The aughts yielded a real bounty of wild celebs, from bronzed reality denizens to slick pop stars. Find out who rocked the world of Star staffers.
Hilary Duff
Why I love her: Growing up, I wanted to be Hilary Duff. Like many girls my age, I was obsessed with “Lizzie McGuire,” in which she embodied the quintessential girl next door, and the “Cinderella Story” soundtrack was the first piece of music I ever bought for my trusty Discman. Also, her iconic “Think Before You Speak” PSA felt like a big deal at that time and meant a lot to me as a queer kid growing up in rural Alberta.
Dreamiest moment: It has to be her self-duet performance of “What Dreams are Made of” from “The Lizzie McGuire Movie.”
Wildest fit: One thing about Hilary Duff in the 2000s: she’s going to be wearing denim on the red carpet!
— McKenna Hart, editorial designer
Lindsay Lohan
Why I love her: Lindsay was the ultimate 2000s icon: funny, stylish and crazy talented. She owned teen comedies (“Mean Girls,” “Freaky Friday”) and even dropped a pop banger (“Rumors”). Plus, she embodied the era’s chaotic energy.
Dreamiest moment: The Holy Trinity night out: Lindsay, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears in one car. Pure ’00s history.
Wildest fit: Leggings, Uggs, oversized sunglasses and a Starbucks cup.
— Ramon Ferreira, editorial designer
Lady Gaga
Why I love her: When her debut, “The Fame,” came out in 2008, it spoke to me like nothing else had. My best friend and I danced around to the music, blasting from the speakers of my family home computer. I found fan forums and searched online for unreleased songs, demos and videos. I was 12, so there was a lot I didn’t understand about Lady Gaga’s artistry, but I knew in the depths of my soul that it was for me.
Dreamiest moment: I watched Lady Gaga’s 2009 MTV VMAs performance live — you know, the one where she bled out onstage singing “Paparazzi.” I was gagged. She had such a powerful voice and statement about the nature of her art and celebrity, obsession and paranoia.
Wildest fit: Before her famous meat dress in 2010, there was the fireworks bra of 2009. The cone-shaped lingerie, worn over a studded bodysuit, would shoot sparks off Gaga’s chest. The fan blogs say that Gaga has said it represents how the female body can be used as a weapon. So metal!
— Morgan Bockneck, investigative reporter
David Tennant
Why I love him: Well, he’s Scottish and I have a soft spot for anyone from the country of my grandparents. He brought geeky panache and tons of heart to the role of the 10th Doctor in “Doctor Who”: an alien who travels through time in a phone box-cum-spaceship helping humans out of jams.
Dreamiest moment: Along with playing an alien with two hearts? He was a singing detective in the extremely fun 2004 miniseries “Blackpool” and had a much-acclaimed turn as Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2008. That’s some Renaissance man s—t right there.
Wildest fit: While Ncuti Gatwa, the latest Doctor, has a much more colourful and stylish wardrobe, there’s something iconic about Tennant’s pinstriped suit, long coat and Converse sneaker ensemble.
— Debra Yeo, culture editor and television writer
Leisha Hailey
Why I love her: She played a wacky bisexual culture reporter on “The L Word.” So, me. Representation!
Dreamiest moment: Other than starring on one of the first big gay shows on TV back in the dark ages circa 2004? Additional mega-aughts activities include starting an electropop band, co-writing a hit Shakira song and guest-starring on the OG “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”
Wildest fit: “The L Word” was a nightmarescape of 2000s fashion and Hailey didn’t escape unscathed, donning everything from overlapping tanks to brown pleather on the show.
