Effortlessly cool, camp and perfectly messy, Addison Rae can do it all with a Diet Pepsi in her hand. On Aug. 9, 2024, Rae released her single“Diet Pepsi,” which has been playing in my head 24/7 ever since I first heard it on TikTok. But what is it about her that has us watching her every move? Something about Addison Rae has us all obsessed, and her pathway from influencer to rising pop star has everything to do with this. 

In 2020, since there was nothing else to do, we downloaded TikTok, which quickly became the main way to discover new trends to try and new people to obsess over. One of those people was Addison Rae, who helped to popularize all of the trending dances and instantly became one of the faces we associate the 2020 TikTok era with. This typical girl-next-door experienced much success in the entertainment industry, including her first movie role as well as a podcast. 

In March of 2021, Addison Rae took her first steps into the music industry, with the release of her first single, “Obsessed.” The internet either loved it or hated it, but regardless of how anyone felt, it was clear that Rae had set foot into the music industry. Flash forward to 2024, Rae has become a certified pop princess, and the internet can’t get enough of her. She is an icon in the making, especially after being brought out on the Sweat Tour to perform with Charli XCX and Troye Sivan. 

This all-American cheerleader became Gen Z’s newest it-girl with the power of social media. Rae’s head-to-toe rebrand has made it seem incredibly easy to reinvent yourself online. On TikTok and Instagram, you can curate a version of yourself that is exactly what you want it to be. You can let people see what you want them to see, and hide what you don’t. Whether you want to be the most authentic version of yourself or post only a carefully curated feed, social media shows the version of yourself that you aspire to be. 

Addison Rae’s usage of social media has propelled her to stardom, and she would not be the celebrity she is today without it. Her Instagram, as random as it may seem, projects the kind of energy that her brand is known for. Self-timer pictures, bikinis, American flags, Minnie Mouse ears and of course, Diet Pepsi, make up Rae’s aesthetic on social media. We obsess over Addison Rae because of her quirkiness, her bold style choices and her unapologetic way of being herself. She loves herself, and it makes us want to love her too. 

Rae has a way of capturing all the best parts of the early 2000s and keeping that alive for Gen Z to enjoy. She’s always on the move, and we want to keep following her. We want a glimpse into the life she lives, and thanks to social media, we can see the candid moments that the first generation of pop stars were not able to provide for us. We love feeling like a part of her circle—closing the gap between fans and celebrities that used to be so wide.

“Don’t have to say it, you know what’s next” is the caption for one of Rae’s latest Instagram posts. No matter what happens next in her career, I am so ready for what is to come for Addison Rae.

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Hi! I’m Kayla Friedman, A Magazine’s editor-in-chief. My staff and I are committed to bringing you the most important and entertaining news from the realms of fashion, beauty and culture. We are full-time students and hard-working journalists. While we get support from the student media fee and earned revenue such as advertising, both of those continue to decline. Your generous gift of any amount will help enhance our student experience as we grow into working professionals. Please go here to donate to A Magazine.