show "The View" in 1997, which gives other female voices a platform and is still on the air. Walters' popularity with viewers and interviewees furthered her success. She also appeared on other shows like "World News Tonight" and "20/20" until her retirement in 2014. 

In 2022, she died at the age of 93.

Couric made TV history when she became the first woman to be a solo anchor for an evening news broadcast.

Following in the steps of Barbara Walters, Couric co-anchored for years before taking the helm in 2006 with "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric" (2006-2011).

Not many people are known worldwide by their first name alone or are as successful as the one and only Oprah.

Winfrey was the first woman to own, produce, and host her own talk show with "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986-2011). In 1987, she won the Daytime Emmy for outstanding talk show, an award she'd win three more times throughout her career.

Her success helped revolutionize talk shows and helped her create an empire. Winfrey started her own TV network, OWN, in 2011.

She became the world's first Black billionaire and now has an estimated net worth of $3 billion, Forbes reported.

DeGeneres' character on the sitcom "Ellen" (1994-1998) came out as gay in 1997. She was the first actress to do this, and the coming out was also in sync with DeGeneres' real-life announcement of her sexuality, which was shared on an iconic Time magazine cover on April 14, 1997.

"The Puppy Episode," where she came out, aired on April 30, but it caused a stir among conservative organizations and sponsors before it was even broadcast. The groundbreaking two-part episode became a phenomenon, though, with an outstanding number of views.

However, "Ellen" had "parental advisory" warnings on the following episodes and was canceled after its fifth season in 1998. Both DeGeneres and Laura Dern, who guest-starred on "The Puppy Episode," couldn't find work for a couple of years after the episode.

DeGeneres had a revival and new phase of her successful TV career, though, with her talk show, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" (2003-2022). She's beloved by audiences and uses the tagline "be kind to one another," although accusations by guests and crew members in 2020 painted a less-than-kind picture of the host. In a letter to staff that July, DeGeneres said she was "disappointed to learn" that people working for her did not feel happy or respected.

The show ended in 2022  after running for 19 seasons.

Kerry Washington played Olivia Pope, a White House communications director, on the acclaimed political drama "Scandal" (2012-2018). She was the first Black female lead in a network TV series since 1974, when Teresa Graves played a police officer on "Get Christie Love!"

Washington's performance highlighted the importance of seeing Black women in multidimensional leading roles. Washington won her first BET Award for best actress in 2013 for her role.

While Viola Davis is perhaps best known for her work on the big screen, she made great strides on TV, too. Starting at the age of 49, Davis played the role of a lawyer and criminal law professor in "How to Get Away with Murder" (2014-2020).

Davis became the first Black woman to win an Emmy for lead actress in a drama series in 2015.

In 2018, Davis' "How to Get Away with Murder" and Kerry Washington's "Scandal" had a monumental crossover episode, bringing two powerhouse actresses and characters together.

Davis has received an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, an Oscar, and a Tony Award.

Alfre Woodard was the first Black actress to play a US president on TV in "State of Affairs" (2014-2015). Her role mimicked actual possibilities and her real-life experience of previously working in politics.

She has also been widely recognized for her work since the 1980s, winning a Golden Globe and four Emmys, and earning nominations for two Grammys, a BAFTA, and an Academy Award.

In 1975, Lynda Carter took on the role of Wonder Woman, becoming one of the first female superheroes on television. (Cathy Lee Crosby previously played the character in a TV movie of the same name).

Carter led the series until 1979 and is still considered one of the most iconic actresses to have played the part, with the role not welcoming a new face until 2017 with Gal Gadot.

Carter also appeared in a post-credits scene in Gadot's "Wonder Woman: 1984."

Jodie Whittaker made history in 2017 when she became the first woman to play the Doctor in "Doctor Who."

Her episode debut brought in the biggest "Doctor Who" audience in over a decade, with 8.2 million viewers, Bustle reported; and she quickly became a fan-favorite.

Whittaker helped design her character's costume and decided to make it comfortable and gender non-specific, specifically with fans in mind, according to an interview with Radio Times.

She left the series in 2022.

In 2007, Candis Cayne played a transgender mistress on ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money," which was groundbreaking because she was an LGBTQ+ actress playing an LGBTQ+ character, rather than a cis actor playing a transgender person.

Her role helped set the landscape for more transgender actors to be hired for meaningful roles.

Cayne didn't realize the impact of her presence on TV until the 2017 GLAAD Media Awards when a scene of hers was played and the audience erupted in applause.

"That was the first time I realized, 'Yeah, this is a lot more than me just getting a gig. This is moving our community forward.' So it was impactful, finally, in that moment," Cayne told "Today" in 2021.

Transgender actress Nicole Maines was the first person to play a transgender superhero on TV.

Maines played reporter turned superhero Dreamer on CW's "Supergirl" (2015-2021), breaking more boundaries for the trans community.

Before this contribution to the superhero universe, Maines was also in documentaries about the trans experience.

"I've been doing a lot of auditions lately because a lot of different shows have been really eager to tell the story of transgender people," Maines said at Comic-Con in 2018.

Maines has most recently appeared in the second season of "Yellowjackets."

Laverne Cox is one of the figureheads of the transgender community because of her contributions to entertainment and transgender representation and activism during her career.

She's best known for her role as inmate Sophie on Netflix's "Orange Is the New Black" (2013-2019). Cox was the first transgender actress to be nominated for an Emmy in 2014, and she banked three nominations throughout the show's run.

She executive-produced the TV special "Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word" and won a Daytime Emmy for it in 2015, becoming the first transgender woman to win the award. And in 2016, she played Frank N. Furter (a part originally played by a cis actor, Tim Curry) in the TV special remake "The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again."

Cox has appeared in multiple comedy and drama shows and was most recently in Amazon Prime Video's "Chrome Jesus" (2025).

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez appeared in shows like "Nurse Jackie" and "The Carrie Diaries" before her big role in "Pose" (2018-2021).

"Pose" (2018-2021) followed the stories of drag performers and transgender people during the ballroom scene in the '80s and '90s. Its cast was predominantly made up of LGBTQ+ actors, including Rodriguez, Billy Porter, Indya Moore, and Dominique Jackson. 

Rodriguez was nominated for an Emmy in 2021, and in 2022 she became the first transgender person to win a Golden Globe.

In 2018, Janet Mock made history as the first transgender woman of color to write for a television show: Ryan Murphy's "Pose." She was also a producer and director for the series.

"So it's an indescribable feeling to be on set sitting in a chair with my name on it, directing a script that I also wrote, watching these actresses, some of whom have never been on a set before, be given a chance to truly shine," Mock wrote for Variety ahead of the series' season one premiere.

Sandra Oh is best known for her 10-year-arc playing Dr. Cristina Yang on "Grey's Anatomy" (2005-present). She also played MI5 security officer Eve Polastri on "Killing Eve" (2018-2022).

Oh was the first Asian woman to host the Golden Globes in 2019, and ultimately became the second Asian woman to win a Golden Globe for best actress at that same ceremony. The first was Yoko Shimada, who won nearly 40 years prior for her role in "Shōgun."

"I don't think I can explain to you how profound I feel it meant to not only myself and my parents, but for a lot of people in my community," Oh said of her win to USA Today in 2019.

Best known for Netflix comedy specials like "Baby Cobra" and "Hard Knock Wife," Ali Wong has gracefully ventured into acting with roles in the romantic comedy "Always Be My Maybe" and the award-winning dark comedy "Beef."

In 2024, for her role in "Beef," Wong became the first Asian woman to win a Primetime Emmy award for a leading role, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. (Sandra Oh previously won an Emmy in a supporting role.)

Wong won the Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a limited or anthology series or movie; and as an executive producer on the show, she brought home the Emmy for best limited series, too.

She also made history as the first Asian actress to win the Golden Globe for best actress in a limited series, CNN reported.

The 3LW and "Cheetah Girls" alum joined the cast of "The Real" in 2013, becoming the first Latina to host a daytime talk show in the US.

In 2018, Bailon-Houghton won the Daytime Emmy award for outstanding entertainment talk show host alongside her co-stars, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai, and Tamera Mowry-Housley.

Houghton told OprahMag.com later that year, "We recognize that we are four women of color on television every day, speaking to an audience that includes so many women of color. We have an opportunity to make a difference in history — in the way women of color are viewed. We're in an era where this really matters, and we don't ever want to take that for granted."

After "The Real" was canceled in 2022, Bailon-Houghton worked as co-anchor for "E! News" until late 2023. She also runs her own fashion and accessories brand, La Voûte.

While Ferrera was in the headlines last year for her Oscar nomination for "Barbie," the industry veteran began her career over 20 years ago, appearing in projects like "Real Women Have Curves," "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," "Ugly Betty," and "Superstore."

In 2007, she made history as the first Latina to win a Primetime Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her role as Betty Suarez in "Ugly Betty," E! News reported. The same year, she also won a Golden Globe for best actress in a television series — musical or comedy and a SAG award.

During her Golden Globes speech, Ferrera said, "Thank you to the Hollywood Foreign Press for recognizing the show and this character who is truly bringing a new face to television and such a beautiful message about beauty that lies deeper than what we see."

Ferrera has been vocal about diversity, or the lack thereof, in the industry throughout her career. In a 2024 interview with The New York Times she said it brings her no joy to be the only Latina to win an Emmy in a lead category and that she hopes Latinos can have more opportunities throughout the industry.

"There's a lot out there that is very transactional in terms of checking boxes to claim diversity," she said.

Of starring in "Barbie," she added, "One of the most exciting things to me about the movie was, as a Latina woman, being invited to be a part of something so adventurous and joyful and fun. Gloria is Latina, but being Latina was not her reason for being in this story."

At only 24 years old, Mindy Kaling became a staff writer on "The Office," where she was the only woman and person of color on the team. She also starred on the show as Kelly Kapoor.

In a 2019 interview with Elle, Kaling recalled how in order to receive a nomination for outstanding comedy series, the Television Academy required her to "fill out a whole form and write an essay about all my contributions as a writer and a producer," she said. "I had to get letters from all the other male, white producers saying that I had contributed, when my actual record stood for itself."

The Television Academy had originally stated that the show had too many producers to credit, but with her efforts, her name was included in the official nomination.

Kaling went on to become the "first woman of color to create, write, and star in a primetime sitcom" with "The Mindy Project," which aired from 2012 to 2017.

In recent years, Kaling has produced the hit Netflix show "Never Have I Ever," Hulu's "Four Weddings and a Funeral" series, and HBO's "Sex Lives of College Girls." Her latest project is another Netflix series, "Running Point," starring Kate Hudson.

She also runs her own production company, Kaling International.

As the creator, executive producer, and lead in "Abbott Elementary," Brunson's 2022 Emmy nominations included outstanding comedy series, lead actress in a comedy, and writing for a comedy series.

In a 2022 interview with The New York Times, Brunson talked about what sets "Abbott Elementary" apart from other network TV sitcoms.

"There have been recent sitcoms — 'Black-ish,' 'Fresh Off the Boat' — really good sitcoms, but my generation was starting to get tired of race as the only focal point," she said. "The white shows got to just be white, but a lot of the shows with people of color were about the color of the people and not about stories of the people. So 'Abbott' also feels like a shift in that way."

In 2019, she also starred in the first season of HBO's "A Black Lady Sketch Show," the first sketch comedy series written by, directed by, and starring Black women.

Korean actress and model Jung Ho-yeon made history at the 2022 SAG awards when she won outstanding performance by a female actor in a drama series for her performance as Kang Sae-byeok in Netflix's "Squid Game."

Her win, along with that of co-star Lee Jung-Jae, made "Squid Game" the first non-English-language television series to win at the SAG awards, Vanity Fair reported.

The show marked Jung Ho-yeon's acting debut, and became one of Netflix's most popular TV show releases to date, drawing 1.65 billion watch hours in its first four weeks, Netflix reported.

At the 2020 Emmy Awards, Zendaya made history when she won the award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for her role in "Euphoria." In 2022, she won the award again. In addition to being the second Black actress to win this award, and the first Black actress to win the award twice, she is also the youngest woman to have won the award.

Rue Bennett, Zendaya's character on "Euphoria," has been recognized for providing representation to those struggling with drug addiction. A CNN opinion article discussed the groundbreaking nature of the character, stating, "Most people do not know what a young Black woman experiencing addiction looks like because we are not used to seeing Black women publicly battling anything."

In 2022, Time named her one of the 100 Most Influential People of the year, calling her an "autonomous creative force" and "a cultural icon in the making."

Zendaya returned to filming season three of "Euphoria" in February 2025.

Inspired by her own experience with sexual assault, Michaela Coel created, wrote, produced, co-directed, and starred in the critically acclaimed show "I May Destroy You" in 2020.

That same year, she was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People, with Lena Waithe writing, "Usually, with Black women protagonists, everyone's mission is to make you like or root for them. But Michaela shows us that sometimes we can be our own worst enemy. She reminds me that the only person who can destroy me is myself. She's showing us a piece of ourselves that is rarely captured onscreen."

In 2021, Coel became the first Black woman to win the Emmy for oustanding writing for a limited series, movie, or dramatic special, dedicating the story to "every single survivor of sexual assault."

Coel has also starred in "Chewing Gum," "Black Mirror," and "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." Her most recent role was as a guest star in the 2024 television adaptation of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith."

Julia Louis-Dreyfus began her career in 1982 when she joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live" at just 21 years old, People reported.

But the role that truly made her stand out was that of Elaine Benes on "Seinfeld," which aired from 1990 to 1998 and also starred Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, and Michael Richards. In 1996, she won her first Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series.

Louis-Dreyfus has gone on to win 10 more Emmys, nine of which came from her work on "Veep," in which she starred as lead Selina Meyer and served as an executive producer throughout its run from 2012 to 2019.

While on "Veep," she won a record-breaking six consecutive Primetime Emmy awards for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series, becoming the actor with the most Emmy wins in a singular role, Entertainment Weekly reported.

Throughout her career, Louis-Dreyfus has also won nine Screen Actors Guild awards and a Golden Globe.

In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2023, she talked about how younger generations are enjoying "Seinfeld" on Netflix.

"I mean, I gotta say, I just think funny is funny! It was superb writing and dare I say, a superb cast that supported the writing — and perhaps even elevated it sometimes," she said.

For more than 25 seasons, fans have listened to the iconic intro of "Law & Order: SVU" and watched as Mariska Hargitay embodied the role of Olivia Benson.

The show is the longest-running drama in American prime time television, with Hargitay's Benson becoming the longest running character ever on a prime-time drama series, People reported in 2024.

Two years prior, Hargitay spoke about her character's longevity in an appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show."

"I feel very satisfied, sated, because I'm having I think more fun now than I ever have. So I feel grateful. I love my cast. I love them, they're like family now," she said. "I'm also mostly grateful that the show that's the longest running show on television is about believing victims and so that for me is the most rewarding thing."

"Are you more of a Carrie or a Miranda?" "Are you Team Big or Team Aidan?"

These are the kinds of questions that entered public conversation during and after the airing of "Sex and the City," the influential, albeit problematic, show about four women in their 30s and 40s navigating their careers, relationships, and friendships. The original series aired between 1998 and 2004.

Sarah Jessica Parker played protagonist and narrator Carrie Bradshaw. Parker won a total of six Golden Globes, four for best actress in a comedy series and two for best television series — musical or comedy. She also won two Primetime Emmy awards and three Screen Actors Guild awards.

"Sex and the City" was groundbreaking in its open discussion of women's issues and sex, though it has since been criticized for its lack of diversity, with writer Hunter Harris describing the show as "simultaneously progressive and regressive, where people of color were either stereotypes or punchlines" in a 2018 article for Refinery29.

The show was rebooted in 2021 as "And Just Like That..." with Parker reprising her role as Carrie Bradshaw in a series that seemingly attempts to overcome the original version's shortcomings.

In 2017, Waithe became the first Black woman to win the Primetime Emmy for comedy writing thanks to the episode "Thanksgiving" in "Master of None," which was co-written with Aziz Ansari.

In her acceptance speech, Waithe addressed her LGBTQIA "family" with the message, "The things that make us different, those are our superpowers. Every day when you walk out the door, put on your imaginary cape and go out there and conquer the world, because the world would not be as beautiful as it is if we weren't in it."

Alaqua Cox is the first Indigenous woman to play a superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Cox plays the lead in Marvel's miniseries "Echo," which centers on the character Maya Lopez (Echo), a deaf Native American superhero.

Cox, who is a deaf amputee woman of Menominee and Mohican descent, told Teen Vogue in January 2024, "I'm so happy that Indigenous people are showing our authentic stories and breaking down barriers. I grew up never seeing myself represented on the screen. I'm excited for audiences — kids especially — to see people like me with different disabilities or diversities on TV so that they understand they are beautiful just the way they are."

2024 was a landmark year for Lily Gladstone. In January, she became the first Indigenous actress to win a Golden Globe and in July, she became one of the first Indigenous actresses to be nominated for an acting Primetime Emmy.

Gladstone, who was raised on the Blackfeet Reservation, was nominated for outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie for her role as Cam Bentland in the crime drama, "Under the Bridge."

Making history alongside Gladstone as one of the first Indigenous women to be nominated for an acting Primetime Emmy was "True Detective: Night Country" star Kali Reis.

Reis, who is of Wampanoag and Cape Verdean descent, was also nominated for outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie.

She told The Hollywood Reporter in March 2024, "It's really empowering to finally be in a place where I don't feel like I have to keep my head down and not be accepted. I get to represent two very resilient, amazing people that are still here."

Culkin got his start acting alongside his brother, Macaulay Culkin, in the '90s classic "Home Alone."

Since then, he's appeared in projects like "The Mighty," "Igby Goes Down," and "Succession." For the latter, he earned two Critics' Choice awards, an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and two Screen Actors Guild awards.

Culkin won his first Oscar on March 2 for best supporting actor in "A Real Pain." For the role, he also won a Golden Globe, a SAG award, Critics' Choice award, and a BAFTA.

At the Screen Actors Guild Awards on February 23, Jodie Foster shared that her first audition was for a Coppertone commercial when she was 3 years old. Foster won the part, and as she told the audience, "the rest is history."

From there, Foster appeared in television shows like "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" and "Paper Moon," as well as films like "Napoleon and Samantha" before embarking on more mature roles.

Foster famously starred in Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver" when she was just 12 years old. The actor told Deadline in 2024 that her mother put her up for those types of roles because "she wanted me to have a career that had a lot of longevity, where I was taken seriously, or because she wasn't because she came from a pre-feminist era."

Throughout her career, Foster has been nominated for five Oscars, winning two; first in 1989 for her role as Sarah Tobias in "The Accused" and second in 1992 for her role as Clarice Starling in "The Silence of the Lambs."

From his Oscar-winning role as Hugh Glass in "The Revenant" to memorable performances in "Titanic," "The Wolf of Wall Street," "Romeo + Juliet," and more, it's easy to argue that Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the greatest actors of his generation.

His prolific career began back in the late '80s when he started acting in commercials. He later earned more roles in television series like "Parenthood" and "Growing Pains," before two breakout roles in "This Boy's Life" and "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" in 1993. The latter earned him his first Oscar nomination — he was nominated for best supporting actor at the 1994 ceremony, when he was 19.

DiCaprio has been nominated for a total of seven Oscars, winning once in 2016.

Best known for roles like Elle Woods in "Legally Blonde" and Madeline Mackenzie in "Big Little Lies," Reese Witherspoon has also been acting for decades.

The actor and Hello Sunshine founder made her debut in 1991 when she was just 15 years old in Robert Mulligan's "The Man in the Moon."

She went on to win her first, and so far only, Oscar in 2006 for her performance as June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line."

Before she was known as Jamie Stemple Buchman in "Mad About You," Helen Hunt got her start acting as a child in the 1970s.

One of her earliest roles came in 1973 in the film "Pioneer Woman" alongside William Shatner.

However, despite acting during her childhood, Hunt told Vulture in 2011 that she "was never a child star."

"I was in school every year and had normal friends and I loved it and here I am," she said, adding that she didn't wish she started acting later but that a movie set is "a very adult place to be."

Hunt won the Oscar for best actress in 1998 for her role as Carol Connelly in "As Good as It Gets."

Natalie Portman started in the industry in 1992 as an understudy in the play "Ruthless!"

Two years later, when she was just 13 years old, Portman starred as Mathilda in "Léon: The Professional." She's since gone on to star in a number of projects, including the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy, "V for Vendetta," "The Other Boleyn Girl," and "Black Swan."

For the latter, Portman won the Oscar for best actress in 2011. She has received a total of three Oscar nominations, the most recent of which came in 2016 for her portrayal of former first lady Jackie Kennedy in "Jackie."

When she was just 14 years old, Regina King won the role of Brenda Jenkins in the show "227," which followed the lives of people in a Northeast DC apartment building.

In 2020, King told People that her mom required her to stay in public school while filming the series, adding, "It was instrumental in me becoming a person who can find balance on shaky ground."

"It's not an easy thing, living your life on display, and it's particularly hard when you're young," King told the outlet.

After "227," King continued acting in projects like "How Stella Got Her Groove Back," "Ray," and "Southland." In 2019, she won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her performance in Barry Jenkins' "If Beale Street Could Talk."

In addition to acting, King has pursued writing and directing; she was nominated for the 2021 Golden Globe for best director for "One Night in Miami."

In 1987, a 13-year-old Christian Bale started his acting career in Steven Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun."

However, his breakthrough came in the 2000s thanks to performances in "American Psycho," "The Machinist," and Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" trilogy.

Bale has been nominated for four Academy Awards throughout his career; his first and only win so far came in 2011 for his role as Dicky Eklund in "The Fighter."

Joaquin Phoenix started acting in the '80s alongside his siblings in projects like "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," "Murder She Wrote," and "SpaceCamp."

He received critical acclaim throughout the 2000s thanks to performances in films like "Gladiator," "Signs," and "Walk the Line."

Phoenix has won one Oscar from four nominations; his win came in 2020 for his portrayal of Arthur Fleck in Todd Phillips' "Joker."

In 2002, Jennifer Connelly won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role as Alicia Nash in "A Beautiful Mind," 18 years after she made her acting debut at 14 years old in "Once Upon a Time in America."

Connelly had originally worked as a child model before pivoting to acting. Some of her career credits include "Labyrinth," "Blood Diamond," "Top Gun: Maverick," and "Snowpiercer."

In 2018, the late Kobe Bryant and animator Glen Keane won the Oscar for best animated short film for "Dear Basketball." Bryant became the first professional athlete to win an Oscar with the win.

For the history-making occasion, he wore a charcoal-grey tuxedo with black trim and a black bowtie, while his wife, Vanessa Bryant, wore a burgundy off-the-shoulder mermaid gown.

In his acceptance speech, Bryant thanked his wife and daughters, telling them, "Ti amo con tutto il mio cuore," or "I love you with all my heart" in Italian.

Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams worked with image architect Law Roach for her Oscars look in 2022. Williams and her sister, Serena Williams, served as executive producers of the film "King Richard," based on their father, which was nominated for six awards that year.

"Throughout awards season, I just wanted to keep raising the bar and making the most of every moment," Williams told Vogue then. "I'm usually stepping off a tennis court or in workout clothes when the cameras are on me, so it was fun to get dressed up and dive into the glitz and glam over these past few weeks."

Vogue reported that Elie Saab created Williams' gown and that she accessorized with Tiffany & Co. Bone cuffs by Elsa Peretti, a detail she told the outlet "tied the entire look together, giving it this futuristic yet elegant feel."

Shortly after the 2018 Olympic Games concluded in PyeongChang, South Korea, Team USA figure skater Mirai Nagasu attended the Oscars in a cornflower-blue embroidered gown by Tadashi Shoji.

She told Access Hollywood that year that she took inspiration from Lupita Nyong'o, who famously wore a baby-blue Prada gown with a deep V-neck when she won the Oscar for best supporting actress in 2014.

Nagasu also had the perfect accessory stashed in her clutch: Her bronze medal.

For 2020's Oscars ceremony, former NFL player turned writer and director Matthew A. Cherry put a twist on a classic black tuxedo by opting for a velvet jacket.

He and producer Karen Rupert Toliver took home the award for best animated short film for "Hair Love."

In his acceptance speech, Cherry said "Hair Love" was created "because we wanted to see more representation in animation. We wanted to normalize Black hair."

Super Bowl XLII winner Michael Strahan is a staple on the Oscars red carpet thanks to being a cohost for "Good Morning America." The Oscars and GMA air on the same network, ABC.

In 2020, he wore a dark teal and black tuxedo from his own M by Michael Strahan collection.

Twenty-time Grand Slam singles champion Roger Federer made his second Oscars appearance in 2024.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, he wore a Prada dinner jacket, sunglasses from his collection with Oliver Peoples, and a Rolex Daytona Le Mans.

After the event, Federer told the outlet, "It was so exciting to be back at the Oscars," adding that Ryan Gosling's performance of "I'm Just Ken" from the "Barbie" movie and the acceptance speech for "Oppenheimer" star Cillian Murphy, who won best actor, were two of the night's memorable moments.

Lindsey Vonn attended the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in a vibrant-red draped gown by Balenciaga and black Manolo Blahnik heels, W Magazine reported.

The three-time Olympic medalist also tagged Rolex on Instagram for her accessory.

Five-time Grand Slam singles champion Maria Sharapova attended the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in a sleeveless olive-green gown by Emilia Wickstead, which she paired with long black gloves and black heels.

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White and his now fiancé Nina Dobrev were among the best-dressed couples at the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

While Dobrev shined in silver, White wore a cream tuxedo jacket and coordinating bowtie, which he paired with black slacks and shoes.

Serena Williams attended the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in a long black gown by Off-White with red and white detailing. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion accessorized with coordinating gloves and Messika jewelry.

Williams told Vanity Fair's YouTube Live hosts Michelle Buteau and Tan France that the party is "way more nerve-racking than like being on the tennis court" but added that it's a "super fun environment."

Director and animator Richard Williams spent about three decades working on the animated movie "The Thief and the Cobbler," but the finished product never lived up to his vision.

In 2021, Collider reported that in the 1960s, Williams was commissioned to illustrate books for author Idries Shah about the folklore character Nasruddin. In addition to the illustrations, Williams was working on preproduction for a film about the character, too. When deals between Paramount Pictures and Shah fell through, Williams was allowed to keep the characters he'd created for the film.

Still, production delays and increasing budgets made it difficult to find and secure investors throughout the '70s and '80s. However, Williams' two Oscar wins for "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" (1988) earned him the confidence of Warner Bros.

The studio agreed to help him finish the project with the stipulation that if Williams was unable to do so, the film would be given to The Completion Bond Company to complete for him. Ultimately, Williams and his team were unsuccessful in finishing their version on time, so in 1993, "The Princess and the Cobbler" was released by Allied Filmmakers internationally and in 1995, two more cuts — "The Thief and the Cobbler" and "Arabian Knight" — were released by Miramax.

Legendary director Stanley Kubrick spent decades developing "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" as an adaptation of Brian Aldiss' 1969 short story, "Supertoys Last All Summer Long," before his death in 1999.

The Ringer reported that Kubrick shared the narrative for his "Supertoys" adaptation with another famed director, Steven Spielberg, in 1984.

Over the years, Kubrick reportedly employed a slew of writers, including Aldiss, Bob Shaw, Ian Watson, Arthur C. Clarke, and Sara Maitland, to tackle the screenplay, but to no avail.

Still, in 1993, Warner Bros. announced Kubrick's next film would be "A.I.," but he set it aside again in 1995 and pursued what would be his final film, "Eyes Wide Shut."

Spielberg, who'd been privy to Kubrick's creative struggles over the years, took over the film after his death, writing the screenplay in a matter of weeks and hiring actor Haley Joel Osment.

"A.I. Artificial Intelligence" was released in 2001. It was nominated for best visual effects and best original score at the Oscars.

James Cameron famously wrote the first treatment for "Avatar" in the '90s, but shelved the project for years when he realized that the available technology wouldn't live up to his expectations.

Cameron told Entertainment Weekly in 2007 that he and the studio, Fox, decided to push forward with "Avatar" in August or September 2005, citing inspirations like Peter Jackson's Gollum from "The Lord of the Rings," "King Kong," and even Davy Jones from "Pirates of the Caribbean."

"I wrote an 80-page treatment 11 years ago," he told EW. "We were working from the treatment in designing the world and the creatures and so on. I wrote the script the first four months of 2006."

"Avatar" was released in 2009 and nominated for nine Oscars, winning best director, best cinematography, and best visual effects.

Of course, this wasn't the only "Avatar" film to spend years in production — fans waited another 13 years for its sequel, "Avatar: The Way of Water" (2022).

Richard Linklater's "Boyhood" was shot from May 2002 to August 2013, with its same principal cast, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Ellar Coltrane, and Lorelei Linklater, reuniting every year.

Richard Linklater told Time in 2014, "I was trying to tell a memory, of what it was like to grow up. Things you would remember from your past. There was no one thing. It was more of a tone, just a series of moments."

Coltrane was 6 years old when he won the role and 18 when the movie wrapped.

"It's a totally bizarre experience to have worked on it, and even more so to watch it now," he told Time. "Watching myself age, watching myself change like that, it's indescribable. It causes a lot of catharsis and a lot of intense emotion. It's a very elusive part of life, the way we change over time."

"Boyhood" was nominated for six Academy Awards, including best picture, best supporting actor and actress, best director, best original screenplay, and best film editing.

There was a 30-year gap between the third and fourth installments in George Miller's "Mad Max" saga.

Screen Rant reported that the reasons for production delays for "Mad Max: Fury Road" included everything from the economic impacts of the September 11 terrorist attacks to recasting lead actor Mel Gibson and issues with filming locations.

Pre-production for "Fury Road" began in 2009, and Tom Hardy was cast in 2010. Filming finally began in 2012, and the movie was released in 2015.

It was nominated for 10 Oscars, including best costume design, best production design, best director, and best picture.

Orson Welles' final movie, "The Other Side of the Wind" was posthumously released in 2018 by Netflix after 48 years in development.

Welles began shooting the film in 1970, but after six years, Welles only had a 40-minute cut to show for it, Business Insider's Jason Guerrasio reported in 2018.

After his death in 1985, there was confusion about who the film belonged to. Producer Filip Jan Rymsza told BI, "Everyone wanted the film to be completed, they just wanted it done on their own terms. It was a minefield. And if you made an enemy with this group you made an enemy for life, so that was the tricky part."

After decades in limbo, Netflix announced it would fund the movie's completion and it was released in November 2018.

Terry Gilliam's "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote" took so long to make that a documentary was made about his first attempt at the film, "Lost in La Mancha" (2002).

In 2021, the British Film Institute (BFI) reported that Gilliam had first decided to create "Don Quixote" in 1989, but when he finally started shooting in 2000, production lasted just five days.

"Rotating casts, illness and financial woes," including actor Jean Rochefort suffering a double herniated disc, delayed the film, Forbes and the BFI reported.

In 2013, Gilliam told The Hollywood Reporter that the film had "been around too long and it's like a tumor," adding, "I just want to get rid of it."

Five years later, in 2018, "Don Quixote" finally premiered, starring Adam Driver, Jonathan Pryce, Olga Kurylenko, Stellan Skargård, and Joana Ribeiro.

When Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio first signed on to "Killers of the Flower Moon" in 2017, they were ready to tell a completely different story.

DiCaprio was originally slated to play FBI agent Tom White, but at an early table read, he proposed he play Ernest Burkhart instead to better show the love story between Burkhart and his wife, Mollie.

Scorsese told IndieWire in 2023, "And then finally Leo said, 'If I play Ernest, we could turn it upside down and go in from the ground level.' And I said, 'Absolutely.'"

But then came the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing the shooting start from early 2020 to April 2021, and causing Paramount Pictures to team up with Apple Studios to finance and distribute the film.

The film was originally slated for a November 2022 release, but in an effort to make it more competitive for the Oscars, it was delayed to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023 and released theatrically in October, Screen Rant reported.

"Killers of the Flower Moon" went on to receive 10 Oscar nominations, including best actress, best director, best supporting actor, and best picture, but was shut out completely at the 2024 ceremony.

Collider reported that famed director Francis Ford Coppola ("The Godfather," "Apocalypse Now") started developing "Megalopolis" in the 1980s, but studios in Hollywood wouldn't fund it after his box-office failure, "One from the Heart" (1982).

After directing more commercial successes in the '90s, the outlet reported that Coppola hosted table reads for the project with actors like Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Uma Thurman, but the September 11 terrorist attacks placed it on hold indefinitely.

In 2019, "Megalopolis" was reintroduced, but Coppola had to finance the more than $100 million movie on his own.

Despite its star-studded cast (Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza), the timing didn't pay off and the film received poor reviews from audiences and critics when it was released widely in September 2024.

More than 20 years ago, when producer Marc Platt first optioned Gregory Maguire's novel, "Wicked," he envisioned its material as a film — a phone call from composer Stephen Schwartz changed everything.

"And the lightbulb went off in my head. I thought, 'That's what's been missing from these screenplays. I don't feel the magic because it's a story that wants to sing,'" Platt told NBC Universal in 2024.

"Wicked," of course, went on to become one of the most beloved Broadway musicals of all time after premiering in 2003 with Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel in the lead roles, but the idea of a film was never too far away.

In 2010, Deadline reported that Platt, Schwartz, and Winnie Holzman (who wrote the book for Broadway's adaptation) were meeting with filmmakers; and in 2016, Collider reported that Stephen Daldry was selected to direct the film.

However, "Wicked" was put on hold in favor of another movie musical adaptation, "Cats," which was released by Universal in 2019, and then because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When Daldry was forced to drop out of the project, Platt brought on Jon M. Chu ("Crazy Rich Asians," "In The Heights") in 2021.

Filming — of parts one and two— finally commenced in December 2022, but was halted in July 2023 with 10 days left because of the SAG-AFTRA strike. They later wrapped in January 2024, and part one of the movie was released in November 2024 to critical and box-office success.

It is nominated for 10 awards at the Oscars, including best actress (Cynthia Erivo), best supporting actress (Ariana Grande), best picture, best costume design, and best makeup and hairstyling.

Average price in 1975: $0.36 per pound

Adjusted for inflation: $2.20

Average price in 2025: $1.93 per pound

A grain shortage — caused by excessive exports to Russia following a 1972 deal — helped push up bread prices across the US, The New York Times reported.

Average price in 1975: $0.785 per half gallon

Adjusted for inflation: $4.79 per half gallon

Average price in 2025: $4.03 per gallon

The 1970s were also marked by a shortage of dairy products. In 1973, dairy prices rose by 30%, History.com reported.

Average price in 1975: $1.03 per pound

Adjusted for inflation: $6.28

Average price in 2025: $2.42 per pound

Average price in 1970: $0.61 per dozen

Adjusted for inflation: $5.13

Average price in 2025: $4.95 per dozen

Though egg price data was not available for 1975 from the BLS, we'd be remiss not to include this grocery staple. Data from the agency's Consumer Expenditure Survey found that the average price of eggs in US cities in 1970 was $0.61 per dozen.

Bird flu has affected the American egg industry for three years in a row as one of the largest animal-based pandemics ever, Maurice Pitesky, an associate professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, told BI in January. This continued decrease in supply has heightened demand, leading to increasing prices.

Average price in 1975: $1.89 per pound

Adjusted for inflation: $11.52

Average price in 2025: $8.28 per pound

The American Farm Bureau Federation wrote in 2024 that rising beef costs could be attributed to a decrease in supply caused by drought and the increasing costs for feed grains.

Average price in 1975: $0.134 per pound

Adjusted for inflation: $0.82

Average price in 2025: $0.973 per pound

Average price in 1975: $0.47 per pound

Adjusted for inflation: $2.87

Average price in 2025: $1.01 per pound

Average price in 1975: $0.34 per pound

Adjusted for inflation: $2.07

Average price in 2025: $1.26 per pound (Red Delicious)

In November 2024, NPR reported that apple prices are falling because of a decrease in demand from consumers and processors.

Average price in 1975: $0.232 per pound

Adjusted for inflation: $1.41

Average price in 2025: $0.621 per pound

Banana prices have remained low despite rising costs for other commodities as a result of factors like lower labor costs and free trade agreements, Axios reported in March 2024. However, Forbes reported in February that tariffs could lead to increased prices in the future.

Average price in 1975: $0.57 per gallon (leaded)

Adjusted for inflation: $3.48 per gallon

Average price in 2025: $3.34 per gallon (all types)

In October 1973, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) enacted an oil embargo on the US after President Richard Nixon requested Congress provide billions in emergency aid to Israel during the Yom Kippur War. Though the embargo was lifted in March 1974, oil prices remained significantly high.

WalletHub's 2025 report estimated that it will take $57.7 million to put on the Academy Awards.

This is just a fraction of the money spent by the actual nominees, though. "Wicked" — which is nominated in 10 categories this year, including best picture — had a budget of $150 million, higher than all the other best picture nominees except "Dune: Part Two."

That's not the only high figure associated with the red carpet: Its installation takes 600 hours and a 500-person crew, WalletHub reported.

Celebrities will begin gracing the red carpet several hours before the ceremony's 7 p.m. ET start time.

The estimated cost of each 24-karat gold-plated statue awarded to winners is about $400.

The Academy gives out awards in 24 categories, and a winner is not allowed to sell their statue without first offering to sell it to the Academy for $1, according to its policy.

Each year, the highly anticipated, ultra-glamorous event hosted by Vanity Fair is attended by Hollywood's biggest stars, often after they've had a change of wardrobe.

WalletHub estimates that the value of each goodie bag given to Oscar nominees is $170,000.

But, the "Everybody Wins" bags aren't actually gifted by the Academy, they're the work of LA-based marketing agency Distinctive Assets, PRNewswire reported.

Some of this year's gifts include the full line of Miage skincare products, a four-night stay in the Maldives, a five-star hotel stay in Barcelona, and more than $1 million of "personalized disaster recovery services from Bright Harbor."

"While our gifts may be famous for being fun and fabulous, they also serve as a means to elevate small businesses, minority-owned brands, female entrepreneurs and companies that give back. This year, on the heels of the historically tragic LA fires, we have found even more ways that our celebrity swag can do good in our community," Distinctive Assets founder Lash Fary said, per PRNewswire.

He added, "Whether they pamper themselves or share these bountiful gifts as a care package for a friend who may have recently lost their home, we give these gifts not based on the recipients' needs but out of a desire to brighten someone's day and to acknowledge a job well done."

While A-listers wear multi-million-dollar looks, the cost of dressing a first-timer at the Oscars is $266,000, WalletHub reported.

Because the cost of a look varies based on a person's stardom, the average cost of a look at the Oscars is about $1.5 million.

In 2014, Cate Blanchett made Oscars history when she wore an $18.1 million look; but her $100,000 Armani Privé gown was the least expensive element of her outfit — her jewelry alone was estimated to cost $18 million, per The Hollywood Reporter.

The only person to wear even more expensive jewelry was Lady Gaga in 2019, whose 128-carat yellow diamond Tiffany & Co. necklace cost more than $30 million.

Last year, an average of 21 million people tuned in to watch the show, WalletHub reported. That was a 6% increase from 2023, so it's no surprise that running an ad during the live event's commercial breaks is expensive.

It costs $1.95 million to buy 30-seconds of ad time during the Oscars, WalletHub reported, which is 72% less than the $7 million it cost to run an ad during the Super Bowl.

WalletHub estimated that ABC, the TV network that hosts the awards, makes $127 million in ad revenue on the day of the Oscars.

Upwards of $20 million of that revenue comes from the pre-show red-carpet coverage.

Turns out, winning an Oscar requires much more work than just releasing a movie.

In 2023, The New York Times reported on the competitive nature of Oscars campaigns, in which professional strategists seek to shape public opinion on films, actors, and opponents.

WalletHub estimates that more than $100 million is spent on lobbying each year — that's more than the budgets of best picture nominees "Anora," "The Brutalist," "A Complete Unknown," and "I'm Still Here" combined.

The Academy has gone digital. Rather than paying millions of dollars to send physical copies of the year's nominated pictures to voters, the group has turned to streaming, which costs $20,000 per film, WalletHub reported.

Gordon Hollingshead — whose movie career spanned from 1916 to his death in 1952 — won his first competitive Oscar for best assistant director in 1933, a category that would only exist through 1937.

He also won three best short subject (two-reel) awards, two best short subject (one-reel) awards, and one best documentary (short subject) award.

These categories have also been redefined since his victories in the 1940s and 1950s; they are now known as the awards for best live action short film and best documentary short film.

"Tom and Jerry" producer Fred Quimby received his first Oscar nomination and trophy in 1944 for best short subject (cartoon) for "Yankee Doodle Mouse."

His other six wins would all come from the same category, which is now called best animated short film.

Director and sound designer Gary Rydstrom was awarded best sound and best sound effects editing for "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," "Jurassic Park," and "Saving Private Ryan."

He also has a best sound award for "Titanic," bringing his total award count to seven.

Richard Day won seven awards for best art direction (now known as best production design), beginning in 1936 with "The Dark Angel" and concluding in 1954 with "On the Waterfront."

Described by the Oscars as a "lifelong 'monster kid,'" makeup artist Rick Baker has made significant contributions to the world of movie makeup across genres, winning seven Academy Awards throughout his career.

In 1981, Baker received his first nomination and win for best makeup for "An American Werewolf in London."

In the '90s, he had multiple wins with "Ed Wood" (1995), "The Nutty Professor" (1997), and "Men in Black" (1998).

Another memorable contribution includes transforming Jim Carrey into the Grinch for the 2000 movie "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

Working alongside esteemed art director Cedric Gibbons, set designer Edwin B. Willis won eight Oscars in 15 years for his contributions to set design within the art direction category.

His first win came in 1941 for his work in interior direction on "Blossoms in the Dust," and his final win came in 1956 for his work in Set Decoration on "Somebody Up There Likes Me."

Disney fans can say a big thank you to composer Alan Menken, the mind behind the music in "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," and "Pocahontas."

Menken won two Academy Awards for each of these films, winning in the scoring and original song categories.

Dennis Muren won eight Academy Awards for his contributions to visual effects on iconic films like "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" and "Jurassic Park."

Muren's work had a significant impact on popular films throughout the '80s and '90s, like "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial," "Innerspace," and "Terminator 2: Judgment Day."

In addition to his competitive Oscars, Muren also won a technical achievement award in 1981.

The beautiful costumes worn by Audrey Hepburn in the classics "Roman Holiday" and "Sabrina" came from eight-time Oscar-winner Edith Head.

Known for her "distinctive personal style" and "forthright personality," according to the Oscars website, Head built a career dressing some of the most famous movie stars of her time, like Elizabeth Taylor, Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly, and Steve McQueen. In all, she received 35 nominations and is the winningest woman in Oscars history.

Other winning films she designed costumes for include "The Heiress," "All About Eve," "Samson and Delilah," "A Place in the Sun," "The Facts of Life," and "The Sting."

Alfred Newman, who was known for films like "The King and I," won nine awards for his work as a composer.

He won his first Oscar in 1938 for scoring "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and his final Oscar in 1967 for "Camelot."

Cedric Gibbons won best art direction 11 times out of 38 nominations.

His first award came in 1930 at the second annual Academy Awards ceremony for "The Bridge of San Luis Rey." He won his final Oscar in 1957 for "Somebody Up There Likes Me"

Walt Disney dominated the best short subject (cartoon) category (now awarded as best animated short film) throughout the 1930s with projects like "Flowers and Trees," "Ferdinand the Bull," and "The Ugly Duckling."

His films continued to win awards throughout his life, and he won his final competitive Oscar posthumously in 1969 for "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day," bringing his total to 22 awards from 59 nominations.

In addition to his competitive awards, Disney was also the recipient of four non-competitive special awards for the creation of Mickey Mouse, the significance of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" in animation, the use of sound in "Fantasia," and his work as a creative producer, for which he won the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award.

Adams has earned six Oscar nominations throughout her career, thanks to her roles in films like "Doubt," "The Fighter," and "American Hustle."

Her most recent nomination came in 2019, for her role as Lynne Cheney in Adam McKay's "Vice."

Cooper has been nominated for 12 Oscars across five categories, including best actor, best supporting actor, best picture, best adapted screenplay, and best original screenplay for films like "Silver Linings Playbook," "A Star Is Born," and "Maestro."

In 2024, Cooper's Oscars campaign for "Maestro" was widely criticized; as Business Insider's Olivia Singh wrote, "Cooper's effort to pay homage to the late musician was earnest, but his TMI approach to promoting the film during the press tour and awards season gave people the ick."

It may come as a surprise that Henson has only earned one Oscar nomination in her career despite starring in critically acclaimed films like "Hustle & Flow" and "Hidden Figures."

Still, her only nomination came in 2009 for best supporting actress for her role as Queenie in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

Despite being just 30 years old, Ronan has earned an impressive four Oscar nominations without taking home the trophy.

Her first nomination came in 2008 — when she was only 13 years old — for her role as Briony Tallis in "Atonement," and her most recent nomination was in 2020 for her role as Jo March in Greta Gerwig's adaptation of "Little Women."

Speaking of Gerwig, the American director and screenwriter also has been nominated for four awards throughout her career.

Her most recent nomination came in 2024 for best adapted screenplay for the cultural phenomenon "Barbie." Cord Jefferson ultimately took home the award for "American Fiction."

Thanks to his work on films like "There Will Be Blood," "Phantom Thread," and "Licorice Pizza," Anderson has earned 11 Oscar nominations across four categories, including best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, and best original screenplay.

Close has been nominated for eight Oscars across the best actress and best supporting actress categories.

She earned her first nomination in 1983 for her role as Jenny Fields in "The World According to Garp" and her last in 2021 for her role as Mamaw in "Hillbilly Elegy."

The iconic character actor has earned four nominations throughout his impressive career. His last nomination was in 2003 for best supporting actor in "The Hours."

Cheadle has only been nominated for an Oscar once for his role as Paul Rusesabagina in "Hotel Rwanda." Jamie Foxx ultimately took home the award for best actor for his performance in "Ray."

Still, Cheadle is one of few actors to have been nominated for every component of an EGOT, or Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award.

Fiennes has earned three Oscar nominations, including a best actor nod this year for his role as Cardinal Lawrence in "Conclave."

He was previously nominated in the category in 1996 for "The English Patient," and in 1994 he was arguably robbed of the award for best supporting actor for his role in Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List."

Since the ending of "Dawson's Creek," Williams has proved she's much more than just another teen soap star.

Throughout her career, she's earned five nominations, the most recent of which came in 2023 for her leading role in "The Fabelmans."

Norton has been nominated for four Academy Awards thanks to his work in "Primal Fear," "American History X," "Birdman," and most recently, the Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown."

This year, Norton will compete against Yura Borisov, Kieran Culkin, Guy Pearce, and Jeremy Strong for best supporting actor.

Fincher has three Oscar nominations for best director for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Social Network," and "Mank."

His distinct style and impressive line of work — including "Seven," "Fight Club," "Zodiac," and "Gone Girl" — is bound to get a win one day.

This year, Erivo is nominated for her third Oscar thanks to her gravity-defying performance as Elphaba Thropp in Jon M. Chu's "Wicked."

In 2020, she was nominated for best actress and best original song for her work in "Harriet." She lost the former to Renée Zellweger and the latter to Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

If she wins the Oscar this year, Erivo will reach EGOT status.

Weaver has been nominated for three Oscars, including a best actress nod in 1987 for her role as Ripley in James Cameron's "Aliens."

In 2015, while promoting the film "Chappie," Weaver told Digital Spy that the science fiction genre "doesn't get enough respect when you consider how many issues sci-fi brings up that we need to deal with."

"I think part of it is the Academy is mostly people like me who are over a certain age and they're still probably looking for the more conventional movie. I think all that's going to change because some of the work being done in sci-fi is some of the most interesting, provocative work out there," she added.

Though he's arguably best known for his work in action films like "Mission: Impossible," Cruise has delivered Oscar-worthy performances, too.

His ambitious work in Paul Thomas Anderson's "Magnolia" got him a best supporting actor nomination in 2000, but he lost to Michael Caine for his work in "The Cider House Rules." He's also been nominated for lead roles in "Born on the Fourth of July" and "Jerry Maguire."

Bening has earned five nominations spanning from 1991 to 2024.

Her latest nomination was for her portrayal of Diana Nyad in "Nyad," which she lost to Emma Stone for her performance as Bella Baxter in "Poor Things."

Producer and current president of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy has been nominated for eight Oscars for best picture.

Some of these nominees include iconic films like "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," 1985's "The Color Purple," and "The Sixth Sense."

The stylish director has been making feature films since the late '70s, but he has only been nominated for four Oscars.

Though "Gladiator" took home the award for best picture in 2001, Scott lost out on the Oscar because he wasn't one of the film's producers. He was, however, nominated for best director, but ultimately lost to Steven Soderbergh.

Scott's other nominations include best director nods for "Thelma & Louise" and "Black Hawk Down," as well as a best picture nomination as a producer of 2015's "The Martian" starring Matt Damon.

Neeson's sole Oscar nomination came in 1994 for his performance as Oskar Schindler in "Schindler's List."

He lost the best actor award to Tom Hanks, who played Andrew Beckett in Jonathan Demme's "Philadelphia."

Award won: Best adapted screenplay

For: "The Descendants"

Year: 2012

Jim Rash may be best known for playing Dean in "Community," but he's a writer, too.

Rash put his skills to good use for "The Descendants," a dramedy starring George Clooney and Shailene Woodley. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including best picture, best actor, and best adapted screenplay, which Rash took home alongside cowriters Nat Faxon and Alexander Payne.

Award won: Best live action short film

For: "Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life"

Year: 1995

Capaldi is internationally known for playing the Doctor in "Doctor Who," but fans might not realize he became an Oscar winner nearly two decades prior to taking on the role.

Capaldi won the award for best live action short film alongside Ruth Kenley-Letts for "Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life." Their film actually tied for the award with Peggy Rajski and Randy Stone's "Trevor."

Award won: Best original song

For: "I Just Called to Say I Love You" from "The Woman in Red"

Year: 1985

In comparison to his 25 Grammy wins, it's easy to see how Stevie Wonder's Oscar win in 1985 could fly under the radar. The song itself was a massive hit upon its release in 1984, selling millions of copies.

Award won: Best original song

For: "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp" from "Hustle & Flow"

Year: 2006

Three years after Eminem's win, Three 6 Mafia became the first hip-hop group to take home the Oscar for best original song for "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp" from "Hustle & Flow."

Award won: Best original song

For: "Lose Yourself" from "8 Mile"

Year: 2003

In 2003, Eminem became the first rapper to win the Oscar for best original song with "Lose Yourself" from Curtis Hanson's drama "8 Mile," which he also starred in. Though he wasn't present to accept the award back then, he gave a surprise performance of the song 17 years later, at the Oscars ceremony in 2020.

Award won: Best supporting actress

For: "The Piano" 

Year: 1994

Paquin's acting career started off with a bang, winning best supporting actress for her debut film, "The Piano," at just 11 years old.

Since then, she's appeared in the "X-Men" trilogy, "True Blood," and Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman," but hasn't received another Oscar nomination.

Award won: Best supporting actress

For: "Precious"

Year: 2010

Though Mo'Nique may be best known for her comedy, she had a standout role as abusive mother Mary Jones in Lee Daniels' "Precious" and took home the award for best supporting actress.

However, five years after her win, Mo'Nique told The Hollywood Reporter that Daniels told her she was "blackballed" because she "didn't play the game."

Mo'Nique famously did not campaign for her award, and in the opening line of her acceptance speech said, "First, I would like to thank the Academy for showing that it can be about the performance and not the politics."

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Daniels said, "Her demands through 'Precious' were not always in line with the campaign. This soured her relationship with the Hollywood community."

Mo'Nique and Daniels reconciled in 2022, and she starred in his 2024 horror film, "The Deliverance."

Award won: Best original song

For: "Say You, Say Me" from "White Nights"

Year: 1986

Richie has won one Oscar from three nominations for best original song. His win came in 1986 for "Say You, Say Me" from "White Nights," starring Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines.

Award won: Best supporting actress

For: "Mighty Aphrodite"

Year: 1996

Before she starred as the iconic Romy White in "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion," Sorvino was recognized by the Academy for her role as Linda Ash in Woody Allen's "Mighty Aphrodite."

Since then, she's appeared in other films and television projects like "Norma Jean & Marilyn," "Human Trafficking," and more recently, "Sound of Freedom."

In 2017, Sorvino was one of more than a dozen women to speak out against producer Harvey Weinstein in an article published by The New Yorker. She told the publication that she felt her career was hurt after rejecting Weinstein's advances and reporting the harassment she faced.

"There may have been other factors, but I definitely felt iced out and that my rejection of Harvey had something to do with it," Sorvino said.

In a statement in 2017, Weinstein denied he'd been involved in blacklisting Sorvino.

Weinstein was convicted of third-degree rape of one woman and of first-degree criminal sex act against another in 2020 and sentenced to 23 years in prison. His conviction was overturned in April 2024 and he was indicted on new charges in September; his retrial is set to begin in April.

Award won: Best documentary feature

For: "An Inconvenient Truth"

Year: 2007

OK, technically the award for best documentary feature was given to director Davis Guggenheim, but former vice president and 2000 presidential nominee Al Gore was its subject, highlighting his educational presentation about the dangers of global warming.

He even took to the stage with Guggenheim after its win, telling the crowd, "My fellow Americans, people all over the world, we need to solve the climate crisis. It's not a political issue, it's a moral issue. We have everything we need to get started, with the possible exception of the will to act. That's a renewable resource. Let's renew it."

Award won: Best documentary feature

For: "The Cove"

Year: 2010

The "Short Circuit" and "Succession" actor won the best documentary feature award in 2010 after producing "The Cove," which detailed the dolphin-hunting industry in Japan and called for a change in Japanese fishing practices.

That same year, Stevens cofounded Insurgent Media, a documentary film company.

Award won: Best animated short film

For: "Dear Basketball"

Year: 2018

The basketball legend made history when he took home an Oscar in 2018, becoming the first former professional athlete to do so.

Bryant narrated the animated short, which features a 2015 letter he wrote for The Players' Tribune announcing his retirement.

The short was directed and animated by Glen Keane, who had previously worked on animated Disney classics like "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast," and "Aladdin." John Williams, the 54-time Academy Award nominee behind the scores for films like "Jaws," "Star Wars," and "Jurassic Park," created the score.

Bryant's emotional acceptance speech ended with the athlete thanking his wife, Vanessa, and daughters Natalia, Gianna, and Bianka, telling them, "ti amo con tutto il mio cuore," which translates to "I love you with all my heart" in Italian.

Award won: Best original song

For: "Writing's on the Wall" from "Spectre"

Year: 2016

Alongside cowriter Jimmy Napes, the British singer-songwriter won the award for best original song for their 2015 Bond theme for "Spectre."

In their acceptance speech, Smith talked about being the "first openly gay man to win an Oscar," which they weren't. His comments sparked backlash from the LGBTQ community, and the singer, who acknowledged the mistake, temporarily quit X, formerly known as Twitter.