The Most Fascinating People of 2017

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The Most Fascinating People of 2017

Year in review: From Hollywood’s bravest whistle-blowers (see: Ashley Judd, Rose McGowan) to the industry’s fiercest moguls (hi, Kylie Jenner!), Us Weekly honors the standouts of 2017.

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The Most Fascinating People of 2017

Year in review: From Hollywood’s bravest whistle-blowers (see: Ashley Judd, Rose McGowan) to the industry’s fiercest moguls (hi, Kylie Jenner!), Us Weekly honors the standouts of 2017.

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Terry Crews

The actor helped drive the conversation about sexual assault in Hollywood when he revealed in October that he had been “groped” by a powerful executive at a star-studded event.

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Claire Foy

The actress earned critical acclaim for her work as Queen Elizabeth in Netflix’s The Crown.

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Daisy Ridley

The actress has continued to earn praise for her work as Rey in the Star Wars franchise, which she will continue to appear in through at least 2019.   

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Elisabeth Moss

The Handmaid’s Tale star has been vocal this year about causes she supports, speaking out to fundraise for ACLU and Planned Parenthood.

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Issa Rae

The star has won over audiences with her HBO series, Insecure.

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Jordan Peele

After welcoming a baby boy with wife Chelsea Peretti, Peele has another big project on the horizon as he will produce the long-awaited Twilight Zone reboot.

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McKayla Maroney

The former Olympian opened up in October about experiencing sexual abuse in the past by former Team USA gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar. 

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Sairose Ronan

The actress received critical acclaim for her work in Ladybird. 

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Solange

The singer has been vocal about social justice movements, including Tweeting when Beyonce lost to Adele for Grammy album of the year: “There have only been two black winners in the last 20 years for album of the year there have been over 200 black artists who have performed.”

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Chrissy Metz

The actress has opened up about how her role as Kate on This Is Us has helped people communicate about different issues. "On a daily basis ... I cry with strangers” Metz told Us Weekly in November. “There’s a high school friend I recently went and saw during Thanksgiving and his wife had triplets and they lost one of the babies. Just when you think the show is too far-fetched, it’s like, no, people are actually living these stories."

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Taylor Swift

After spending most of the year under the radar, the star reemerged with her latest album, Reputation, in November.

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This Is Us Cast

Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley, Sterling K. Brown, Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia have impacted America as they tell the fictional stories of loss, addiction and heartbreak.

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SZA

Her debut album, Ctrl, was critically acclaimed, making her one of the year’s biggest breakthrough artists.

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Pink

While promoting her latest album, Beautiful Trauma, the singer has used her platform to speak out against bullying.

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Meghan McCain

After leaving Fox News daytime show Outnumbered, the political host joined The View as a cohost in October.

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Kesha

Following her tumultuous legal battle with producer Dr. Luke, the singer released her first single in four years, “Praying,” in July.

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Kaia Gerber

The young model has followed in her mother Cindy Crawford’s footsteps to make a name for herself across major runways and editorial campaigns.

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John Boyega

The actor has continued to shine in his work in the Star Wars franchise, including this year’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

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Chance The Rapper

The breakout performer also made a name for himself as a philanthropist, donating $1 million to Chicago Public Schools in March.

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Ben Platt

The former star of Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen has brought in sold-out crowds whose attendees have included Katie Holmes and Beyonce!

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Lili Reinhart

The Riverdale standout has risen to fame as Betty Cooper on the CW series, which premiered in January.

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Jake Paul

The former Disney Channel star and influencer is one of the most notable YouTube personalities to date, with over 30 million fans across social media.

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Rose McGowan

In opening up about her alleged encounter with Harvey Weinstein, she became an advocate for women. 

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Ree Drummond

With eatery and general store Mercantile, the Pioneer Woman boosted the economy in her Oklahoma town.

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Melania Trump

Criticized for everything from her Slovenian accent to the 4-inch stilettos she wore boarding a flight to hurricane-ravaged Houston, the first lady stood strong. Facing haters “is part of being famous,” the 47-year-old told Us in 2015. “You will not have everybody love you all the time.”

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Nicole Kidman

An empathetic turn as an abused wife earned the Big Little Lies actress her second Emmy. The actress announced she will return for season 2 of the series in 2018.

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Selena Gomez

Her September kidney transplant reveal shined a light on the struggles of fighting lupus. 

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Cardi B

Her catchy hit “Bodak Yellow” dethroned Taylor Swift from Billboard’s top spot.

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Jay Z and Beyonce

Music’s king and queen proved they still run the world with his latest confessional album 4:44, seemingly a follow up to her 2016 album, Lemonade.

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Ariana Grande

Days after terrorists hit her Manchester concert on May 22, the singer returned for a benefit concert on June 4.

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Colin Kaepernick

The outspoken quarterback took a knee — and a stand against police brutality. 

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Tracee Ellis Ross

The Black-ish star’s Golden Globe triumph was the first win for a black actress since 1982. 

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Kumail Nanjiani

His touching real-life rom-com The Big Sick showed fans the healing power of love. 

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Kylie Jenner

Earning $420 million in its first 18 months, her Kylie Cosmetics is on pace to hit $1 billion decades ahead of its competitors.

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Patty Jenkins

The Wonder Woman director slayed records when the movie became the highest grossing superhero origin film.

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Donald Glover

At the Emmys, the Atlanta star became the first black director to nab top comedy honors. 

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Megyn Kelly

Incurring backlash in June — her second week as an NBC journalist — for interviewing a Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist, the 47-year-old declared: “While it’s not always popular, it’s important.” That mantra informs all her choices. On Megyn Kelly Today, she’s explored everything from pop culture to sexual assault.

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Tiffany Haddish

A breakout performance in July’s Girls Trip earned the once-homeless star a Saturday Night Live hosting gig (the first black female stand-up comedian to get that job in the NBC sketch show’s history!) and praise from DJ Khaled. At a November fete, the Last Black Unicorn author, 38, recalled to Us, “He goes, ‘You’re the hottest thing out there right now. You’re on fire!’”

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Stranger Things kids

An eye-popping 15.8 million chose to Netflix and chill, catching the premiere of the show’s second season within three days of its October release. Carrying most of the nine episodes? The series’ youngest stars: Finn Wolfhard, 15, Gaten Matarazzo, 15, Caleb McLaughlin, 16, Sadie Sink, 15, Millie Bobby Brown, 13, and Noah Schnapp, 13.

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Leah Remini

Scientology was just the start. After two seasons of exposing the darkest truths of her former religion on her hit A&E docuseries, the 47-year-old will investigate other “cultlike religions” in season 3, an insider reveals. On deck: New York-based self-help group NXIVM and the Jehovah’s Witnesses.  

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Janet Jackson

Just months after giving birth to son Eissa in January, she rebounded from a split with Wissam Al Mana in April by performing to sold-out crowds on her State of the World tour.

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Chip & Joanna Gaines

At the height of their fame, Fixer Upper’s stars decided to remodel their life. Ending their hit HGTV show (Chip, 43, and Joanna, 39, will still create their popular Target line, Hearth & Hand) means more time with their four kids, notes Chip, who told Success, “We want to make sure that we’re here for our family during really crucial, pivotal points in its journey.”

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Drew & Jonathan Scott

Once struggling entertainers, the real estate phenoms built their love of flipping houses into a multimillion-dollar empire. And with millions tuning in to their HGTV smash Property Brothers — and its four successful spinoffs — the 39-year-olds aren’t slowing down. As Jonathan tells Us, “I don’t see us ever stepping away.”

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Ashley Judd

Before Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and dozens more stepped forward, the actress, 49, walked out on a limb. She’s said of her decision to go on-record in October with The New York Times about Harvey Weinstein’s alleged sexual harassment, “It’s simply beyond time to have the conversation.”

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Jimmy Kimmel

You gotta have heart. That’s the message the talk show host, 50, delivered this year. Revealing his 8-month-old son, Billy, was born with a congenital heart defect, he’s led the charge for affordable health care. “There are certain things I don’t understand,” he told Vulture in October. “and the idea that Americans wouldn’t want to take care of each other when they’re sick is one of them.”

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Meghan Markle

The newest American princess — she and Prince Harry, 33, will wed in May — may just be tailor-made for the role. Even before the 36-year-old called Kensington Palace home, she was discussing the importance of charity. Teaming with organizations such as U.N. Women and World Vision, she says, “feeds my soul.” 

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Shawn Mendes

The teen heartthrob reached new heights of fame as he conquered his latest world tour.

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Bella Hadid

The model came into her own this year as she landed campaigns across editorial, runway and commercial platforms.

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Chadwick Boseman

Boseman’s T’Challa turns into Black Panther’s titular character in the forthcoming film.

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Maren Morris

After bursting onto the country music scene as a frank songwriter, the singer earned a Best Country Solo Performance Grammy award.