Pop Princess Wrapped: My Top 5 Pop Girlies of 2025
Written by Sharon Hamza
(In no particular order because you can’t pit bad bitches against each other)
Another year, another opportunity to appreciate all the immense musical talent in the world and also low-key show off our music taste to each other. what makes this year so special is how much we were fed pure pop princess perfection, and it would be criminal not to give them their flowers.
Before I get into my top 5, I must share some honourable mentions! There were a few artists who didn’t come to play, and their songs went triple platinum in my house.
Honourable Mention #1
Yves
South Korean solo artist Yves has made a clear and cohesive name for herself, immediately finding her sound right off the bat. From releasing her debut solo single,“ LOOP (feat. Lil Cherry)”, in May 2024, Yves’s electro-synth pop sound has stayed true to her musical identity, creating a sound that is so identifiable to her, yet gives something entirely new and fresh in each track.
This has not only been recognised by fans but also by other Western artists, most notably Rebecca Black and PinkPatheress. We saw unprecedented levels of pop princessdom when the pair collaborated on tracks on their respective albums, with“ SOAP” on Yves’s Soft Error album and“ Stars + Yves” on PinkPatheress’ deluxe album, Fancy Some More, within just two months of each other.
Honourable Mention #2
Eli
Eli is an artist who was the topic of one of the first articles that I wrote for DWG, and she hasn’t left my head, or my playlist, ever since. The last time I spoke about her, she was teasing the release of her first album Stage Girl, and it's finally out!
Stage Girl follows themes surrounding femininity, womanhood and reaffirming gender identity. Eli’s songwriting is playful and deeply intimate, and her ability to toe the line between soft vulnerability and pop princess realness makes her one of the most refreshing new voices in pop. She’s in her own lane, and honestly? She’s speeding.
Princesses of Poptopia (I love them all, UGH, this article could go on forever)
Princess of The Midnight Sun, Zara Larsson
Feline Princess, Natanya
Princess Bird’s Eye, Rayvn Lanae
Ghana’s Finest Princess, Amaarae
Now, Let Me Introduce You To My Ladies:
Jae Stephens
From the jump, Jae Stephens has been serving neo-soul pop perfection, writing and releasing music since 2017, and gained a lot of attention for her 2024 song,“ Body Favours.” However, this year, the people are finally waking up to the many talents of Jae Stephens. In her debut album TOTAL SELLOUT, released this November, she gave us a pop club hit in“ Afterbody”, a late-night groove track that was probably engineered in a neon-lit lab specifically for dance floor levitation. This is her most confident, expansive era yet; it looks like this is just the beginning for Jae Stephens.
PinkPantheress
At this point, PinkPantheress is a pioneer in reshaping the garage-pop genre. I mean, look at all the sons she has in K-Pop; her pen and production are undeniable! PinkPatherness has become the blueprint for a new wave of pop music, and she’s leading the British girlies into stardom. 2025 has been a big year for PinkPantheress as she put out an album, Fancy That in May, which has received two Grammy nominations. Similarly, the song“ Illegal” on the same album has also been nominated for Best Dance/Pop Recording.
PinkPatheress has really solidified herself as a princess of pop and is arguably one of the decade's most influential pop girlies. Her deluxe album Fancy Some More?, released in October, featured many amazing artists, some of whom also feature in this article, so I guess yeah: I do fancy some more.
Rachael Chinouriri
Another British pop girly that deserves everything in life; honestly, listening to her music feels like such a breath of fresh air: introspective and delicate, art that hits you right in the chest. Her most popular track,“ All I Ever Asked” (2022), gained a lot of attention online, becoming her most-streamed song. However, she never once kept her foot off our necks, performing as an opening act at Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet tour NS collaborating with PinkPantheress on the“ Romeo” remix this year.
Most recently, she released a new EP in November called Little House, an ode to her partner Lucas and falling in love in a state of vulnerability. She puts her heart and emotions so openly on display it almost felt like reading a love letter she accidentally left on the kitchen table. This princess feels so deeply and loves to love.
ADÉLA
Pop Provocateur ADÉLA rightfully secures her spot in my top 10, and she’s not leaving it any time soon. ADÉLA is truly taking the wheel of the Cunty Express Train, heading straight towards stardom. With every release, she proves she’s not afraid to push boundaries sonically, visually, and unapologetically, particularly in her 2025 rollouts:“ Death By Devotion” and EP, The Provocateur.
Her sex-appeal aesthetic, influenced by the iconic eras of Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and Madonna, cements her as a true student of pop. She channels that lineage of femininity, power and theatrical rebellion while still carving out something distinctly her own. She has a strong artistic vision exemplified through her dance, song and performance. A true pop princess, indeed!
Tyla
Tyla is what I would call a pop diva; in her own lane, making big moves for her people and doing it with a level of grace and star power that feels effortless but captivates everyone. Her music is undeniably addictive, with every single or album release having immediate replay value. Her fusion of amapiano, pop and R&B has forged a new path for her artistry.
Since 2019 Tyla has stayed true to her identity, developing her music and style to new heights with every new song. I could go on and on about all her hit songs, her Grammy win, her successful tour and the fact that her songs trend every other week, but all I’ll say is stream“ Chanel” yupppp!
