Addison Rae embarked on her TikTok journey in 2019, quickly becoming an internet sensation known for her bubbly, stereotypically feminine personality. As a member of the Hype House in California, a content creation collective designed for creators to grow their audiences through collaboration, Rae’s platforms rose rapidly in the social media world.
During her time in the content house, Rae started dating Bryce Hall, a controversial personality from another content house, Sway House, also known as Sway LA. The couple’s on-again, off-again relationship lasted from 2019 until 2021, ending with cheating rumors and speculation.
As her TikTok popularity began to plateau, Rae made moves to expand her career beyond social media. Her first venture into music came in March 2021 with the single “Obsessed,” which was met with doubt from critics who dismissed her as another famous person with no talent trying to step into the music industry.
“Personally, I am not a fan of her music, it sounds fake to me like too much autotune,” said Emma Measley, a freshman business major. “It sounds like she is trying to be different but it’s just not working for her.”
In late 2022, Rae made her acting debut in the Netflix film “He’s All That,” which received mixed reviews regarding her acting skills and the general plot of the film.
Rae remained relatively quiet about her musical pursuits until a 2023 Vogue interview. That same year marked a significant turning point in her career with the release of “AR (EP),” a four-track collection featuring a collaboration with critically acclaimed pop artist Charli XCX, a partnership that earned her newfound respect in the music industry.
Rae’s acting career took a positive turn with her role in the 2023 horror thriller “Thanksgiving,” starring alongside A-list actor Patrick Dempsey. The film received widespread critical praise, demonstrating Rae’s growth as an actress.
Rae further cemented her musical credibility in March 2024, through another collaboration with Charli XCX on her remix album. A viral TikTok video captured the studio session where Rae let out her distinctive high-pitched scream to the track “Von Dutch” showcasing their creative chemistry.
Momentum in her career continued with the release of her song “Diet Pepsi” in 2024, which became a streaming phenomenon, receiving over 200 million plays on Spotify. In a candid Rolling Stone interview, she revealed that this career evolution was always part of her plan and that she needed to take a step back from posting on social media and take the risk of making her dreams work out.
“I thought the song was really catchy,” said Abbey Clayton, a sophomore business major.
Clayton noted that she had been following Rae since the beginning of TikTok and how she has seen her grow into a musician, acknowledging that this career seemed to fit her better.
Her rising status in the pop music world was further pushed when she performed “Diet Pepsi” and “Von Dutch” alongside Charli XCX at the New York stop of Charli XCX’s and Troye Sivan’s Sweat Tour.
Rae released her next single “Aquamarine” in October 2024, further establishing her place in the pop music world. With each new release, she continues to receive increasingly positive critical reception.
Most recently, Rae dropped her single “High Fashion” on Valentine’s Day 2025, building anticipation for her debut full-length album expected for release later this year.
“My first initial response to the song was that her voice sounded good but the music video threw me off,” said Avery Arnold, a sophomore nursing major. “I feel like her music is the completely opposite of what she introduced herself to begin with on social media.”