Musical.ly may not be a mainstream social media app (yet), but it’s extremely popular among preteens and social media stars. The app allows the user, or “muser,” to lip-sync to and edit the speed of a song. Unique to Musical.ly is the way musers coordinate the movement of the camera and their hand motions to the song. And the app is fast making stars out of kids around the world — stars your kids are obsessed with.
Here are 10 musers you’ve probably never heard of… but your kids have.
Mackenzie Ziegler
Mackenzie Ziegler is the younger sister of Maddie Ziegler, both known for their appearances on Lifetime's reality TV series Dance Moms. She transitioned from dance into the music industry and in 2014 released her debut album under the name Mack Z. She has also starred in a Nickelodeon show, modeled for Ralph Lauren Kids and currently makes videos on her YouTube channel.
Annie Grace
Julianna "Annie" Grace Leblanc, @presshandstands7 on Musical.ly, is a level 8 gymnast who got her start posting gymnastics videos on YouTube under the name AcroAnna. She began making videos with her family on their YouTube channel, Bratayley. She now has more than 5.2 million fans on the app and continues to make videos on her family's YouTube channel.
Liza Koshy
Liza Koshy, @Lizzza on Musical.ly, got her start as a phenomenon on Vine, where she has more than 5 million followers. She describes herself as "just a little brown girl with big dreams," but she's one of the largest digital stars on the web. Koshy is currently involved in two movies that are still in production and has appeared on the Hulu series "Freakish." She spoke as a digital influencer at VidCon and makes YouTube videos regularly for her 3 million-plus followers.
Ariana Renee
Renee first joined Musical.ly in the spring of 2015 and in just over a year has acquired more than 5.47 million followers under the name @theylovearii. The 15-year-old has already launched her own nail polish line, makes YouTube videos and aspires to be a DJ to continue her love of music. She also aspires to be a positive force for teenagers who are experiencing negativity in their own lives.
Kristen Hancher
This Canadian Musical.ly star has more than 8 million fans and has expanded her social media success to other sites, such as YouTube and Instagram (where she documented her hair change from jet black to blond), where she has almost 2 million followers.
Cameron Dallas
One of the older Musical.ly stars, 22-year-old Dallas got his start on Vine, where he has more than 9.5 million followers. He then expanded to Musical.ly, where he quickly amassed nearly the same number of fans at 9.18 million. He has transitioned to the big screen and starred in movies such as Expelled and The Outfield and also released a single on iTunes called "She Bad."
Loren Beech
Also known on social media as Loren Gray, this 14-year-old has more than 9.77 million fans on Musical.ly and like other social media stars, she has expanded to YouTube. She recently signed with Women 360 Model Management, has modeled for Seventeen magazine and attended NYFW.
Lisa and Lena
These 13-year-old identical German twins share a Musical.ly account that has reached more than 9.81 million fans. Known for their in-sync movements and coordinating outfits, they quickly rose to the top of the app's most followed accounts with their energetic videos. Braces and blond hair make them relatable and adorable, and Gen Z seems to have taken notice. According to StyleCaster, they have been making clothes since they were 11 years old and now have their own clothing line called Compose in partnership with a company owned by German businessman Oliver Stefanovic.
Jacob Sartorius
Born Rolf Jacob Sartorius, the Virgina native gained more than 10.6 million fans on Musical.ly since just 2015 and millions of followers on his other social media accounts — all before the age of 13. Sartorius now has two singles on iTunes, a music tour with other Musical.ly stars and almost 30 million views on his first music video. Seventeen magazine is calling this preteen heartthrob the next Justin Bieber, saying he's already got, "the charm, the talent and the hair."
Ariel Martin
Known on Musical.ly as @babyariel, Martin has more than 13 million fans who follow her relatable and comical posts. Like most social stars, Martin received negative comments on social media, which inspired her to start the #ArielMovement in support of anti-bullying. She has participated in social media meet-and-greets, through a nationwide DigiTour and through Playlist Live. Martin expanded to make YouTube videos that she uploads every Thursday and won a Teen Choice Award for "Choice Muser" in 2016, the first in its category.
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