Kim Petras
A German pop innovator who channeled personal history into chart-topping anthems, becoming a defining voice of modern queer pop.
Born 1992 (age 34)·German singer and songwriter·Birthday: August 27·Millennials
Biography
Kim Petras moved to Los Angeles with a clear, glitter-dusted vision for pop stardom, but her path was paved long before. Gaining early attention in her native Germany for being one of the youngest people to undergo gender-confirming surgery, she refused to be defined solely by that narrative. Instead, she honed her craft as a songwriter, penning tracks for other artists while developing her own addictive brand of synth-pop. Her 2017 breakout, 'I Don't Want It At All,' was a bratty, irresistible manifesto that announced a major new talent. She then masterfully built a dual identity: the purveyor of sunny, heartbreak pop like 'Heart to Break' and the cult-favorite 'Halloween Queen' behind the dark, playful 'Turn Off the Light' series. Her relentless work ethic, releasing mixtapes and albums directly to fans, culminated in historic Grammy wins, cementing her status as a formidable and independent hitmaker.
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.
Kim was born in 1992, 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 Kim Was Born
The biggest hits of 1992
#1 Movie
Aladdin
Best Picture
Unforgiven
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Kim's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1992Born
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1997Started school
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2005Became a teenager
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Could drive
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2010Could vote
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Turned 21
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2022Turned 30
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 34 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for 'Unholy' with Sam Smith in 2023.
- Achieved her first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single with 'Unholy' in 2022.
- Independently released a series of successful mixtapes and albums, building a dedicated fanbase without major label support initially.
- Her 2018 single 'Heart to Break' became a dance club staple, charting on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart.
Did You Know?
She is a self-proclaimed 'Halloween Queen' and releases an annual series of spooky-themed songs and EPs.
Petras began writing and producing songs as a teenager, selling her first track to a German singer at age 15.
She is an avid fan of Britney Spears and has cited her as a major influence.
She performed the theme song for the 2022 film 'Slumber Party Massacre'.
“I just want to make music that makes people feel good and that makes me feel good.”
