Tate McRae is giving 2000s pop star energy wrapped in a Gen Z aesthetic.
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In the world of stan culture, the title of “Main Pop Girl” isn’t just a label—it’s a career-defining crown, and one only a few can truly claim and live up to. Over the years, we’ve witnessed icons like Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and Ariana Grande (among others) ascend to that status, while stars like Dua Lipa, Sabrina Carpenter, and Charli xcx are navigating their way into the pop stratosphere.
But looking back, the early 2000s gifted us with untouchable legends—Britney, Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera—setting a near-impossible standard. But with her undeniable prowess and growing roster of LSS-inducing hits, there’s a rising star who reminds us of that era of what it means to be a pop star, and her name is Tate McRae. Here’s why she’s exuding serious Main Pop Girl energy potential.
SO TATIANNA IS THAT GIRL
Watch any of Tate’s performances, and it’s clear she’s a dancer, which if fitting considering her background is in dance. The 21-year-old singer-songwriter and dancer from Calgary, Alberta, Canada began her journey with ballet shoes and dreams of stardom, but everything shifted when she launched her YouTube channel. She cut her teeth on the dance floor as she first gained attention in 2016 as a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance and performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, even opening for Justin Bieber on his Purpose World Tour.
Since hitting the road, Tate feels like she’s uncovered a whole new identity that was just waiting to shine. She describes the experience as a split between her true self and her alter ego, Tatiana, who takes over once she steps on stage. And can we just say the fact that Tate has an alter ego is very main pop girl of her.
INSTAGRAM/TATEMCRAE
At just 21, Tate felt a bit lost, wanting to revive the fun pop and dance vibes of the music videos she loved growing up but with a fresh twist. Then came greedy—a song that pushed her out of her usual mid-tempo comfort zone. With inspiration from legends like Nelly Furtado and Britney Spears, along with a nudge from Ryan Tedder, she jumped into something bold and gold to the tune of 1.48 billion streams on Spotify alone.
SHE’S ALL I WANNA BE
Tate’s transformation with greedy from her “sad girl” persona (though we still love that era with bops like you broke me first) to stepping into her pop girlie era has finally landed her recognition far and wide, such as by ELLE’s Women In Music as a rising star. Now, the wild cherry on top is that she’s in the same space as amazing artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams, and Chappell Roan, who are all killing it in their own lanes.
INSTAGRAM/TATEMCRAE
With her latest album THINK LATER still owning our playlists and her latest drop, and her new single It’s ok, I’m ok embracing her power and sexuality, Tate McRae’s just getting started. Her journey of self-discovery and unapologetic authenticity is striking a chord with millions, reminding us to stay present and true, no matter how fast life hits. And let’s not forget her stage presence—that confidence is next level, and it’s a huge reason she’s blowing up right now. Watching her command a stage, you can feel she’s truly stepping into her own. Her performance at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards lowkey changed lives.
THE CALGARY LOOK
You can’t spell Tate without Ate, right? Another aspect to Tate’s rise is her signature style, which blends sporty elements with glam, reflecting her Canadian roots. She often sports oversized sweats and jerseys, adding fun touches like bedazzled bustiers and chunky jewelry. With Spring 2024 trends highlighting rugby jerseys and polo shirts, her fashion choices are spot-on. Her online merch even features cute T8 hockey jerseys.
INSTAGRAM/TATEMCRAE
As for what this new era will look like, she’s unsure. THINK LATER has its blues and grays, but she’s ready to see what colors this next chapter will bring. And with her first-ever Manila concert last November 4 at the New Frontier Theater, she gave her Filipino Tater Tots a taste of why she is that girl who never misses with her stage presence.
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