Charli D’Amelio is the creator who defined TikTok’s breakout years. In November 2020 she became the first person to reach 100 million followers on the app, and she went on to win Dancing with the Stars, star in her own reality series and perform on Broadway. This profile covers her age, records, career highlights, businesses and official links, with sources for each key fact.
Readers often search for her to check her age, her follower count or what she has been doing since her biggest TikTok years. Others want to understand how a teenage dancer became one of the most famous creators in the world. We begin with quick facts, then explain each stage of her career with sources listed at the end.
Charli D’Amelio Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Charli Grace D’Amelio |
| Date of birth | 1 May 2004 |
| Age | 22 (as of October 2026) |
| Birthplace | Norwalk, Connecticut, United States |
| Known for | Dance videos on TikTok |
| Record | First person to 100 million TikTok followers (November 2020) |
| Family | Sister Dixie D’Amelio; parents Heidi and Marc D’Amelio |
| TV win | Dancing with the Stars, Season 31 (2022) |
Who Is Charli D’Amelio?
Charli D’Amelio was born on 1 May 2004 in Norwalk, Connecticut. She trained as a competitive dancer from childhood, dancing for more than a decade before joining TikTok. That training shows in her videos, which made complex choreography look effortless.
She grew up in a family that would become famous alongside her. Her older sister, Dixie, is also a creator and singer, and her parents, Heidi and Marc, joined the family’s social media presence and later their business ventures.
The D’Amelio family
Fame quickly became a family affair. Dixie built her own large following and released music, while Heidi and Marc appeared in videos and the family’s reality series. The family later created D’Amelio Brands to manage products and partnerships. Many creator families have since followed a similar model.
Why she became so popular
The Washington Post described her in 2020 as TikTok’s biggest star, noting that even she was not sure why. Major publications including The Atlantic and The New Yorker went on to analyse her rise, and a common theme was relatability: she came across as a normal teenager who happened to be a great dancer. Her short, upbeat dance videos fitted TikTok’s format perfectly at a time when the app was exploding in popularity.
Charli D’Amelio’s TikTok Records
She began posting on TikTok in 2019, and her duets and dance videos quickly went viral. By March 2020 she was the most-followed creator on the app. In November 2020, BBC News reported that she had become the first TikTok user to reach 100 million followers.
Guinness World Records recognised her for having the most TikTok followers and for being the first to reach both 50 million and 100 million. Although another creator later overtook her as the most-followed account, she remains one of the platform’s biggest names, with about 159 million followers in 2026.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Starts posting viral dance videos |
| March 2020 | Becomes TikTok’s most-followed creator |
| November 2020 | First to reach 100 million followers |
| 2021 | Guinness World Records recognition |
| 2026 | Around 159 million followers |
Lessons from her TikTok success
- Skill matters: years of dance training gave her content a quality edge.
- Timing matters: she joined as TikTok was growing rapidly.
- Consistency matters: frequent posting kept her in viewers’ feeds.
- Authenticity matters: her relaxed, natural style felt approachable.
Read more about what makes clips spread in our guide on why videos go viral.
Charli D’Amelio Beyond TikTok
The D’Amelio Show
Her family’s reality series, The D’Amelio Show, streamed on Hulu from 2021 to 2023 and gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at life after viral fame. It won an MTV Movie & TV Award.
Dancing with the Stars champion
In 2022 she won Season 31 of Dancing with the Stars with professional partner Mark Ballas. The win proved her dance skills to a mainstream television audience beyond social media.
Broadway debut
She made her Broadway debut in the musical & Juliet, joining the ensemble in late 2024 and performing into 2025. It was a significant step for a creator who started with short phone videos.
Live theatre was a very different challenge from filming short videos. Broadway productions typically run eight performances a week, demanding stamina and precise timing alongside a professional cast.
Books and music
Her book, Essentially Charli: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping It Real, was published in December 2020 and became a New York Times bestseller. She released her debut single, “If You Ask Me To,” in 2022, which reached the Adult Pop Airplay chart.
Business ventures
Through D’Amelio Brands, the family has launched products including footwear, snacks and skincare. In 2022 the family also announced a venture fund, 444 Capital. Earlier, she partnered with brands on makeup, apparel and other products.
Charli D’Amelio Awards and Recognition
She was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and Fortune 40 Under 40 in 2020, where she was the youngest person on that year’s list. TIME included her in TIME100 Next in 2021 and in its inaugural TIME100 Creators list in July 2025. She has also won Streamy Awards and Kids’ Choice Awards.
Her career is a clear example of how creators can turn social media fame into a diversified entertainment career, with television, live performance, books and business ventures.
How her rise changed TikTok
Her success helped show brands, record labels and TV networks that TikTok could create genuine stars. Dance challenges built around popular songs became a widely used marketing tool for the music industry. Her career is one of the clearest examples of how a single app can reshape the entertainment industry.
Public scrutiny
Huge fame at a young age also brought intense criticism. In 2020 she faced backlash over a family dinner video, losing a large number of followers within a day. Dazed later wrote about how she faced the internet’s harshest critics. She has also spoken openly about mental health, which many fans found relatable.
Tips for aspiring dance creators
- Train the fundamentals: real dance skills make simple trends look impressive.
- Start with trends, then add your style: join popular dances but make them your own.
- Film well: good lighting and a steady phone make movement easier to follow.
- Collaborate: duets and joint videos introduce you to new audiences.
- Protect your wellbeing: take breaks and set limits on reading comments.
Charli D’Amelio Official Social Media Links
Fake fan pages are common for top creators. Use the official accounts below, and see our guide on how to check if an influencer account is real.
| Platform | Official account |
|---|---|
| TikTok | tiktok.com/@charlidamelio |
| instagram.com/charlidamelio | |
| YouTube | youtube.com/@charlidamelio |
Charli D’Amelio Net Worth: What Is Known
She has not disclosed her net worth, and there is no official figure. Forbes has covered her earnings in its creator rankings, and she ranked among Forbes’ top creators in 2025, but rankings and estimates are not the same as a confirmed net worth. Her income comes from brand deals, TV, products and other ventures.
TikTok creators often rely on sponsorships more than direct platform payouts. Learn more in our guide on how influencers make money and our comparison of TikTok vs YouTube Shorts vs Reels.
Brand deals with major fashion names, such as a 2025 Kate Spade New York campaign, show that her commercial appeal has lasted well beyond her first viral years.
Her influence on creators worldwide
Her rise was part of a global TikTok boom that also created new stars in South Asia. Pakistani TikTok star Jannat Mirza and creator-turned-actress Romaisa Khan rose during the same TikTok boom. Their stories show how the app created new stars in very different markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Charli D’Amelio?
She was born on 1 May 2004, making her 22 as of October 2026.
Was Charli D’Amelio the first to 100 million TikTok followers?
Yes. BBC News reported in November 2020 that she was the first TikTok user to reach 100 million followers.
Did Charli D’Amelio win Dancing with the Stars?
Yes. She won Season 31 in 2022 with partner Mark Ballas.
What is Charli D’Amelio’s TikTok username?
Her TikTok handle is @charlidamelio.
Who is Charli D’Amelio’s sister?
Her sister is Dixie D’Amelio, a fellow creator and singer.
Is Charli D’Amelio still on TikTok?
Yes. She remains active on TikTok and other platforms, with around 159 million TikTok followers in 2026.
Conclusion
Charli D’Amelio’s story is the story of TikTok’s rise. From a Connecticut dancer posting duets to a TV champion, Broadway performer and businesswoman, she showed how short-video fame can grow into a broad entertainment career. Explore more top creators in our Biography section.
Sources
- BBC News: TikTok star Charli D’Amelio first to hit 100m followers (November 2020)
- The Washington Post: Charli D’Amelio is TikTok’s biggest star (May 2020)
- The Atlantic: 98 Million TikTok Followers Can’t Be Wrong (December 2020)
- The New Yorker: How Charli D’Amelio became the face of TikTok
- Dazed: Charli D’Amelio faced the internet’s harshest critics and won
