When Halsey started posting videos on YouTube in 2012, she was just another singer-songwriter who wanted to be heard.

However, the moment her debut album, Badlands, and hit single "New Americana" dropped in 2015, everything changed. From there she continued to build her name and her brand on the Internet, growing to become one of her generation's most exciting and honest voices. Once she entered 2016, she had amassed legions of fans online—and fame offline.

This year was a big one for Halsey, from nabbing massive radio hits to performing at the MTV Movie Awards to standing up for herself against the media. Click through our gallery above to take a look back at the 22-year-old alt-pop princess's "Rising Star" year.

Halsey's Best Live Vocals:

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