5 things you may not know about the Euphoria star Alexa Damie

From her role as Estee in Mid90s to Alexis Lopez in Waves, not to mention the part that made her famous on the big screen, the irreverent cheerleader Maddy Perez in the Gen Z manifesto series Euphoria, in recent years Alexa Demie has dominated the stereotype of adolescent representation in cinema and television with her skimpy outfits and Latin charm. Even though the second season of Euphoria was released in November 2022 on HBO, with the usual mix of love intrigues and toxic relationships, the endless TikTok loops and YouTube tutorials of enthusiastic girls recreating her makeup and looks, complete with low-rise pants and mini tops inspired by the series star (sorry Zendaya), Maddy Perez, the prom queen in a violent relationship with athlete Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi, remain popular. Yet despite her fame, Alexa Demie is still a mystery, with a career spanning singing, directing, and little desire to showcase herself on social media. Here is a list of things you might not know about the star of Mexican origins.

Alexa Demie's Hidden Talents

In addition to acting, Demie has been a singer-songwriter since high school, releasing her first single, Girl Like Me in 2016, and worked on her first EP before returning to film the second season of Euphoria, releasing the single Leopard Limo a few months ago. As if that wasn't enough, Demie is also a designer: in her senior year of high school, she traveled to Japan to produce a collection of glasses called Mainframe, which started as a hobby after school and soon became a successful line in LA, worn by celebrities like Nicki Minaj and Jennifer Lopez on SNL.

How Old Is Alexa Demie?

@thejessegrant Alexa Demie trolled over her age! #foryou #foryoupage #alexademie #euphoria #hollywood #celebrity original sound - Jesse Grant

In most interviews during the Euphoria craze of 2019, it was reported that Demie was 24 years old. The debate about Demie's true age arose when Internet sleuths traced her yearbook: according to the high school alumni list, she graduated in 2008, which would make her 31 in a few days. Her Wikipedia page at the time listed the options 1994/1995, while today it shows the year 1990. Some fans flooded Twitter with memes of Demie that fueled a debated virtual conspiracy, degenerating into memes depicting Alexa as an immortal vampire, finding photos of her with "dated" celebrities like Sky Ferreira, Grimes, and Azealia Banks, making everything even more confusing.

Without a response from Demie, the controversy quickly died down. However, Demie's AgeGate reveals how fragile the concept of age is in Hollywood (particularly when it comes to women) and how the representation of the teenage stereotype on the big screen is generated by characters who are far from teenage (see Riverdale), sparking an endless loop of unrealistic stereotypes about the physique, conduct, and life that teenagers feel they must have based on the models they see represented. Moreover, Amanda Lear teaches us that if there is indeed something that can make you famous, it is doubt. The deep-voiced showgirl built her career on ambiguity: for many years, her fans wondered about the truth of her biological sex, whether she was born male or female, and to this day her true age is unknown.

Alexa Demie's Makeup

Raised by a single mother, Rose Mendez, a Mexican makeup artist, it is not surprising that after a childhood spent among magazines and brushes, she wanted to take an active part in designing the distinctive makeup worn in the series and created by Doniella Davy. With rhinestones and color block eyeshadows, as bold and daring as the pop icons it draws inspiration from, in Euphoria, Maddy's makeup is a revival of the '90s and 2000s, with rhinestones all over and cat eyes. In the series, makeup helps define the story and personality of each character. In Maddy's case, the pain of a broken childhood and a toxic relationship with her psychotic boyfriend is hidden behind bold eyeliner lines and flashy eyeshadows, while her vulnerability shows through rhinestones and beads, highlighting her romantic and, despite everything, hopeful nature.

The Relationship with Her Mother

In an interview with Instyle, Alexie spoke about the similarities between her mother Rosa Mendes' personal story and the character she played in Waves, Alexis. Both decided to carry on a pregnancy at a young age despite numerous difficulties and family hostility: “My mother had me at a young age and everyone told her to abort because she was so young and would have no financial support. I tried to feel what she was feeling at that moment, how resolute she was in keeping her baby despite what everyone around her was saying.” The first feature film marking Alexa's directorial debut tells the story of Mrs. Mendes, a makeup artist who immigrated to Los Angeles from Mexico and grew up in the Hollywood club scene of the '80s.

Friendship and Photo Book with Petra Collins

Alexa Demie posed for her friend Petra Collins for the photo book published by Rizzoli, Fairy Tales, over 154 glossy pages full of erotic folklore stories fueled by fever dreams. Collins, an artist, cinematographer, model, actress, music video director for Selena Gomez, Cardi B, and Olivia Rodrigo, and the face of Gucci in 2016, captures Demie as we've never seen her before in a surreal retelling of the fairy tales we know and love, transforming her into a series of mythical creatures - elves, mermaids, banshees, fallen angels, and witches - all incorporated into nine stories they wrote together.

Euphoria 3 and Other Projects

The writers' and actors' strikes have delayed many film and television projects, including the third season of Euphoria. HBO CEO Casey Bloys reassured fans and told Variety that the new season is being written and the plot will undergo a significant time jump that will take the protagonists out of high school. Early rumors suggested Demie's absence from the new episodes, but Bloys confirmed the presence of all the main characters, seemingly including Maddy's actress. To find out if the actress will be there and how her role will evolve in the series, we'll have to wait until at least 2025-2026, the presumed release date. Away from Zendaya & Co., Alexa has stayed out of the spotlight, posing for advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein and Balenciaga. Now, however, the star is set to return with a new series, Fantasmas, the new HBO series created and starring Julio Torres, which will arrive on the Max catalog in June 2024. According to the official plot, “the story follows Julio who, in his search for a lost gold oyster earring, reflects on the unusual characters he meets in introspective, often eerie and always comedic vignettes set in a dreamy, alternate version of New York City.” Alexa will have a small cameo. It is also said that in the coming months she will be working on I Love Boosters, a project by American director Boots Riley, with Keke Palmer.