Age: 26
Occupation: Singer
Previous TIME 100 appearances: 0
In the beginning, she kissed a girl and liked it. But last year, pop singer Katy Perry proved she wasn't just a one-hit wonder. August saw the release of her second album, Teenage Dream, which included three chart-topping tracks. The tunes weren't just catchy; they garnered critical praise, too, earning Perry four Grammy nominations. Perry also dabbled with small screen work — well, at least she tried to. She got more sympathy than Elmo when her cameo on Sesame Street was cut in September, but she landed the character of Smurfette in the forthcoming movie The Smurfs. And for all her professional success, Perry scored big in her personal life as well. In October, she married boyfriend Russell Brand in India.