Addison Rae’s Journey from TikTok Star to Pop Sensation

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Addison Rae, the 24-year-old TikTok sensation turned pop star, is making waves in the music industry with her debut album and a bold new artistic direction. Known for her viral dance videos and 88.5 million TikTok followers, Rae is now proving she’s more than just an internet personality.

Rae’s rise to fame began in 2019 when she dropped out of Louisiana State University to pursue her dreams in Los Angeles. Her TikTok videos, featuring lip-syncing and trending dances, quickly catapulted her to stardom. By 2020, she was a founding member of the Hype House, a content-creation collective that became synonymous with Gen Z internet culture.

But Rae’s ambitions extended beyond social media. “I want to act, and I want to sing, and I want to dance,” she told her managers in early 2020. Her first foray into music, the 2021 single “Obsessed,” was met with mixed reviews, but Rae didn’t let the criticism deter her. “It was a risk, knowing that people don’t want to see somebody try something new,” she said.

In 2024, Rae’s career took a dramatic turn. Collaborating with Charli XCX on the remix of “Von Dutch” and releasing her own singles, “Diet Pepsi” and “Aquamarine,” she began to carve out a niche in the pop world. Her music, described as dreamy and alt-pop, draws comparisons to Lana Del Rey and Britney Spears. “Everything about this new Rae was strange, campy, and, most important, fun,” said one critic.

Rae’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. Leaked demos of her unreleased songs in 2022 sparked a viral frenzy, leading to her signing with Columbia Records. “Thank God the songs leaked,” she said. “It felt terrible at the time, but it ended up being a blessing.”

Now, with her debut album on the horizon, Rae is focused on her music and her vision. “I think glamour is just everything,” she said. “I want to be prim and poised. Marilyn Monroe never said ‘y’all.’”

As she transitions from TikTok fame to pop stardom, Rae remains determined to prove herself. “I’ll work for it,” she said. “I won’t beg for it.”