Addison Rae

About Addison Rae

Addison Rae is an American social media personality, dancer, actress, and singer who rose to fame through TikTok, where her dance videos gained massive popularity. Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, Addison began her journey to stardom in 2019 when she started actively posting on TikTok during her freshman year at Louisiana State University. Her dance choreographies quickly went viral, leading her to drop out of college to pursue a career in entertainment. Beyond social media, Addison has expanded her presence into music with her debut single "Obsessed," acting with her leading role in the Netflix film "He's All That," and entrepreneurship through the launch of her makeup line, ITEM Beauty. With her charismatic personality and business acumen, she has leveraged her digital fame into a multifaceted career spanning multiple entertainment sectors.

Career Highlights

Addison Rae's meteoric rise to fame began in July 2019 when she started posting dance videos on TikTok while attending Louisiana State University. Her natural charisma and dance skills quickly gained traction, and within a few months, she had amassed millions of followers. By late 2019, her rapid growth on the platform led her to drop out of college and move to Los Angeles to pursue content creation full-time. Shortly after relocating, she joined the Hype House, a collaborative content creator collective that significantly boosted her visibility in the social media space.

In 2020, Forbes named Addison the highest-earning TikTok personality, with an estimated income of $5 million that year from various sponsorships, merchandise sales, and endorsement deals. Her popularity translated beyond TikTok, allowing her to build substantial followings on Instagram and YouTube. This cross-platform success caught the attention of major brands, leading to partnerships with companies like American Eagle, Reebok, and L'Oréal. Her business ventures expanded in August 2020 with the launch of ITEM Beauty, a clean makeup line co-founded with beauty incubator Madeby Collective.

Addison's entertainment career diversified in March 2021 with the release of her debut single "Obsessed," which showcased her ambitions beyond social media. Later that year, she made her acting debut as the lead in Netflix's gender-swapped remake of the 1999 teen comedy "She's All That," titled "He's All That." The film, while receiving mixed reviews from critics, was a streaming success for Netflix. In September 2021, she expanded her media presence by signing a multi-picture deal with the streaming giant, indicating their confidence in her star power beyond social media.

Throughout her career progression, Addison has shown remarkable business acumen by strategically building her personal brand. Her friendship with celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian further elevated her mainstream profile, helping her transition from social media fame to traditional entertainment. Despite facing the typical challenges of rapid fame—including public scrutiny and controversies—Addison has maintained her popularity by constantly evolving her content and business ventures. Her journey represents the new entertainment industry pipeline, where social media serves as a launching pad to multifaceted careers spanning traditional media, business ownership, and digital influence.