King Princess, the 26-year-old indie-pop sensation born Mikaela Straus, has entertained audiences with her genre-blending music and unapologetic authenticity. From her breakthrough hit to recent speculation about her friendship with Christine Baranski, here are five essential facts about the rising star.
1. Musical Heritage and Family Legacy
King Princess comes from a family with deep connections to both music and history. Her father, Oliver Straus, owns Mission Sound, a renowned Brooklyn recording studio that has hosted artists like Jack Antonoff, the National, and Shawn Mendes, according to The New Yorker. Growing up in this environment gave Straus unprecedented access to professional music equipment from an early age.
Her family also has a unique connection to American history. She is the great-great-granddaughter of Isidor Straus, the co-owner of Macy’s who died aboard the Titanic in 1912 with his wife, Ida, according to Rolling Stone. However, contrary to assumptions about inherited wealth, Straus has clarified that “the last of her line of inheritance had been spent long before she was born,” according to The New Yorker.
Straus learned to play multiple instruments through her childhood exposure to the studio environment. “I’m sort of a Swiss Army knife, except no woodwinds,” she told the outlet, highlighting her versatility as a multi-instrumentalist.
2. Breakthrough Success and LGBTQ+ Representation
King Princess achieved massive success with her debut single “1950,” which she wrote and produced at age 17 while studying at the University of Southern California. The song, inspired by Patricia Highsmith’s novel “The Price of Salt,” became a platinum-certified hit after Harry Styles tweeted its lyrics, garnering hundreds of thousands of likes overnight.
The track’s success was significant for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream music. “I was just thinking about how sad it is that we, you know, are horny for our own oppression,” Straus explained about the song’s themes on a podcast, according to The New Yorker.
As an openly gay artist, King Princess has used her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility. She has consistently emphasized the importance of unifying the queer community, telling Rolling Stone, “We’re still the minority. We’ve got to unify. That’s my biggest thing â the unification of queer people. We’ve got each other.”
3. Recent Acting Ventures and Industry Collaborations
Beyond music, King Princess has expanded into acting, appearing in the second season of Hulu’s “Nine Perfect Strangers.” This role marked her first major acting project, where she portrayed Tina, a classically trained pianist dealing with emotional struggles.
Her acting debut brought her into contact with established Hollywood figures, including 75-year-old Baranski. The two developed a close friendship during filming, which recently sparked dating rumors after they attended the Broadway premiere of “Mamma Mia” together on August 18.
However, Baranski’s representative quickly addressed the speculation, stating to E! Online: “Christine and King Princess are strictly friends and nothing more. They have never been in a relationship, nor are they now.”
4. Creative Evolution and Personal Growth
King Princess has shown considerable artistic evolution throughout her career. Her upcoming album, “Girl Violence,” which will drop on September 12 and will be released independently after leaving Columbia Records, represents her most cohesive artistic vision yet. The record explores themes of personal growth and female relationships while showcasing her rock-influenced sound.
“Good art is not born out of fear,” she told The New Yorker about her decision to create the album without major label oversight. This independence allowed her to work with producers Jacob Portrait and Joe Pincus in her father’s Brooklyn studio, creating what she describes as her most authentic work.
5. Current Projects and Future Endeavors
The artist has been open about her struggles with substance use and the challenges of fame, particularly during her time in Los Angeles. Her return to New York marked a significant turning point in both her personal life and creative output.
King Princess continues to champion LGBTQ+ visibility in music while expanding her artistic reach into acting and other creative ventures. Her upcoming projects include the film “Song Sung Blue” with Hugh Jackman and continued touring behind “Girl Violence.”
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