With the musical rendition of Tina Fey’s Mean Girls released earlier this year, starring singer and songwriter Reneé Rapp as Regina George, the question on everyone’s minds (or at least mine) is who exactly is the 24-year-old powerhouse? Well, to state the obvious, she is “mother,” “baby girl,” and the media’s newest obsession. She has stunned everyone with her voice and talented lyricism, her recent collaboration with Megan The Stallion which has topped charts since the movie’s release, as well as the release of her first full-length album at the end of 2023. In addition to her undeniable talent, Rapp has gained attention for her quotable and often unfiltered interviews, making her the center of criticism and praise in the public eye. Like everyone else, she has made her way into my liked songs, Instagram feed, and TikTok FYP. So, in a chronically online girl fashion, here is my take on Reneé Rapp’s rise to stardom and a prediction of where her popularity will take her next.
Early Career
To many, Rapp’s musical debut started with Mean Girls (2024), however, her career started earlier than that, when she was cast in her high school theater’s production of Spring Awakening as Wendla. She went on to star in Big Fish, her performance winning both a Blumey Award and a Jimmy Award for Best Actress. She made her Broadway debut in 2019 in Mean Girls, taking over the role of Regina George at the age of 19 until it shut down during the pandemic.
She made her first appearance in a television series when she was cast in The Sex Lives of College Girls as lesbian icon Leighton Murray, whose iconic personality and Gen Z relatability made her a household name. During her time on the show, Rapp released her EP Everything to Everyone, featuring her song “Too Well.” In August of 2023, she released her debut studio-length album Snow Angel which gave us “Tummy Hurts” and “Pretty Girls.” She went on her first tour that same year, and everyone on what I like to call “ReneéTok” was posting some of the best moments from her shows.
Interviews and public persona
In addition to her unmatched talent, Rapp has been making waves in her interviews, her unfiltered commentary often stunning and shocking viewers, which has made her the topic of slight controversy. Although many of her fans have found her provocative and uncanny remarks enthralling and refreshing, she has faced backlash for not having a filter when she’s being interviewed, often shaming her for a lack of media training. However, she responded by making fun of the remarks on her Instagram, captioning one of her posts with, “Her lack of media training is outrageous.” She even made it the butt of the joke in her skit on Saturday Night Live with Jacob Elordi.
Her fans are also quick to come to her defense, claiming that she does have media training, but despite that, she still chooses to be an authentic and entertaining version of herself, which is what makes her so appealing.
She is also well-articulated, explains herself thoughtfully, and is very honest and open about her creative process, and how she has gotten to where she is artistically. She has said that many of her songs are “about the sh***ty things that have happened to me,” emphasizing her choice to work through the things she’s gone through by conveying them in her music. In an interview with Jay Shetty in 2023, Rapp opened up about the traumatic experience that inspired her song “Snow Angel.” The interview is so deep and thought-provoking, and if you have a chance I highly recommend listening to it!
Her openness about her sexuality, in particular, has been a focal point of her personality, one which many of her fans have been able to identify with. She has been commended on her bravery to be so vocal about her coming out journey, allowing others who have gone through a similar experience to feel seen and understood. Rapp’s presence in this generation is different than the typical pop idol/fan base relationship, as she allows herself to appear unrefined and real, inviting her fans to know her on a personal level.
her future as a Gen Z pop star
Now that we’ve answered the question of who Reneé Rapp is, the follow-up question is, “What is she going to do next?” Well, the good news is we can expect to see her continue to grow her fan base as she intends to continue pursuing music and performing. But unfortunately for fans of TSLOCG, we will not be seeing Rapp return as Leighton for season three. She made a statement last summer that she would not be reprising her role on the show so she could focus on her music career, but made a statement expressing her gratitude for the show and all it’s given her on X (formerly known as Twitter.)
Although I do feel personally victimized that we will not be getting this queer icon back, I am excited to see what’s next for her career as a songwriter. There’s no denying the insane talent Rapp possesses, and she is without a doubt a great actress, but there is just something about her music that is so unique and alluring. The impact she has already had not only as an LGBTQ+ artist but also as a voice for Gen Z has been groundbreaking, and I for one can’t see what she has in store!