A fleeting photograph from the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards quickly went viral when Canadian singer Tate McRae was pictured next to pop star Ariana Grande. Grande, reported to be around 5ft 2in, appeared noticeably smaller alongside McRae, who stands closer to 5ft 8in. The contrast sparked a wave of memes and online jokes, but it also left many asking who McRae is and how she has risen to global recognition.
At just 22, McRae has built a career as both a professional dancer and a chart-topping pop star. From her early training in Calgary to achieving number-one records, she has become one of the most prominent new voices of her generation.
