In today’s society of fast- moving algorithms, fame does not unfold over the years, but can unfold overnight. One TikTok video, or the newest trending dance can turn a regular person you’d see on the street into a celebrity in an instant. As social media has become the new Hollywood, promoting influencers whose fame has started rivalry with celebrities decade- long careers has been easy.
One extremely popular overnight star who grew in the entertainment industry via TikTok and social media can be known as Addison Rae. She gained a massive following on TikTok through her dancing and her constant participation in the latest trends during 2019 and 2020. Her content went viral overnight, and eventually expanded her brand into music, acting, and other endorsements a few years later. Her quick rise in popularity can be a prime example of how social media can amplify and jump-start life long careers for individuals who used to be an everyday influencers.
Sudden stardom can be very overwhelming for artists like Lola Young, Chappell Roan, or any other artists who experienced overnight fame like Addison did. In several interviews, she talks about how she feels in general about her overnight success and how grateful she is for every opportunity. In a recent podcast, Addison quotes, “And even though I took kind of a break overtime of figuring out what that meant to me, I think it was so necessary and that led me to exactly where I needed to be.” This highlights specifically how Addison felt leading into her music career. She feels shes exactly where she should be in life, and that wouldn’t have been without TikTok.
To understand others point of views on influencers who rose so quickly, such as Addison Rae, I spoke with two seniors, Sophia Marruajo, and Ava Aguiar. “I admire how she was able to make herself successful only using TikTok” Senior Sophia Marruajo quotes. While her peer, Ava, had a different perspective. “While Addison Rae is popular and talented, I feel like she only blew up due to the timing of her dancing on TikTok, she didn’t really show any real hard work or skills she just kind of became popular” Senior Ava Aguiar quotes. Both these opinions highlight how social media celebrities can inspire admiration and bring people together who bond over the shared celebrity or cause debate between fans about what it means to truly be successful.
Overall, the rise of overnight stars like Addison Rae show how social media has changed the rules for making a celebrity. In this generation, success is no longer measured by talent for years, but can be measured also by strategy, ability, and timing of trendiness. Fame can be given to anyone with creativity, persistent, and those who want to be successful and known can become the media’s “Favorite Star”overnight.
