Zara Larsson’s success story: From the casting show at the age of 10 to the European hit “Lush Life” to the current TikTok comeback. 5 exciting facts about the Swede.
Zara Larsson is currently experiencing a remarkable hype that cleverly combines old and new. With her song “Lush Life” she landed her first big hit in 2015 and conquered Europe in particular. The 28-year-old has now expanded her success to the USA, with her role as a support act on Tate McRae’s “Miss Possessive Tour” last year being a crucial factor. Shortly afterwards, the singer started her fifth concert tour, which bears the title of her studio album MIDNIGHT SUN, which was released in autumn 2025 and will take her from Europe via Scandinavia to the USA until mid-April 2026.
During her own world tour, a TikTok trend emerged, which gave renewed momentum to her European breakthrough hit “Lush Life” a good ten years later. The trend arose from a recurring tour performance. Night after night, the singer brought a fan onto the stage – together they performed a short choreography to the chorus of the song. Video clips of this went viral on common social media platforms, so that artists also became part of the hype. At Larsson’s iHeartRadio Jingle Ball concert, for example, Alex Warren became the chosen fan.
Watch the performance with Alex Warren here:
Larsson’s current record ushered in a new era for the artist, both musically and aesthetically. Her songwriting is more personal, but her music is still uncompromisingly pop. Her new look is best described as a mix of hippie flower girl aesthetics with mermaid glamor – colorful, glittery and mystical.
All the important facts about Zara Larsson have been compiled here – for everyone who wants to get to know her better.
1. She is Swedish – with MIDNIGHT SUN she celebrates her homeland
Born in Stockholm, Zara Larsson is deeply rooted in Swedish pop culture, which has been known for its international influence for decades. With her fifth LP she consciously builds a bridge to her origins: the title track of the record “Midnight Sun” is a homage to the natural phenomenon of the midnight sun, which lights up the summer nights, especially in the north of Sweden. This image – never completely dark, always shimmering – runs through the album as a metaphor and stands for clarity, self-discovery and emotional openness. Larsson uses her origins not just as a biographical side note, but as an aesthetic and content-related source of inspiration that gives her pop a personal depth.
Watch the live performance during the Midnight Sun here:
2. Her identical twin sister Hanna is a huge supporter
Zara Larsson’s twin sister Hanna is also a singer and dancer and plays an important role away from the big stages. Behind the scenes, she acts as a creative confidant, emotional support and critical voice who accompanies Zara Larsson in decision-making processes. Whether in choreographies, visual concepts or in the preparation of tours – Hanna Larsson is closely involved and helps to sharpen her sister’s artistic visions.
Watch a musical moment between the two here:
3. Winning a casting show at 10 and signing with a record label as a teenager
At the age of ten, Zara Larsson won the Swedish version of the casting show “Got Talent” and became known nationwide. But unlike many child stars, she didn’t disappear from the scene again. As a teenager, she signed a record deal with Epic Records, a major label that paved her way into the international market. The first English-language releases followed, strategically transforming her from a national talent into a global pop artist.
Watch the casting of ten-year-old Zara Larsson here:
4. Larsson uses social media as an extension of her music & to convey values
Zara Larsson uses her social media channels not only to market herself, but also as a platform for a clear stance. She openly advocates for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, is committed to women’s rights and regularly speaks out on democratic values and social grievances. Her tone is often provocative, but deliberately chosen: humorous, pointed. This mixture of pop star and politically minded personality makes her relatable to many young fans. At the same time, she is already indicating that her art and her online presence increasingly thrive on the tension between flashy aesthetics and serious content.
5. Viral dolphin trend on TikTok now part of her artist identity
A central factor in their renewed success is the so-called “dolphin trend” on TikTok. In 2024, her 2017 song “Symphony” – a collaboration with Clean Bandit – experienced a surprising revival. Users combined the optimistic song with videos of glittering, often AI-generated dolphins in brightly colored, artificial sea worlds and juxtaposed this happy image with dark, vulnerable or depressive thoughts. The ironic contrast went viral, so the singer also became aware of it and took part:
Zara Larsson also took up the trend in her art. She incorporated dolphin visuals into her concerts and transferred the bright aesthetic to her album. This is how a meme became an artistic statement – and an old song became a symbol of Larsson’s new era.