11 Iconic Pop Culture Moments Turning a Decade Old in 2026
Time has a funny way of working sometimes. Believe it or not, 2016 is not just “a few years ago”, but a whole decade. The year was admittedly a mixed bag. It saw the passing of many legends and icons, as well as political events whose impact continues to be felt to this day, often for the worse. But the year was also a moment when it came to popular culture.
It was the year when everyone was either on Snapchat or posting on Instagram with the vintage, pink-hued filter (you know the one). King Kylie was at the peak of her influence. Full glam was the go-to look. Chokers and green bomber jackets with the orange lining were closet mainstays. Kylie Lip Kits were in many makeup bags. Chances are, you knew at least one person who dyed their hair a shade of green or blue. So, in honor of 2016 turning ten years old this year, we look back on some of the pop culture moments that defined the year.
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Die Beautiful Makes Its Mark on Local (and International) Cinema
2016 saw the release of an important piece of modern Filipino queer cinema in Die Beautiful. Directed by Jun Robles Lana, the movie starred Paolo Ballesteros as Trisha, a trans woman whose life is tragically cut short after winning a gay beauty pageant. Over the course of the wake, her friends transform her into different celebrities, a nod to Paolo’s own makeup transformations that he went viral for at that time, as Trisha’s life is looked back upon.
Funny, tender, and relevant, the movie spoke to many with its tale of a trans woman trying to find her voice and purpose in society. Not only was the film included in the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival, but it also made waves overseas as it won Best Actor for Paolo Ballesteros at the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival.
Kylie Versoza Wins Miss International 2016
The Philippines was fresh from Pia Wurtzbach’s Miss Universe 2015 win when the country would get another crown at a major pageant the following year. In October 2016, Kylie Versoza made history when she was crowned Miss International 2016, becoming the 6th Filipina, and currently the last, to win the title. In the decade since, Kylie has diversified her career beyond pageantry to include acting, business, and mental health advocacy, proving that she really is a true queen.
The Cast of Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7
Pinoy Big Brother has a reputation for introducing personalities who make an impact on Filipino pop culture. But the show’s seventh season in 2016 was on another level with its selected contestants. The housemates included Kisses Delavin, Heaven Peralejo, Elisse Joson, McCoy de Leon, Edward Barber, and that season’s winner, Maymay Entrata, to name a few. Considering that many of them still have a career in showbiz or remain relevant in Filipino culture, the show’s casting department hit the mark.
The On the Wings of Love Finale
There are shows that people watch. Then there are shows that are so popular, they become communal viewing experiences. The latter was the case for On the Wings of Love. The romantic drama series starring James Reid and Nadine Lustre was one of the biggest shows of its time, and it reached its climactic end with a live viewing party of the finale at the Ynares Center in Antipolo in February 2016. Hindsight is 20/20, given what we know now, but you probably still remember where you were when James and Nadine stepped on the stage wearing their wedding outfits from the show.
The 2016 Encantadia Reboot
2016 was a strong year for Filipino TV. But few shows at the time had as much impact as the 2016 reboot of Encantadia. The series had a lot of expectations to live up to, and the show lived up to them critically and commercially. It turned the show’s lead actresses, Glaize de Castro, Kylie Padilla, Gabbi Garcia, and Sanya Lopez, into certified stars and became a fan-favorite with many still talking about it to this day.
BLACKPINK’s Debut
YG Entertainment’s first girl group since 2NE1, BLACKPINK came out of the gate swinging with not one, but two tracks, BOOMBAYAH and WHISTLE, in August 2016. In just a few months, Jisoo, Jennie, Rose, and Lisa established themselves as the next big girl group to watch with their debut breakthrough in Korea and globally. In a year that saw chart-topping releases like Cheer Up from TWICE and Monster from EXO, BLACKPINK more than proved themselves worthy of the spotlight.
Taylor Swift vs. Kanye West and Kim Kardashian
For the chronically online, this was the feud that got everyone talking in 2016. In April that year, Kanye West released his song Famous, which included a lyric that took a dig at Taylor Swift with how he made her famous. Taylor responded by saying she didn’t consent to the lyric. But things went into high gear when Kanye’s then-wife, Kim Kardashian, released video clips of Taylor and Kanye talking about the song over the phone prior to its release.
The clips, though edited, sparked a firestorm of controversy and made for the biggest celebrity feud of the year, the effects of which can still be felt to this day. The moment would go on to define Taylor Swift’s reputation but also change how she approached the media and her image from that point onward.
Sarah Geronimo Releases Tala
By 2016, Sarah Geronimo was already seen as OPM royalty. But the year marked the release of arguably her most iconic song to date, Tala. The track and music video immediately became a hit, and to this day, people still look to the song and its accompanying visuals for references and inspiration. It was the definition of a modern classic and a career-defining track. As further proof of the track’s longevity, it reemerged as a viral dance trend on TikTok by late 2019 to early 2020, with K-pop boy group WINNER even doing the dance during their Manila concert in January 2020.
Pokémon Go Takes Over The World
For a brief moment, the world knew peace when Nintendo released Pokémon Go in July 2016. The mobile game gave players the closest chance they got at playing Pokémon in real life by going to actual streets, parks, malls, and other landmarks to catch Pokémon, duke it out with other players, and battle at gyms. For a few months, the game’s real-life scavenger hunt had everyone out and about as Pokémon Go pandemonium swept the world. You really just had to be there.
The Music That Hit
2016 had hit after hit when it came to the new music released during the year. For starters, Beyoncé dropped her critically-acclaimed Lemonade album that, aside from giving us the iconic “Becky with the good hair” line, chronicled a black woman’s journey in dealing with an unfaithful partner. Rihanna released her eight studio album, ANTI, that may very well serve as her magnum opus, as she’s yet to release a new LP in the decade since.
Closer by The Chainsmokers, meanwhile, was taking over radio stations and mall speakers around the world. Add to that Zayn’s solo debut with Pillow Talk, Ariana Grande’s Dangerous Woman era, Lady Gaga going country with Joanne, and more, and the year was one to remember.
Stranger Things Premieres On Netflix
If you charted the moments that made Netflix the powerhouse entertainment company that it is today, Stranger Things premiering in 2016 would be on it. In July 2016, the world was introduced to a group of kids from the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, dealing with supernatural forces and government secrets, and life wasn’t the same since. It was one of the first major must-see binge watches on Netflix as the show became an immediate hit, turned its cast into rising stars, and arguably became the streaming service’s signature franchise.
Photo: RANKER (via Website)
The post 11 Iconic Pop Culture Moments Turning a Decade Old in 2026 first appeared on MEGA.
11 Iconic Pop Culture Moments Turning a Decade Old in 2026
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