The Best New Couple, the Worst Threesome, and More Pop Culture Moments That Defined 2025
The Elle roundup of the 40 best pop culture moments of 2025 captures a wild year in entertainment and trends—from chart-topping viral moments and iconic TV highlights to unexpected celebrity pairings and buzzy fashion and meme culture. Big standouts included Love Island USA’s own “Nicolandria” (Olandria Carthen and Nic Vansteenberghe) being celebrated as one of the year’s best new couples, taking reality TV romance into broader cultural relevance. Other defining moments ranged from viral music and television scenes to headline-grabbing celebrity news that kept social feeds buzzing throughout the year.