Charli D'Amelio: From TikTok Sensation To Global Star
Discover how Charli D'Amelio went from posting dance videos to becoming one of the world’s biggest influencers, reality stars, and entrepreneurs. See what makes her a Gen Z icon.
Jul 23, 202532 Shares32.3K Views
Charli D’Amelio rose to fame almost overnight by posting her dance videos on TikTok in mid 2019. Her performance of the “Renegade” routine went viral and helped her become the most followed creator on the platform by March 2020. She gained more exposure after joining the famous Hype House in late 2019 and appearing in high profile campaigns and a Super Bowl ad in early 2020. With over 150 million followers today, she has become one of the biggest social media stars in the world. Beyond TikTok, she has moved into brand collaborations, reality TV, and even Broadway, showing her reach goes far beyond just dance videos.
Early Life
Charli Grace D’Amelio was born on May 1, 2004, in Norwalk, Connecticut, to parents Heidi D’Amelio, a former model and photographer, and Marc D’Amelio, a businessman and former politician. She has an older sister, Dixie D’Amelio, who is also a well-known social media creator.
Charli started dancing when she was just three years old. She trained in ballet, jazz, and hip-hop, and took part in dance competitions for more than ten years before joining TikTok in 2019. She went to King School, a private school in Stamford, Connecticut. As her online fame grew, she switched to virtual learning so she could manage her school work and busy content schedule at the same time.
Growing up, Charli had strong support from her family. Her parents and sister encouraged her dance dreams and helped guide her as she explored her talents.
Career
Charli began creating dance videos on TikTok in mid‑2019, and her take on the “Renegade” dance helped her become the first creator to reach over 50 million and then 100 million followers on the platform. She joined the Hype House content group in late 2019, which increased her reach, and in early 2020 she starred in a Super Bowl ad for Sabra Hummus.
In 2021, the Hulu reality series The D’Amelio Showdebuted, featuring her and her family and quickly became the most watched unscripted series on the platform. It ran for three seasons before ending in 2024. She also co‑starred with her sister in the Snap Originals competition show Charli vs. Dixie, launched in late 2021 and renewed for a second season in 2022.
In 2022, Charli won the 31st season of Dancing with the Starswith partner Mark Ballas, showing her growth beyond social media fame. She made her Broadway debut in October 2024 in the ensemble of & Juliet, significantly boosting ticket sales for the show.
Outside her performance career, Charli co‑founded D’Amelio Brands in 2022, launching lines including footwear, snacks, and investments through a family fund. She also released a debut single, If You Ask Me To, in October 2022 and co‑created makeup and clothing with her sister and brand partners.
As of July 2025, she is the second most followed person on TikTok with over 156 million followers, and she was named a “Titan” in Time’s inaugural 100 Most Influential Creators of 2025 list.
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