She was set to be THE next teen pop star, then disappeared for about 8 years -nly to resurface as the summer icon of the year. So what happened there? 

When she first broke the internet with ‘Lush Life’ and ‘I Will Never Forget You’ circa 2015, she ticked all the boxes: young, blonde and the voice of an angel - only to be buried deep and long forgotten. 

When Clean Bandit’s “Symphony” ft. Larsson started to take over TikTok, she reincarnated as the embodiment of the meme itself! She embraced the joke and used it as a marketing pivot from black and white edge, to bright colours, rainbow backdrops and everything Y2K that reminds you of Malibu Barbie. 

It was only up from there; “Lush Life,” “Midnight Sun,” and “Stateside” live rent-free in our heads, our TikTok FYPs are flooded with her dances, and we’re all judging her on-stage performances with her fans. 

Whether you like it or not, the Hype House members are making it BIG in the music industry (Alex Warren performed at the Grammys, like hello?!) and I’m kinda actually here for it. 

Popular opinion of 2020: we liked Charli over Addison. Today? …Charli’s chasing her dreams on Broadway and I’m here for it, but my heart is with Miss Rae. While she’s still got a little ditsy to her step, she owns it, and being self-aware somehow makes it cool (argue with the wall). 

Her charm is undeniable, and she feels real - not just a pretty girl who can dance. She doesn’t pretend to make her music deep, her personality shines through her social media, and she doesn’t try to change the narrative; the girl’s just here to vibe!

Once upon a time, the Princess of Sad-Girl bedroom pop, sat in her room and bare her heart to us. She’s been dethroned, but it’s probably for the better.

If you know you know - but she's actually a competitive, classically trained dancer who competed against the cast of “Dance Moms” and actually beat Maddie Ziegler at competitions. How’s that for lore?

Her new era showcases more polished than simple raw emotion, her choreography has brought her front and centre, and it’s what sets her apart from every other popstar! Her songs have a little more beat, which makes her music feel fresh while also catering to her complex choreography (idk how she sings and dances like that at the same time).

Her big break was euphoric (get it), and then she started to morph from the innocent girl-next-door into “Hello dirty you little boys, are you interested in my body… wash” (Sweeney, 2024). 

…I’m not sure where to start. Not just because that ad was weird, but every single ad she somehow - makes my skin tingle (and not in a good way). Her “Great Jeans”campaign with American Eagle, strange video with Baskin Robins and random stint with Hey Dude shoes feel shallow, scattered, and portray her as shallow and over-sexualised.

It’s not like her recent attempt at a rebrand has done her any favours either - the launch of her lingerie brand “Syrn” feels rushed, tacky and like a cheap cover up to push her recent controversies under the rug. 

Owning your story is everything. An eight-year slow burn, a self-aware embrace, or owning your full potential, can make or break a career. 

Some still have some homework to do... because can smell the fake from a mile away. 

Stay tuned, stay savvy and most of all, keep judging Beauties x