Hayley Kiyoko
A fearless pop artist and actress who soundtracked a generation's queer awakening with danceable anthems of self-discovery and desire.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American singer and actress·Birthday: April 3·Millennials
Biography
Hayley Kiyoko built her stage not just in recording studios, but in the specific, often unspoken emotional landscapes of young queer women. Starting as a child actor on Disney Channel, she navigated the industry's boxes before decisively carving her own path with music. Her 2015 breakout 'Girls Like Girls' wasn't just a song; it was a visual and lyrical manifesto that resonated powerfully, earning her the fan-given title 'Lesbian Jesus.' Kiyoko's synth-pop anthems are both personal diaries and communal rallying cries, exploring attraction and identity with a directness that felt revolutionary in mainstream pop. As a director of her own vivid music videos, she maintains complete artistic control over her narrative. More than a musician, Kiyoko became a cultural figure, proving that authenticity could be the most potent form of stardom.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Hayley was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Hayley Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Hayley's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the MTV Video Music Award for Push Artist of the Year in 2018.
- Her debut studio album, 'Expectations,' reached number 12 on the US Billboard 200 chart.
- Received the Billboard Women in Music 'Rulebreaker' Award in 2019 for challenging norms in the industry.
Did You Know?
She was a member of the short-lived girl group The Stunners from 2007 to 2011.
Kiyoko is of Japanese, Scottish, and English descent.
She directed the music video for her own hit song 'Girls Like Girls.'
“I'm not a niche. My experiences are human experiences.”
