Addison Rae just had the kind of year most pop stars dream about — a Grammy nomination, a debut album that cracked the Billboard 200 top five, and beach photos that prove she's just as at home in the sand as she is on stage. The 25-year-old entertainer has fully stepped into her main character era, and her swimwear game is keeping pace with every chapter of it.
Photo via Reality Tea
From TikTok Dances to Billboard Charts
Not long ago, Addison Rae was the girl doing Charli D'Amelio dances on TikTok, racking up followers faster than anyone could keep track. Now she's a Grammy-nominated artist whose debut album Addison debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 — an achievement that puts her in rare company for a social media-to-pop crossover. Her singles "Diet Pepsi," "Aquamarine," and "Fame Is a Gun" earned her genuine critical praise, not just viral clicks, and a first-ever Grammy nomination for Best New Artist at the 68th Grammy Awards sealed the deal: Addison Rae is a real pop star now.
She performed at the Grammys in February 2026, taking on the notoriously difficult "Fame Is a Gun" live — a song she sang almost entirely in falsetto — and absolutely delivered. Chappell Roan (last year's winner) ultimately handed the trophy to Olivia Dean, but Rae's performance had people talking for days. When you can hold your own on Grammy night, the bikini moments feel even more well-earned.
The Beach Era Has Arrived
Because what does a pop star do after the Grammys? Apparently, she books a beach in Perth, Australia, and wears a teeny tiny pink bikini. In January 2026, Rae was spotted on a Western Australia beach living her most sun-drenched, carefree life — the kind of beach day that feels specifically designed to make your Instagram followers spiral. She's been equally fearless on stage, recently posting a performance look that featured a red-and-black lacy bikini top with matching thigh-high striped stockings. It's the kind of high-energy styling that makes you wonder if her wardrobe team is having the best time of their lives right now.
Photo via Reality Tea
Photo via TMZ
Why Addison Rae's Swimwear Choices Actually Make Sense
There's something deliberately cohesive about Rae's aesthetic right now. Her album era is built around bold femininity — she name-dropped Diet Pepsi, she sang about aquamarine (the color of warm ocean water), and her stage looks lean into maximalist, unapologetically girly energy. The beach photos fit perfectly. A tiny pink bikini on a sun-soaked Australian beach isn't a random celebrity photo-op — it's consistent with every visual she's putting out. This is a woman who is in control of her image, and that control extends to what she wears in the water.
Gen Z has fully embraced the idea that your pop star persona doesn't have to stop at the water's edge, and Addison Rae is one of the best examples of a celebrity whose beach looks feel like actual self-expression rather than a PR exercise. The Perth beach photos, especially, have that effortless "I'm a person who happens to be famous" energy that's genuinely hard to fake.
Get the Look: Bold Triangle Bikinis Under $40
Love Addison's pink bikini beach energy? The good news is you don't need to wait for a trip to Perth to channel it. Audi Swim's Bow Babe Contrast Top in Pink ($17.99) is a seriously flattering adjustable triangle top — exactly the kind of tiny, confident bikini that Rae wore on that Perth beach. Pair it with the Bow Babe Contrast Bottoms in Pink ($17.99) for the full set, and you've got her whole vibe for under $36.
If you're more into Addison's stage look — bold, a little edgy, definitely making a statement — the Bow Babe Contrast Top in Black ($17.99) brings that same bold triangle silhouette in a darker colorway. Add the Golden Hour Belly Chain ($12.99) and you've got the pop-star beach look without the pop-star price tag.
The Bigger Picture: TikTok Stars Are Rewriting What a Pop Star Looks Like
Addison Rae's journey — from viral dances to Grammy stages to Australian beach days — is part of a broader shift in pop culture. The Gen Z stars who built their platforms on authenticity and relatability haven't abandoned those qualities when they crossed over into music. If anything, they lean into them. The beach photos, the lacy bikini performance posts, the casual Instagram Stories — it's all part of building a persona that feels real, not manufactured. And for their audience, that's everything.
If you want to dig deeper into the kind of bold, minimal swimwear Addison and her generation are gravitating toward, check out our guide: What Is a Micro Bikini? The 2026 Complete Guide to Going Bold. And if you're looking for more Gen Z beach inspo, Avani Gregg's Bahamas Spring Break is another must-read moment from this season.
Addison Rae didn't take home the Grammy. But she showed up, delivered, and then went to the beach in a pink bikini. Honestly? That's a win.
Share: