Harry Styles has been breaking boundaries and catching people's eyes since the day he stepped into the spotlight. What is it about him that has made him this attention-drawing icon?
Throughout the years, there have been many celebrity icons. From Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elvis Presley, and Elton John to Madona and Britney Spears, we have all had a celebrity that we have looked up to and called our icon, and in 2021, Harry Styles is becoming an icon to everyone.
How he came into the light
Harry's first appearance on stage was on The X Factor in 2010. Harry was a quiet, smiley boy who was known for wearing a stylish scarf and nervously mentioning how he worked in a bakery and wanted to be a baker. But after blowing the judges and audience away with his angelic voice, his plan of becoming a baker was shattered. Everyone knew he was meant to be a star.
Harry was then placed in a group with Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik. They became One Direction. This band launched Harry's career, taking him from a baker at W Mandeville bakery to a big star touring the world.
While One Direction competed on the X-Factor, they developed a fan base that called themselves "Directioners". One Direction did not win the x-factor but they were given a record label from Syco Music. After touring the world and having a huge music career as a band, One Direction broke up in 2015, leaving Harry to start his solo career.
In 2017, Harry Styles released his first single "Sign Of The Times", which hit the charts at the top one hundred for twenty-seven weeks in a row and number one for one week. Harry began to be known as "Harry Styles the solo artist" instead of "Harry Styles from One Direction". While creating his solo career, Harry was also able to grow as a person and express himself and his style more.
What has Harry done to really become the progressive icon that he is?
Well, first, Harry has always defied gender norms and pushed boundaries with fashion. Not only was he the first man to be on the cover of Vogue solo, but he also wore a dress for the reason that he "Thinks it looks cool". Harry has always pushed people to be their true authentic selves and reminded others to just be happy. So, Harry wears very out-their outfits and feminine clothing because it is what makes him happy, and the media loves it!
Throughout Harry's whole career, people have questioned his sexuality. For Harry, nothing has ever been about who he likes. Harry just has a free soul and does as he pleases without having to have his personal life plastered all over social media.
In today's world, everyone is pushed to step into a box and label their sexuality. You are not allowed to just live unlabeled. But Harry does and I think he is really opening the eyes of our youth and reminding them that it is okay to "just be". And he reminds us that people don't need to tell us who we are or who we love.
And of course, Harry is a HUGE ally of the LGBTQ+ community. He has always shown his support and allyship to those in the community. Harry's motto is "treat people with kindness" and he lives and breathes kindness.
In conclusion
There are so many reasons to love Harry Styles and support him and his music career. He has broken boundaries and turned heads ever since the start of his career. Harry has become a voice for everyone and works extremely hard to remind people to be their authentic selves. He is breaking boundaries this year and I highly doubt he is finished.
