The up-and-comers of 2019: Who to look out for this year
Last year was a great debut year for celebrities. Music artists, actors and entrepreneurs alike made their presence known.
Netflix original series, “Queer Eye,” made a lovable star out of Jonathan Van Ness. Several Marvel movies were released including “Black Panther.” It’s star, Chadwick Boseman, gave an amazing performance that garnered praise in spades. Kylie Jenner made sure to evoke classic Kardashian drama with the secrecy (and eventual unveiling) of her baby, Stormi Webster. Kevin Kwan, author of “Crazy Rich Asians,” made a splash with his novel turned movie, offering some much needed diversity to the Hollywood scene.
So far, 2019 is proving to be just as monumental in terms of rising stars and entrepreneurial creations. Below are a few people I believe will be 2019’s most significant up-and-comers.
Timothee Chalamet, actor
Working alongside some of the most talented actors and directors in Hollywood, Timothee Chalamet, a 23-year-old American actor, is poised for a breakout year.
Although Chalamet made his debut in 2014 as Matthew McConaughey’s son in “Interstellar,” he is most notably known for his work in “Lady Bird” (2017), and as Elio, the leading role in “Call Me By Your Name” (2017). Chalamet worked most recently alongside Steve Carell in “Beautiful Boy” (2018), a true story chronicling the process of addiction, recovery and family dynamics.
Chalamet’s role in “Call Me By Your Name” and “Beautiful Boy” received significant critical acclaim, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award. With a total of 37 award wins and 65 career nominations, Chalamet will take 2019 by storm and continue to woo the hearts of movie-goers.
King Princess, musician
Florence and the Machine, Billie Eilish, Years and Years, Foster the People, Wet and Lana Del Rey are all great artists. They all fall into the indie pop genre. Add King Princess to the list of indie pop greats.
Mikaela Straus, known by her stage name King Princess, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and a genderqueer icon.
In February 2018, King Princess released her debut single “1950” followed by “Talia.” Within months, King Princess gained an enormous following, especially after Harry Styles tweeted out a line of lyrics from “1950.”
As an openly gay individual, 19-year-old King Princess has recognized the significance of putting LGBTQ+ relationships and feminist themes at the forefront of her songs. With hit singles like “Holy,” “Make My Bed” and “Sunburn,” King Princess is transforming the pop industry with her young queer perspective.
Rumor has it that Charli XCX and King Princess will be coming out with a single together. If all goes well, this song could be the hit of 2019. Give King Princess a listen and I promise you won’t regret it.
Braden and Tyler Handley, entrepreneurs
Not all that long ago, tattoos were considered to be taboo. If you had one, you were either unprofessional, uneducated or a rebel without a cause. Anytime I brought up the idea of getting a tattoo to my mom, she would respond with, “If you get a tattoo, you’ll never get a job!”
Well, surprise surprise. Tattoos are all the rage now-a-days. In fact, researchers from the University of Miami and University of Western Australia Business School found that tattoos may actually help individuals get a job.
However, for people who want tattoos but are too indecisive on what to get, or unsure of how it will look on their skin, say hello to Inkbox. Inkbox is a semi-permanent tattoo solution. Brothers Braden and Tyler Handley, co-founders of Inkbox, developed an easy and organic way to tattoo. The needle-less application allows customers to either design their own tattoo or pick one from premade selections.
The Haden duo raised $14.1 million from Maveron (a venture capital firm) and they are on track to generate over $12 million in revenue this year. The Inkbox.com site offers different tattoo packages, an instructional video and an additional step-by-step application photo series. The next time you are thinking of getting a tattoo, consider checking out Inkbox.