Sabrina Carpenter: The Rise of America’s Pop Princess
Sabrina Carpenter: The Rise of America’s Pop Princess
By Sophie Amen — September 25, 2024
Often described as a real-life Polly Pocket, Sabrina Carpenter has gained worldwide recognition after achieving mainstream success in the entertainment industry. Many admire her style, depicted through pastel mini dresses, platform heels, and a “girly” touch that makes every look she debuts on stage a favorite to every viewer.
Article cover graphic by Madison Beckemeyer.
Emerging in 2014 as a Disney Channel actor on the renowned show “Girl Meets World,” Carpenter portrayed the spunky and rebellious character Maya Hart. On top of being an actress and a style icon, how did she begin singing and songwriting?
While the origin of her career included playing minor characters in shows such as “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit,” Carpenter got her big break with the release of “Girl Meets World.” The job on Disney Channel came with a recording contract that included a five-album deal with Disney’s then-record label Hollywood Records.
Carpenter released her debut single “Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying,” which received overwhelmingly positive reviews. Under her contract, Carpenter released a total of four studio albums before signing with Universal Music Group’s Island Records. While she had successfully begun to build a name for herself, her career only skyrocketed from there. In 2022, Carpenter released her fifth studio album emails i can’t send, which appeared on multiple “Best of 2022” lists including Rolling Stone and Billboard.
In 2023, Carpenter was announced as the opening act for the Latin American leg of Taylor Swift's Eras tour. She joined the tour in Mexico City in August 2023 and continued through the shows in Argentina and Brazil. Carpenter’s inclusion in the tour added another layer of excitement for fans. In April 2024 Carpenter debuted at Coachella and released her single “Espresso,” indicating a massive shift in her public image. The song quickly took off and became known as the song of the summer by many. Fans raved about her undeniably glamorous, playful, retro, and somewhat “Old Hollywood” aesthetic. Her recent rebrand was not the only factor that shot her into stardom, but many have credited it as a crucial detail that made her stand out among a sea of modern pop artists.
To put it plainly: stardom doesn't happen overnight. Carpenter has continuously delivered one hit song after another, proving to the public just how committed she is to her career. She has had a significant impact on young audiences for over a decade. Not only has she set trends such as bouncy blowouts and voluminous fringe bangs, but she has deeply connected with her listeners through the fact that people can easily resonate with her themes of love, heartbreak, and personal growth.
Fans continue to express their delight for her addictive pop music and look forward to attending the Short n’ Sweet tour starting September 2024.
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