Addison Rae Says Charli XCX Is a ‘Big Sister & Mentor for Me’

Addison Rae is one of the few influencers who is successfully transitioning into a pop career, and in a new Rolling Stone cover story, the 24-year old star opened up about how her friend Charli XCX has been an inspiration to her along the journey.

“[Meeting] Charli XCX was an obviously pivotal moment in my life,” Rae told the publication. “She has been such a big sister and mentor for me.”

Charli, meanwhile, called Rae a “f—ing genius,” adding, “It’s been fun to watch her evolve. Everything she does relates back to her art — every item of clothing she wears, everything she says in a red-carpet interview, everything she tweets — it all is a part of the world-building.”

The duo, who previously collaborated on Rae’s “2 Die 4” and the updated “Von Dutch” from Charli’s Brat remix album, also reflected on their years of working together. Charli recalled a time that Rae “burst into the room in Ugg boots and hot pants after parking her pink Tesla in the driveway and exclaimed, ‘Boys are stupid!’ and then immediately was like, ‘Wait, we should write a song about that!’”

She added, “I know that sounds simple and maybe silly to some people, but to me that was such a sign of instinct and fearlessness.” 

“[Charli] respected me and my ideas,” Rae said. “It was the first time I really took the step on my own to be confident in the ideas I had and follow that. I owe that all to Charli.”

Rae has yet to release her debut album, but has already released two songs teasing her upcoming musical era: “Aquamarine” and her first Hot 100 hit, “Diet Pepsi.”