From Shreveport Cheerleader to Ed Gein Victim: Addison Rae’s Latest Role

Some people in Shreveport might still think of Addison Rae as an overnight sensation, or might not even recognize her name. But the odds are you're probably familiar with her work. Originally splashing on the scene as a TikTok phenom (who seemingly materialized out of nowhere), Addison Rae has pushed her way into a burgeoning media empire.

All of that got rolling while she was just a regular high school student in Shreveport.

Addison Rae: The Shreveport Years

Before the millions of followers, Platinum selling songs, movie roles, brand deals, and the Netflix movie premieres, Addison Rae Easterling was a student at Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport.

She was a proud member of the class of 2019, and was just your everyday Shreveport high schooler...far removed from the global spotlight she currently enjoys. She was a member of the Shreveport Dance Academy, which definitely helped her for TikTok dances. It wasn't just dance school though, Rae was in competitive dance during her youth. Beyond dance, Rae was also an active participant with Calvary's cheerleading squad. But she didn't get as competitive with cheerleading as she did with dance. She was so competitive, she tried out for the LSU Tiger Girls dance team...but they rejected her.

Addison Rae's Louisiana Roots to Hollywood Dreams

However, fate might have been shining through that rejection. Because TikTok had other plans. Her rapid ascent on the platform quickly propelled her into a new stratosphere of fame, leading her to make the significant decision to move to Los Angeles, and fully embrace her entertainment career. It’s a classic tale of small-town roots meeting big-city dreams.

Addison Rae joined TikTok in July 2019, and exploded in popularity almost instantly. She gained over one million followers by October of that year. Her engaging dance videos and relatable tone propelled her to social media stardom. Today, she commands a massive audience with over 88 million TikTok followers and 37 million on Instagram.

Stepping Into Stardom: From TikTok to the Big Screen

From there, Addison Rae set her sights on higher targets. She aimed for a musical career...one that has already gone Platinum. Her first album, "Addison", was released in June of 2025 and peaked at #4 on the US Billboard chart (hit #2 in Australia and the UK). That album contained the single "Diet Pepsi", which has been certified Platinum. The song made multiple 'year-end' lists for 2024, including being named the Best Track of 2024 by Dazed magazine. The Fader ranked the song #2 on the The 50 best songs of 2024 list, and Rolling Stone ranked it #4 on Rob Sheffield's Top 25 Songs of 2024.

But Addison Rae cannot be contained to just social media and music.

Her transition from social media personality to legitimate actress has been a significant step. Her acting debut came as the lead in Netflix's gender-swapped remake "He's All That" (remaking "She's All That"). The role might have been met with mixed reviews, but it proved Addison Rae's ability to carry a major film/TV role.

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Her next big film role had Rae showcasing a completely different side of her acting range. She made her horror debut in Eli Roth's slasher film "Thanksgiving". Taking that role might have been a signal that she's trying to break away from her young adult/social media stereotype. Her journey to shed that image continues with her casting in the upcoming R-rated comedy "Animal Friends" a project that blends live-action with animation, and has a huge cast. She will be in the film with Ryan Reynolds, Jason Momoa, Vince Vaughn, Aubrey Plaza, and Eric Andre.

Addison Rae Meets Ed Gein On Netflix

In October of 2025, Netflix premiered "Monster: The Ed Gein Story"...which happens to feature Addison Rae in a noteworthy role.

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This is the third installment in his popular, and controversial, "Monster" anthology series on Netflix. It follows seasons about Jeffrey Dahmer (2022) and the Menendez brothers (2024). The new season stars Charlie Hunnam as Ed Gein, the infamous Wisconsin murderer and grave robber, whose crimes inspired iconic horror films like Psycho, Silence of the Lambs, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

In the show, Addison Rae plays Evelyn Hartley, who is a rumored victim of the titular character Ed Gein.

Evelyn Hartley was a 15-year-old girl whose mysterious disappearance captivated the nation in 1953. On the evening of October 24, she vanished while babysitting in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Evidence at the scene, including signs of a struggle, bloodstains found outside, and a pry mark on a window, indicated a violent abduction.

Her disappearance triggered one of the largest search efforts in Wisconsin's history, but no trace of her was ever found.

While some suspected Ed Gein of Evelyn's murder, none of the evidence pointed towards Gein. He was arrested four years later in Plainfield, Wisconsin, and some considered him a primary suspect. But Gein denied any involvement with Evelyn's disappearance until the day he died. When investigators cleared and inventoried Gein's farm, they did not find any trace of Evelyn. Its also worth note that the teenage girl didn't fit the profile of Gein's other victims.

We're not here to spoil what happens to Addison Rae's version of Evelyn Hartley in Netflix's "Monster: The Ed Gein Story", just know that it's not something you could guess based on the true history.