For the past few years, Addison Rae Easterling has been reshaping the definition of “Internet-to-career.” She was born on October 6, 2000, in Lafayette, LA, where she competed in dance from the age of six and traveled around the country. This early discipline in the ways she moves would be a key part of her public image, even before she was well known.
Rae had a short stint at Louisiana State University to pursue a degree in broadcast journalism, intending to make a sportscaster. However, this all changed rapidly when she started posting dance videos on TikTok in mid-2019. Her next got her a lot of attention within a few months, and one year later she was no longer going to college, but instead was working in LA as a content maker. In early 2020, she briefly joined the collective under the name of the Hype House, and signed a deal with talent agency WME, establishing her as one of the breakout stars of the agency. She still has tens of millions of followers today and is one of the most followed accounts on TikTok.
For the time being, Rae's success was largely based on being seen and not specifically known. She's had an early start in business founding Item Beauty, a cosmetics brand, in 2020, and a fragrance line soon after, and even ventured into acting with a leading role in the 2021 Netflix film He's All That, a modern remake of the 1990s teen comedy She's All That. She followed up with a part in the 2023 horror film Thanksgiving and made her debut on the anthology series Monster: The Ed Gein Story.
But above all, it was in the realm of music that Rae's public story turned on a dime. Her first single "Obsessed" was released in 2021 and met mixed reactions, but she has since admitted that that's work in need of improvement. Instead, she spent the next few years creating her new sound, incorporating more of a synth-pop/electropop vibe than her fans had anticipated and a wider array of reference points. She also caught the attention of industry bloggers for her association with other artists such as Charli XCX and Lana Del Rey, which contributed to her being seen as more than just an influencer experimenting with music.
That change-on-the-job proved to be a success. Her EP AR 2023 garnered a more welcoming reception and while under Columbia Records after her single "Diet Pepsi" secured her a platinum certification and first place on the Billboard Hot 100, she has a future that was far more promising when she was younger. It helped launch her debut studio album Addison in June 2025, which debuted at No.4 on the Billboard 200, and was met with critical acclaim. The album took a turn for the Y2K inspired, and while it was reminiscent of the early aughts pop stars, it was a very unique sound.
Rae's momentum has continued with her first ever headlining tour, her performance at Coachella, and her nomination as the Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammy Awards, to name a few. At the end of 2025, she was invited to be included in other lists of standout artists and The Guardian had her on its list of artists of the year.
In addition to music and film, Rae has made a significant impression in the fashion and advertising arenas, starring in Super Bowl commercials, leading fashion campaigns and working on several fashion lines that carry the Y2K aesthetic. She has also taken to her platform to address political and social issues, such as reproductive rights and immigration, which have sometimes garnered her recognition for her positions.
The thing that sticks with me most about Rae's story is the intentionality behind her transformation; she swapped in the viral sensation for credibility as an artist on her own schedule. In her music, her film career and even her fashion career, she has taken every opportunity to tell anyone that there is more to the acclaim than they thought.
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