Women across the world made great strides in 2023, and Google Trends reflect this by highlighting the most talked about women in numerous professions. The data emphasizes women icons including Shakira, Jenna Ortega, Chandrayaan 3’s women-led team among others and the massive impact they have had in their respective fields.

The year 2023 has finally coming to a close! And majority of women have taken a step towards success this year. Women's voices have been amplified in 2023, with people and initiatives campaigning for gender equality, inclusion, and acknowledgment. Women have played critical roles in establishing legislation, fostering innovation, and spearheading efforts that benefit communities and societies as a whole.

With the end of this year, Google Trends has published a list of most searched or trended topics of 2023, presenting a glimpse of the year's collective interests, queries, and curiosity. From global events to cultural phenomena, the list illustrates the vast spectrum of topics that have caught the interest of people all across the world.

As people turned to Google to quench their desire for knowledge, the combined data provides an insight into the year's zeitgeist, highlighting what fascinated, inspired, or perplexed us in 2023. Google's most searched subjects, whether they be major technology developments, social movements, or cultural trends, serve as a digital time capsule, preserving the spirit of the year's collective curiosity and discovery.

What’s Google Trends?

Google Trends originated as a tool to assess the popularity of search queries on Google Search. Its initial goal was to give advertisers with information about user interests and wants. Its relevance grew throughout time, and it is now a useful instrument utilized in a variety of industries.

Google Trends has developed into a great resource for understanding and harnessing the abundance of information buried in internet search activity, from anticipating flu outbreaks and economic indicators to examining public interest in biodiversity and even forecasting stock market changes.

Now let’s have a look at the most searched women-centric topics which has lingered this year on people’s browsers

Chandrayaan-3: Women Scientists' Lunar Triumph

Category: News

In 2023, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the women scientists of Chandrayaan-3 for their critical participation in the lunar expedition. Over 100 women participated in the inception, design, and implementation of the project. PM Modi called the moon's landing site "Shiv Shakti" in honour of feminine energy, underlining the importance of women.

Key players were Deputy Project Director Kalpana Kalahasti, robotics specialist Reema Ghosh, senior scientist Ritu Karidhal, and others. Despite advances, experts emphasized the need for expanded female engagement in STEM professions, noting a statewide survey that revealed only 13% of scientific professors at Indian universities were women, emphasizing the persistent gender inequality.

Jenna Ortega Breaks Records with 'Wednesday’

Category: People

Jenna Ortega became popular in 2023 as a result of her depiction as Wednesday Addams in Netflix's "Wednesday," directed by Tim Burton. The series, the first live-action depiction of the Addams Family since the 1990s, broke records by becoming Netflix's most-watched show in a week. Jenna’s popularity skyrocketed following the debut, with over 10 million Instagram followers increasing to a staggering 25.1 million.

A dance scene in the series, set to The Cramps' "Goo Goo Muck," went viral, spawning a TikTok movement with millions of people imitating the dance. Jenna’s diverse success, ranging from a blockbuster television series to social media impact, contributed to her huge pop cultural presence.

Lil Tay: False Death Announcement Trend

Category: People

In 2023, Lil Tay trended on Google searches when a bogus death announcement surfaced on Instagram, saying the online celebrity, actual name Tay Tian, had died suddenly and tragically. The notice, which was later removed, highlighted her brother's purported death, adding to the shock. Lil Tay, known for her absurd films flaunting money, shot to prominence at the age of nine.

Tay Tian, her true name, was revealed amid misunderstanding. According to reports, her half-brother, Jason Tian, created her persona. The circumstances behind the phony death are still unknown, with Lil Tay's stormy history, which includes a custody fight and abuse charges, fueling public curiosity and conjecture.

Kiara Advani: Indian Actor’s Star-Studded Wedding

Category: Actors

Kiara Advani trended on Google searches in 2023 as a result of her high-profile wedding to fellow actor Sidharth Malhotra. The Bollywood actors, who have been together since 2019, exchanged vows in a Hindu wedding ceremony on February 7.

The couple's wedding drew a lot of attention, with Indian media stating that Kiara’s Instagram post became the most liked post on the platform in India. As of December 14, 2023, the post featuring highlights from their wedding has over 16 million likes, cementing their reputation as a celebrated and talked-about famous couple.

Barbie becomes Box-office Blockbuster

Category: Movie

Barbie appeared on the Google search trend in 2023 as a result of Greta Gerwig's fantasy comedy film "Barbie", which was released and was a box office blockbuster. The film, which stars Margot Robbie as the titular character and Ryan Gosling as Ken, is Mattel's first live-action rendition of the legendary Barbie dolls.

The picture garnered positive reviews and went on to become the highest-grossing film of 2023 and the 14th highest-grossing film of all time. The "Barbenheimer" phenomena, which encouraged people to watch both "Barbie" and Universal's "Oppenheimer" in tandem, also added to the film's cultural effect, making it a prominent topic of interest and search.

Shakira: Breakup to Musical Triumphs

Category: Musician

Shakira was the most googled musician internationally in 2023, according to Google. The substantial spike in Shakira searches may be ascribed to a number of things, beginning with her high-profile breakup from longtime partner Gerard Piqué, which made headlines at the start of the year.

Shakira's sustained musical success, as well as the publication of many new tracks, including a collaboration with Argentine DJ and record producer BZRP, also contributed to her growing popularity and internet searches. This increase in interest is a significant change from the previous year and demonstrates the fluid nature of celebrity trends and public attention.

Kellie Pickler’s Tragic Loss of Spouse

Category: Musician

Due to the terrible loss of her spouse, Kyle Jacobs, Kellie Pickler appeared on the Google search trend in 2023. Kyle Jacobs, 49, a composer and producer, committed suicide on February 17. The news of his death sparked a rise in web searches as individuals sought information about his demise and expressed condolences to Kellie Pickler.

The terrible tragedy exposed Kellie Pickler and her family to public prominence, prompting increasing searches and queries about their personal lives and the impact of Kyle Jacobs' murder on the country singer.

Anna Oxa: Shines at Sanremo

Category: Musician

Anna Oxa received attention and was a Google search trend this year as a result of her participation in the Sanremo Music Festival. The news of her participation in the festival and her performance of "Sali (Canto dell'anima)" sparked a rise in internet searches as people sought information on her most recent artistic accomplishments, career, and personal life. The Sanremo Music Festival is a prominent event in Italy, and musicians that compete frequently get increased attention and interest.