But Grande is more than a symbol: Over the course of several albums and scores of hit singles-beginning with 2013’s “The Way” (featuring Mac Miler) through The Weeknd-assisted “Love Me Harder” and “Break Free” (featuring Zedd)-she has consistently outshined her male collaborators and deftly parlayed her stardom into activism. Instantly recognizable thanks to her signature ponytail, cat ears, babydoll dresses, and breezy self-confidence, her slyly sexual personal brand has, like that of the Spice Girls before her, become an iconic image of young female power. Armed with a mesmerizing, nimble soprano-and a vocal register often likened to Mariah Carey’s and Christina Aguilera’s-Ariana Grande began her career as a child star on Broadway and Nickelodeon before transforming into a pop and R&B powerhouse.