For nearly a century, the best girl groups have been putting lyrics to the complexities of how teens and young adults feel and move through the world. As it turns out, times may change, but these emotions stay the same — which is perhaps why so many girl group classics continue to resonate so strongly today.
Oldies from the likes of the Andrews Sisters and the Shirelles capture the butterflies of first love, while girl group hits of the ‘90s steep themselves in sex positivity and girl power mantras. When in need of comfort and a dash of self love, there’s no shortage of girl groups to switch on for a lift, or to restore your hope in the power of female friendship above all else.
Beyond our personal playlists, there’s so much more owed to girl groups. They’ve given us iconic styles to mimic with besties and slang that lasts a generation. (If you’ve ever called someone a “scrub” or hummed “zig-a-zig-ah” to yourself, you know just what we mean.) The music industry itself wouldn’t be the same without them. Motown’s girl groups opened doors for Black artists; K-pop’s have extended the industry’s global reach; a handful of other U.S. and U.K. acts have launched solo stars into the pop stratosphere.
In reality, the best girl groups aren’t the ones that simply take the temperature of a pop culture moment. They’re the ones who define that moment, stamping their mark on it for years to come. Below, you’ll find the top 21 girl groups who did just that.
2NE1
In one of K-pop’s most iconic opening lines, 2NE1 declare themselves the best, and it’s hard to argue the point. Bom, CL, Dara, and Minzy captured the West by being the very essence of bad b*tch energy, breaking records and becoming the first K-pop girl group to embark on a world tour. Though 2ne1 disbanded in 2016, solo star CL brought out the other three members during her Coachella set in 2022 for a surprise reunion.
Source: Teen Vogue
*irrelevant information omitted
Ayo-Minzy! 