If you haven’t been living under a rock over the past month, you’re likely familiar with TikTok’s latest heartthrob: Renee Rapp. Following the success (and controversy) of Mean Girls The Musical hitting the big screen, TikTokers have had a field day making thirst edits of their newest crush. However, if you’re not a huge musical theatre fan (much like myself) you may be wondering where this blonde sensation has come from. In fact, some people’s lack of knowledge surrounding her background has led them to even go so far as to label her as an ‘industry plant’.
First things first, let me get this straight: Renee Rapp is one of the most hard working performers this industry has seen in a very long time.
Back in 2018, Rapp won the Jimmy Awards, a prestigious musical theatre competition that scouts young talent and awards them with $25,000 towards their studies. Other notable winners of this award include Andrew Feldman (Dear Evan Hasen, Ratatouille the Musical, No Hard Feelings), Eva Noblezada (Hadestown) and Ryan McCartan (Heathers, Liv and Maddie). Following her Jimmy Awards triumph, Rapp was offered a six-month trial contract to star as Regina George in the Broadway production of Mean Girls the Musical. Her outstanding performance was extended following her success, but unfortunately, COVID led to the shutdown of Broadway in 2020 and her time in the role was cut short. Undeterred, Rapp then broke into television with her role as Leighton Murray in The Sex Lives of College Girls, and remained in the show for over two seasons. Recently, she made the decision to leave the series in order to focus on her music career. Rapp has since released the ‘Everything to Everyone’ EP and her debut album, ‘Snow Angel’. Luckily, she had the opportunity to reprise her role of Regina George in the latest ‘Means Girls’ musical film, and the world has finally been exposed to the talent that I’ve been aware of since 2018.
The new Mean Girls flick has received mixed reviews, with many displeased with the movie’s soundtrack changes. Despite this, Renee Rapp has consistently been praised for her performance as the iconic Regina George. Her impressive vocal performances, especially the opt up (singing higher than required in the sheet music) in ‘World Burn’ – the song in which Regina reveals the infamous Burn Book to the school – left me genuinely shocked, jaw dropped in awe. I felt the same when listening to her debut EP and album, both of which were released in the same year?! The devil works hard but Renee Rapp works harder – that’s for sure.
Another track, ‘In the Kitchen’ is the most cathartic and emotional break-up song I think I have ever listened to, as it truly explores how aspects of a relationship stick with you forever. I dread the potential day I will relate to it. On a lighter note, her song ‘Pretty Girls’ is also a personal favourite, with a fun beat as Rapp sings about her bisexuality and how she is often approached by drunk girls who, instead of complimenting her, backhandedly say things like “if I was a lesbian I’d date you”. This is the perfect song to dance and shake your ass to. One of Rapp’s songs you may have heard all over TikTok is ‘Poison Poison’. The infamous outro is probably the most recognisable, with many fans choosing this part of the song to make videos to. Some have also pretended that Rapp is being attacked by geese on stage, mimicking her goose-like ‘AH’ noise (if you don’t understand, give it a listen). I really, wholeheartedly believe that she deserves a Grammy Nomination next year, for either Best Newcomer or Album of the Year.
‘You’re the worst – Huh? – bitch on the earth – I? – I hate you and your guts, I think you should shut the f*ck up and – WHAT?…’
Even more recently, Rapp was the musical host for the first SNL of 2024. She delivered captivating performances alongside Megan Thee Stallion for their tracks ‘Not My Fault’, and ‘Snow Angel’. Is it just me, or is anyone else constantly replaying the video of these performances? It is truly heavenly.
A consistent topic in discussions of Renee Rapp is her supposed ‘lack of media training’, as she is known for saying humorous and out of pocket things during interviews. The most notable instance was when she interrupted an interview to express how much she hated her old bus driver, even dropping his full name and company, explaining his misogynistic behaviour towards her and her friends while they were on tour.
In another interview on Watch What Happens Live, Rapp jokingly labelled herself as “ageist”, explaining that she feels as if older women (millennials in particular) don’t fully understand her sense of humour. This remark sparked outrage from the female talk show hosts, deeming her “disrespectful” and assuring her that she will think differently in a few years. Ironically, their reaction seemed to effectively prove her point. It is important to mention that Rapp appears to be an advocate for equality in all senses, but just enjoys making back-lash inducing jokes every now and then.
In my opinion, I feel like Gen Z loves this type of celebrity – their unfiltered authenticity humanises them, and makes them more endearing and relatable. I know that I find them entertaining. On the contrary, some older people (typically media presenters in Rapp’s case) have a lot of negative things to say about the emerging star. This potentially, in my view, reveals their underlying misogynistic perspectives.
One thing has been established here, and it’s that I’m certain Renee Rapp’s success is going to be on a constant incline over the coming years. I hope I have convinced you to engage in Rapp’s journey – whether that is through watching Mean Girls, tuning into The Sex Lives of College Girls, or immersing yourself in her music.
Written: Anna Duffell
Edited: Ella Littlewood