Miss King of Pop
Written by: Shannon Daehnke
Photos by: Allison Barr
Mikaela Straus was practically raised in her father’s recording studio. Brooklyn’s own Mission Sound became her home as she experienced the ins and outs of the music industry at a very young age. She mastered everything from the bass to piano to drums, and learned how to produce her own music by the age of 11. Straus’ confidence in both her musical prowess and self-identity allowed her to deem herself the worthy title of King Princess.
King Princess is revolutionizing pop music. In 2018, the 21-year-old artist released her debut single “1950”- a dreamy melody about unrequited love and queer relationships, inspired by Patricia Highsmith’s The Price of Salt. The single surpassed a million streams in one week, with little promo from her label.
Since then, King Princess has released her full EP “Make My Bed,” produced her debut album “Cheap Queen,” performed at Glastonbury Music Festival, and is scheduled to perform next year at Lollapalooza, Coachella, and open for Harry Styles’ UK tour.
Straus describes her style as “riding the line on the periphery of femininity” just as the name King Princess implies.
“It’s a dichotomy,” she told NPR. “It’s two things that are meant to be different, smashed into the same person.”
King Princess’ fashion sense, while established, never conforms to any one style in particular. But, she has self-described her image as typically genderqueer. A King Princess fit might call for anything from a tight sporty tank top paired with baggy trousers, an open monochrome power suit, a funky jumpsuit, or a casual t-shirt and jeans paired with intense drag-like makeup. Anything goes.
King Princess is currently on tour for the release of her newest album “Cheap Queen.” On January 19th, she performed at the Roseland Theater in Portland- sporting one of her coolest fashion choices to date.
King Princess is pictured above wearing a tight white muscle tank, paired with loose dark trousers, with a long, pleated, kilt-type skirt over top of the pants. The skirt is fastened with a thick black leather belt accented with silver chains. Her hair is loose and makeup is light with a blue pop of color on the eyelids and a bright lip. A perfect combination of feminine and edgy- just like her.
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