Baby Ariel: The TikTok Star Who Found Fame As a Teen
Early Life and Background
Ariel Rebecca Martin (born November 15, 2000) was born in Pembroke Pines, Florida. She was raised by her parents Sheri and John along with her three siblings. From a young age, Ariel enjoyed singing, dancing, acting and making videos. She often put on shows and performances for her family and friends.
Ariel attended Somerset Academy Charter High School, where she was a cheerleader. She was energetic and outgoing, with a passion for music and performing. In her free time, Ariel created YouTube videos showcasing her singing talents. She found joy in connecting with viewers through her videos.
As a child, Ariel had big dreams of one day becoming a performer. She immersed herself in the arts, honing her skills in singing, dancing and acting. Ariel's charismatic and bubbly personality made her a natural entertainer. Her early interests set the foundation for the social media sensation she would later become.
Rise to Fame on Musical.ly
Ariel Martin joined the social media app Musical.ly in 2015 when she was just 13 years old. She was drawn to the platform as a way to showcase her love of singing, dancing, and connecting with other teens who shared similar interests.
Initially starting out performing lip syncs and dance videos, Ariel quickly garnered a following for her energetic and infectious style. Her videos featured popular songs and current hits, with Ariel mouthing the words and showing off her vivacious personality through fun facial expressions and choreography.
Within her first year on Musical.ly, Ariel amassed over 1 million followers, growing to over 10 million by 2016. Fans were drawn to her confidence, positivity, and relatable nature as a teen content creator. Her lip syncing and dance skills were on full display in each new video, where she would act out stories and characters.
Some of her most popular early Musical.ly hits included videos set to songs like "Stitches" by Shawn Mendes, "Hands to Myself" by Selena Gomez, and "Starboy" by The Weeknd. As her fanbase grew exponentially, Ariel cemented her status as one of the top breakout stars on Musical.ly. She successfully leveraged the platform's features to not just lip sync, but create comedy skits and motivate young fans.
Transition to Other Platforms
After gaining fame on Musical.ly, Baby Ariel looked to expand her influencer presence to other social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat.
In 2017, Baby Ariel created her self-titled YouTube channel, where she began posting lifestyle, beauty, and comedy vlogs. Her energetic personality combined with her already established fanbase quickly led to an influx of YouTube subscribers. Within a year, her channel amassed over 6 million subscribers.
On Instagram, Baby Ariel grew her following to over 30 million. She leveraged the platform's focus on photos to showcase her signature looks and aesthetics. She also utilized Instagram stories and livestreams to engage with fans in real time.
Additionally, Baby Ariel joined Snapchat in 2015. She posted fun snippets and behind-the-scenes looks at her life on the platform. At one point, she had the #1 overall Snapchat account.
By branching out beyond just Musical.ly, Baby Ariel demonstrated her versatility as an influencer. She proved adept at creating content tailored to each platform's unique style and audience. This expanded presence enabled her to continue captivating fans and propelling her influencer career forward.
Music Career
Ariel's music career began to take off when she started releasing original songs on YouTube and music streaming platforms in 2016. Her debut single "Aww" was released that year and garnered over 4 million Spotify streams.
In 2017, Ariel signed a record deal with Disney's record label Hollywood Records. This enabled her to release her first EP, "Ariel," featuring songs like "Perf," "Run It Back" and "Gucci on My Body." The EP was a success, charting on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart.
Ariel promoted her EP by performing in concerts and tours. She opened for bands Why Don't We and NKOTB during their tours in 2017. She also headlined her own "The Little Tour" across the United States that year.
The singer released her second EP "B.B.Rules" in 2018, which included popular tracks like "D.D.D.M" and "Rules." It charted in the top 40 of the Independent Albums chart on Billboard.
Ariel has notably performed her original music at high-profile events like the Arthur Ashe Kids' Day, Teen Choice Awards and MTV's Total Request Live. She was named Radio Disney's Best Crush Song artist in 2018.
As she continues to release new music, Ariel has proven herself as a bonafide pop artist and performer beyond her social media fame. With a record deal, charting albums and live concert experience under her belt, her music career trajectory remains promising.
Acting and Other Ventures
In addition to her massive social media presence, Baby Ariel has pursued acting and various business initiatives.
TV Shows and Movie Roles
Baby Ariel guest starred as herself on the Disney Channel show Bizaardvark in 2016. She went on to land a recurring role as Eliza in the Brat web series Zoe Valentine starting in 2019. Her other acting credits include the TV movies Honor Society and Crush It! and a starring role in the 2020 movie Social Media Murders.
Business Initiatives
Leveraging her influencer status, Baby Ariel has launched merchandise lines, a protein powder brand called ArielFit, and a makeup collaboration with HipDot. She also released a mobile app called ArielMoji that allowed users to make Musical.ly videos with her.
Philanthropy and Advocacy
Baby Ariel uses her platform to support various social causes. She has advocated for anti-bullying and worked with organizations like the Thirst Project and Pencils of Promise. In 2016, she received the Grace Award for being a role model to her generation.
Awards and Nominations
Ariel has received numerous awards and nominations throughout her career, particularly for her massive popularity on musical.ly and other social media platforms. Some of her major accolades include:
**Teen Choice Awards**
- Choice Muser (2016)
- Choice YouTuber (2017)
- Choice Female Web Star (2018)
Ariel won the inaugural Choice Muser award at the 2016 Teen Choice Awards, recognizing her as the breakout star on musical.ly that year. She has since gone on to win two more Teen Choice Awards for her content creation on YouTube and other social platforms.
**Shorty Awards**
- Muser of the Year (2017)
- YouTuber of the Year (2018)
In 2017, Ariel won the Shorty Award for Muser of the Year, which honored her creative videos on musical.ly. She followed up by taking home the YouTuber of the Year prize at the 2018 Shorty Awards for her growing presence on YouTube.
**Streamy Awards**
- Breakout Creator (2016)
At the 7th Annual Streamy Awards in 2016, Ariel earned the Breakout Creator award for her meteoric rise to fame as a top muser. This marked major industry recognition of her breakthrough success online at just 15 years old.
Controversies
Ariel has faced some controversies over the years, particularly related to the content she produces as an influencer.
In 2016, some people accused Ariel of cultural appropriation related to a video where she wore a traditional Indian bindi forehead jewel. The accusations claimed she wore the religious and cultural symbol inappropriately. Ariel apologized for any offense caused, though some argued she did not need to apologize since bindis have become common fashion accessories globally.
Later in 2016, Ariel faced backlash for a lip sync video set to an excerpt from a sermon by Minister Louis Farrakhan, known for making antisemitic comments. Some viewers believed Ariel was implicitly endorsing Farrakhan's views by using his speech in her video. Ariel insisted she did not agree with the figure's offensive perspectives and removed the video, apologizing for posting it.
Other minor controversies have involved accusations of Ariel being a bad role model for young fans based on the mature content of some of her videos. Critics have argued she sexualizes herself at a young age. Ariel has dismissed these critiques as unfair attacks on her self-expression.
While no stranger to online controversy, Ariel has weathered these incidents relatively unscathed. She continues to have a massive, devoted fanbase supporting her content. For the most part, the controversies have amounted to learning experiences about responsibly managing her image and brand as an influencer.
Personal Life
Ariel is very private about her personal life and relationships. She was born in Florida and has one older sister named Piper.
Outside of her entertainment career, Ariel has said some of her hobbies and interests include photography, painting, volleyball, and hanging out with friends and family. She also enjoys traveling when her busy schedule allows.
In interviews, Ariel has emphasized the importance of surrounding herself with a strong support system of family and friends to keep her grounded amidst her fast-rising fame. She has a close relationship with her parents and credits them for keeping her humble.
While Ariel has chosen to keep the specifics of her dating life confidential, she has been romantically linked to several fellow social media stars over the years, including Blake Gray. However, she has not publicly confirmed any relationships.
Above all, Ariel strives to live her life authentically as a normal teenager, despite her celebrity status. She enjoys simple pleasures like getting coffee with friends, going to the beach, and staying connected to her fans online. Her down-to-earth personality and ability to balance fame with regular life has contributed to her widespread appeal.
Legacy and Impact
Baby Ariel has had a lasting influence on the influencer marketing industry. As one of the first social media stars to find fame on Musical.ly, she helped pave the way for the many content creators that have followed in her footsteps. Her success demonstrated that an engaging personality and creative content could draw huge audiences even on newer platforms.
Brands took notice, and started reaching out to influencers like Baby Ariel for promotional partnerships. This represented a shift in marketing, with companies moving budgets away from traditional advertising to work with social media personalities instead. The industry grew exponentially, and today influencer marketing is estimated to be a multi-billion dollar business.
Beyond her impact on marketing, Baby Ariel inspired a generation of young fans to express themselves creatively online. Her vibrant self-confidence resonated with tweens and teens. She embraced her uniqueness and encouraged her fans to do the same. For many youths, Baby Ariel was more than just an entertainer - she was a role model for being yourself and chasing your dreams. Even as she's grown up herself, she continues to use her platform to uplift her audience.
Where is She Now?
Ariel is currently focused on growing her massive social media presence across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. She continues to post comedy skits, dances, songs, and vlogs for her tens of millions of followers.
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