Reneé Rapp, known for her breakout role as Regina George in the Broadway musical “Mean Girls,” is on a promising new chapter as the pop star on everyone’s radar. She proves her skills with a varied resume that encompasses both film and music. In 2021, she received even wider acclaim playing as Leighton Murray in Mindy Kaling’s sitcom “The Sex Lives of College Girls.” Rapp’s recent single “Leave Me Alone” exemplifies her unique music style, blending catchy melodies with unapologetic lyrics that reflect her personal experiences and feelings.
She was born and raised in Huntersville, North Carolina, a small suburban town just outside of Charlotte. She attributes her impressive work ethic to her parents, Charles and Denise. From their family, they created in her and her brother a fierce work ethic and a strong sense of personal responsibility. This artistic grounding has helped steer her through the increasingly fraught space between cultural fame and artistic innovation.
When a group of fans started making Noise at a recent Q&A in London, it was the filmmakers who were unprepared. It was as if they had all knocked back a few too many Reneé-centric cocktails! Even with the sudden technological delay, Rapp was a wonderful mixture of humor and poison, owning the unexpected break in an admittedly stressful moment.
Rapp has a hard earned reputation for being unfiltered—unlike most celebrities, Rapp pulls absolutely no punches. She holds truth in high regard – both in her day-to-day life and as creative practice. She candidly chronicles the experience of finding herself. In 2022, she publicly declared that she was bisexual, only to later transition into a lesbian identity. Rapp’s openness about her sexuality has struck a chord with many of her fans, especially queer fans who feel represented through Rapp’s journey.
Rapp’s music reflects this authenticity. In “Leave Me Alone,” she boldly asserts, “I took my sex life with me, now the show ain’t fuckin’!” This lyric perfectly captures her unapologetic willingness to tackle taboo topics that many would refrain from.
“It’s interesting, people would often mask it as ‘That verbiage may make people uncomfortable.’ I would argue that people being slaughtered makes me uncomfortable and should in fact make you uncomfortable.” – Reneé Rapp
Rapp’s approach to songwriting, formerly a hardline commitment to the truth above all else, has softened. While working on her second album, she found that she was able to extrapolate and exaggerate her lived experiences without sacrificing any emotional resonance. This freedom has given her the space to embrace many aspects of herself and her journey.
I beyoooves to fib,” she said, making an example of her fun approach to making things. As fun as this approach is, it doesn’t lessen the emotional stakes of her songs. Rather, it introduces new layers of complexity that only deepen her music.
As a child, Rapp found himself on the margins. At that time, she was the only white girl in her friend group. Through it all she persevered and took her strength from her childhood and her parents’ teachings.
“They were just always like: ‘Be accountable to yourself, to your friends, to people you don’t know,’” – Reneé Rapp
As Rapp’s career continues to blossom, she’s determined to stay true to herself, both in performance and real life. Her fans love her for this honesty, which sets her apart from other artists who are likely to stick to safer, more traditional archetypes.
In addition to the compelling conversations she establishes with her lyrics, Lizzo is unafraid to tackle urgent social issues head-on.
“There’s no shame in being wrong, necessarily,” – Reneé Rapp
This sentiment rings especially true amid recent calls for greater accountability, growing ever-louder in our current state of affairs. Her refusal to shy away from uncomfortable truths has made her an icon and a role model with fans and fellow artists alike.
The path to Rapp’s new-found stardom has not been without bumps along the way. Recently, she and her partner Towa Bird experienced a terrifying high. Fans swarmed them as they tried to get on an elevator. Such incidents illustrate the intensity of fame and highlight how Rapp navigates these situations with grace.
Rapp’s ambitions have never settled for the merely good. As a kid she wanted to be Beyoncé.
“It’s like Beyoncé said: ‘You know you that bitch when you cause all this conversation.’” – Reneé Rapp
That idealistic dream-to-improve becomes her compass, guiding her motivation and fierce ambition as she makes her own way in the new entertainment frontier.