King Princess

King Princess – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Discover the life and artistry of King Princess (Mikaela Straus): from her Brooklyn roots and musical upbringing to her breakout hit “1950,” evolving queer voice, and most powerful quotes.

Introduction

King Princess (born Mikaela Mullaney Straus on December 19, 1998) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actor whose music blends queer perspectives, emotional vulnerability, and bold pop sensibilities. Cheap Queen and Hold On Baby, she has become a resonant voice for a generation exploring identity, love, and authenticity.

In this article, we’ll trace her upbringing, creative evolution, influence, famous lines, and lessons we can draw from her journey.

Early Life and Family

Mikaela Straus was born in Brooklyn, New York. Oliver H. Straus Jr., a recording engineer, and Agnes “Aggie” Mullaney.

On her father’s side, she is descended from Isidor Straus and Ida Straus (who perished in the sinking of the RMS Titanic) — though she has emphasized she did not inherit any fortune.

Straus spent much of her childhood accompanying her father to his studio, Mission Sound, where she absorbed musical tools early: playing bass, guitar, piano, drums, and learning production techniques and studio work.

She attended Avenues: The World School, a private school in Manhattan, supported by a scholarship after submitting a CD of her original songs.

Youth and Education

Straus’s early forays into songwriting and studio work gave her both technical fluency and artistic confidence. Her refusal of a record deal at age 11 reflects her early desire for creative autonomy.

While her time in formal music education was brief, her real schooling came from studio work, experimenting, and writing. Her upbringing in a music environment allowed her to develop both the instrumental fluency and the production mindset that she carries into her work today.

Career and Achievements

Breakthrough & Debut

In February 2018, King Princess released her debut single, “1950”, under Zelig Records (an imprint of Columbia). The Price of Salt (1952), resonated widely, particularly within the queer community.

Later in 2018, she released another single, “Talia,” which was also well received and certified gold in Australia. Make My Bed.

Albums and Growth

Her debut studio album Cheap Queen arrived in 2019 to strong critical acclaim.

In 2022, she released Hold On Baby, produced in collaboration with figures like Mark Ronson, Ethan Gruska, and Aaron and Bryce Dessner. This album continued her exploration of genre boundaries and emotional expression.

Recently (2025), she released Girl Violence, a bold record reflecting more personal perspectives, emotional complexity, and a loosening of commercial constraints.

Other Ventures & Recognition

• Acting: She made her acting debut in the series Nine Perfect Strangers.

• Awards: In 2020, she was named among Queerty’s Pride50, honoring LGBTQ individuals leading change.

• Chart presence: Her music consistently charted in multiple markets; “1950” became a signature track in her catalog.

• Independence & identity: Straus has lately moved toward asserting more independence — both artistically and personally — in how she presents her identity and music.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Viral breakout at a young age: Releasing a hit single as a teenager that captured broad attention is a landmark in the streaming era.

• Queer representation in mainstream pop: Her openness about sexuality and gender, and incorporation of queer narratives into pop, positions her as an icon in contemporary queer music.

• Creative control & production: Unlike many pop acts, she has consistently engaged deeply in producing her own music, blurring boundaries between artist and producer.

• Evolution across albums: Her discography marks a trajectory
—from emerging voice (Make My Bed, Cheap Queen) to confident self-definition (Hold On Baby, Girl Violence) in both sonic palette and lyrical content.

Legacy and Influence

Though still early in her career, King Princess’s influence is becoming notable:

• Voice for queer youth: Her visibility, vulnerability, and representation provide affirmation and artistic paths for LGBTQ+ listeners.

• Inspiring self-authorship: By maintaining control over her music and identity, she inspires artists to claim their own narrative.

• Genre hybridization: She bridges pop, indie, rock, and experimental sounds, challenging genre constraints.

• Cultural voice: Her commentary on relationships, identity, and emotional chaos positions her as a cultural interpreter for a generation grappling with those themes.

Personality and Talents

From interviews and her creative output, several qualities stand out:

• Honesty and vulnerability: She writes chronologically about her life and emotions.

• Fluid identity: She describes existing “in a gray area” with gender and sexuality, refusing rigid categorization.

• Creative fearlessness: She has spoken about resisting being forced into a mold or censorship of her emotional truth.

• Artistic integration: She not only writes but produces and plays instruments, making her vision more unified.

• Resilience in identity pressure: In interviews, she reflects candidly about the pressures of early success, identity expectations, and seeking her own path.

Famous Quotes of King Princess

Here are notable quotes that reveal her perspective in her own words:

“I write chronologically in my life, so whatever’s going on, I write about it. Usually, that’s when I feel the most cohesive body of work is formed.”

“It’s important to me that my art exist in a kind of neutral space, genderless to some degree. And give the listener some imagery to hold on to.”

“We released ‘1950,’ and I felt so grateful for the response from the queer community … validating the art I had made. It makes me feel super hopeful.”

“I’m a great example of somebody who is gay but exists on a very complicated gender spectrum. I’m okay with that uncertainty, and I’m okay with existing in a gray area and not always being sure.”

“It’s time for gay people to be in the industry and talking about their stories.”

“I think that was my biggest fear — censoring myself and putting myself into a cookie cutter to be representative. But I think what I realised is we don’t need that.”

These lines reflect her commitment to truth, identity, and creating space for complexity rather than simplicity.

Lessons from King Princess

From her life, artistry, and voice, we can glean several lessons:

1. Own your narrative — Be proactive about how you express identity, rather than letting others define it for you.

2. Embrace uncertainty — Identity, especially around gender and sexuality, can be fluid and evolving; that ambiguity can be strength.

3. Create with integrity — Resist premature compromises; Straus held off signing until she could define her own sound.

4. Vulnerability breeds connection — Her candidness resonates with listeners who feel similarly complex or unseen.

5. Growth over instant perfection — She frames her journey as ongoing: her quotes often point to the record being “not done” or evolving.

Conclusion

King Princess stands as a bold, evolving voice in modern music — combining emotional honesty, queer visibility, and creative autonomy. From her Brooklyn beginnings and studio education to her breakout moments and deeper explorations of identity and love, she charts a path toward authenticity and artistic freedom.

If you’d like a full discography, deep dive into a specific album (e.g. Girl Violence), or more quotes in context, I’d be happy to provide.