Charli Grace D'Amelio is an American social media personality and dancer who became the first person to reach 100 million followers on TikTok. Rising to fame in late 2019 through viral dance videos, D'Amelio became the face of TikTok's explosive growth and the most followed creator on the platform for over two years. At 22 years old, she has built a multi-million dollar brand spanning social media, reality television, fashion, fragrance, and entrepreneurship.
Born on May 1, 2004, in Norwalk, Connecticut, Charli grew up as a competitive dancer, training for over 10 years in various dance styles. She joined TikTok in June 2019, and her dance videos — particularly her performances of trending choreography — quickly went viral. Her clean execution, relatable personality, and girl-next-door appeal resonated with millions. By November 2020, she became the first TikTok creator to reach 100 million followers, a milestone that took her less than 18 months.
The D'Amelio family leveraged Charli's TikTok fame into a broader media presence. Charli, her older sister Dixie D'Amelio (also a major TikTok star), and their parents Marc and Heidi starred in The D'Amelio Show on Hulu (2021-2023), a reality series that documented the family's adjustment to sudden fame. Charli also competed on Dancing with the Stars Season 31 (2022), where she and partner Mark Ballas won the Mirrorball Trophy.
D'Amelio's business ventures include a clothing line with Hollister, a nail polish brand (Coastal Craze), a fragrance line (Born Dreamer), and a venture into the coffee business with her family's D'Amelio Brands. She has partnered with major brands including Dunkin' Donuts (the 'Charli' drink became one of their most popular orders), Prada, and Morphe. Forbes has named her one of the highest-earning TikTok creators multiple years running.
Despite her success, D'Amelio has been open about the mental health challenges of growing up in the public eye. She has discussed cyberbullying, eating disorders, and anxiety in her Hulu show and public interviews, becoming a vocal advocate for youth mental health awareness. Her willingness to be vulnerable about these struggles has deepened her connection with her predominantly Gen Z audience.
