The 19 Most Important Selfies Of 2016

I take them. You take them. Everyone takes them.

Just a few years ago, selfies were mocked as a navel-gazing art form embraced solely by millennial narcissists. But today, selfies are the de-rigueur social media medium, offering us a personal glimpse into the political arena, the human side of celebrity, and the world at large.

Below are the funniest, most controversial, and most important selfies of 2016.

1. This shot of the crowd trying to get a photo with Hillary Clinton at a youth rally in Orlando in September.

Barbara Kinney / Hillary For America Campaign

2. The "Leo finally got his Oscar" selfie.

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, actor Leonardo DiCaprio, and director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu, all winners for The Revenant, take a selfie onstage during the 88th Annual Academy Awards.

3. The viral white guys selfie.

reddit.com

And they didn't intentionally pose in that perfect line-up, believe it or not.

4. British astronaut Tim Peake's selfie from his first ever spacewalk.

Tim Peake @astro_timpeake

I think I found the perfect spot for a #selfie. #spacewalk

06:46 PM - 17 Jan 2016

5. Ballot selfies, which were banned in several states.

Bill Wechter / AFP / Getty Images

After voting at a polling station at the Big Bear Lake Methodist Church in Big Bear, California, Nov. 8, a man takes a selfie in front of a banner designed for the purpose.

6. And the ones from the night everything changed.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

A woman takes a selfie during Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on Nov. 8.

7. Kim Kardashian's naked selfie in March, which set off a huge internet hullabaloo.

Instagram: @kimkardashian

8. The trans woman who posted a selfie in the women's bathroom to challenge North Carolina's "bathroom law."

Instagram: @sarahemcbride

Sarah McBride's caption (read more about this story here!):

Here I am using a women's restroom in North Carolina that I'm technically barred from being in.

They say I'm a pervert.

They say I'm a man dressed as a woman.

They say I'm a threat to their children.

They say I'm confused.

They say I'm dangerous.

And they say accepting me as the person I have fought my life to be seen as reflects the downfall of a once great nation.

I'm just a person. We are all just people. Trying to pee in peace. Trying to live our lives as fully and authentically as possible. Barring me from this restroom doesn't help anyone. And allowing me to continue to use this bathroom - just without fear of discrimination and harassment - doesn't hurt anyone.

Stop this. We are good people. #repealhb2

9. Vice President-elect Mike Pence's selfie with House Republicans, which was immediately lambasted for being "all white."

CathyMcMorrisRodgers @cathymcmorris

Great having @mike_pence visit today! I’m excited to work with him and @realDonaldTrump to shake up the status quo… https://t.co/ZLOQXlknZQ

03:09 PM - 17 Nov 2016

10. Similarly, Paul Ryan's July photo with GOP Capitol Hill interns, which was criticized for its lack of diversity.

Instagram: @speakerryan

11. ...and then the corresponding Democratic intern selfie.

US Rep E.B.Johnson @RepEBJ

My intern Audra Jackson led Democratic Interns in their own selfie 2day showing #DemInternDiversity #DemInternSelfie

Tue Jul 19 21:56:52 UTC+0000 2016

12. These women proving selfies know no cultural bounds.

Manan Vatsyayana / AFP / Getty Images

Members of the ruling party United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) pose before the opening ceremony of the party's annual congress in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 1.

13. This group of women who hilariously posed for a "selfie" for a minute and a half before realizing they were taking a video.

youtube.com

14. Manny the Selfie Cat's epic photos.

instagram.com

He's better at selfies than all of us, tbh.

15. Kim Kardashian and Amber Rose's February selfie.

Instagram: @kimkardashian

If you don't recall: Kanye West had just dragged Wiz Khalifa on Twitter and then also came for their mutual ex, Amber. Amber then responded with a now-infamous tweet that changed the way we look at hand emojis forever. Days later, Kim and Amber posted this legendary photo with the caption, "Tea anyone?"

16. "Fingermouthing" became the hot new selfie pose.

Instagram: @bellahadid

But it wasn't really that new, come on.

17. A North Korean and a South Korean gymnast taking a selfie together at the Rio Olympics.

Dylan Martinez / Reuters

18. The doomed high-five selfie challenge, which surely left a few busted phone screens in its wake.

Seth Schneider @TOSUBUCK

Today is the proudest day of my life. I successfully took a picture of me high fiving myself

05:27 PM - 08 Oct 2016

19. And a selfie that basically sums up 2016.

Yuri Cortez / AFP / Getty Images

A man dressed as Death takes a selfie on the Day of the Dead, Nov. 1, in Mexico City.

For more Best of 2016 content, click here!