Who is Pia Mia: Bona Fide Talent or Kardashian Hanger-On?
Empty Lighthouse is a reader-supported site. This article may contain affiliate links to Amazon and other sites. We earn a commission on purchases made through these links.
Like many people, the first we'd ever heard of Pia Mia was when she was featured on the Kardashians as one of Kylie Jenner's close friends.
Since, then, however, she's been photographed accompanying Kylie Jenner around town dressed in the most fashion forward skintight attire.
More recently, she's been basking in her success as a recording singer/song-writer and being named fashion director and the face of Madonna's Material Girl fashion line.
But with 4.4 million Instagram followers, just who is Pia Mia and how did she really make her ascent?
According to an interview Pia Mia gave to PaperMag, she grew up in Guam but moved to LA with her mother to get her start on her career. She was discovered at a cafe a few weeks after the move.
She got signed to a recording label, Babyface, but didn't actually release any music. However, she also told Elle that her career truly took off when she posted videos to YouTube and viewers began to tune in.
In 2013, Pia Mia was introduced Chris Brown's manager and record executive and began working on material with Nic Nac, with whom she later established an on-again, off-again relationship. With that, hit songs began to follow suite.
Still, we would argue that Pia Mia's friendship with Kylie Jenner was a key factor in becoming a household name.
In fact, Pia Mia was reportedly featured in several "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" episodes before signing with a major record label.
Still, no matter how she got her start, one thing's for sure, Pia Mia has arrived and is here to stay.