Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, better known as Doja Cat, is an American musician. She is one of the first performers to turn going viral on TikTok into mainstream success in the TikTok era. Her bold looks on the red carpet events have made her a force in fashion, too.
Doja Cat got her start making music at home in her bedroom, which she’d then release on Soundcloud. She soon began performing at small hip-hop venues and events in Los Angeles, where she got the attention of music executives and went on to sign with well-known music producer Dr. Luke at the age of 17. She released her debut album in 2018, but it was in 2019 that her music really took off, first with “Candy,” which went viral on TikTok at the end of that year. That success was replicated again and again during the pandemic, with songs like “Best Friend” and “Say So”. Since, she’s collaborated with artists such The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, SZA and Gucci Mane.
In fashion, she’s become a major presence on the red carpet, known for her over-the-top outfits, including an ensemble made up of 30,000 red Swarovski crystals that were hand placed all over her body — including on every inch of her face — at the Schiaparelli Haute Couture show in 2023 and a hooded Oscar de la Renta gown, complete with cat ears, at the Met Gala in 2023.
