Madonna’s Material Girl juniors label — currently a Macy’s exclusive — is adding a new name to its roster.
Pia Mia Perez, the 19-year-old pop singer slash Snapchat-official Kylie Jenner bestie, has been named the first-ever fashion director of the punk-inspired teen line Madonna launched in 2010 with Iconix Brand Group. Past ambassadors for Material Girl, priced between $20 and $70, have included fellow pop stars Zendaya and Rita Ora; however, Perez’s appointment to the position of “fashion director” makes her more than just another campaign star.
According to WWD, among the singer’s many duties in the newly created position will be a starring role in a mini docuseries created in partnership with StyleHaul, which will debut in May at Newfronts.
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Perez will also, of course, star in the label’s ads (for which she will select the photographer) and have a hand in design, beginning with the spring 2017 collection. “The fact that Madonna chose me to do this literally makes me die,” she told the trade.
The singer — who discovered at age 11 after her sisters posted YouTube videos of her warbling at home in Guam — has already collaborated with Chris Brown and Tyga, among others, and has a debut album in the works. Additionally, she has amassed 4 million Instagram followers, thanks to her unique style (which has often been compared to that of Gwen Stefani and Madonna herself) and her famous friendships. She says of her social following: “I never had that many friends growing up, so my fans are my friends. They always make me feel better.”
Perez is one of a growing number of young celebs assuming titles which generally require a much more robust résumé — or, you know, some kind of formal training — to be considered qualified. While some, including both Pia Mia and actress Sarah Hyland, who was recently named as the creative director of Candies, are talented in their respective careers, others boast only a strong social media following and a recognizable surname. Brooklyn Beckham, 17, for example, was hired to photograph Burberry’s Brit fragrance, inciting backlash from aspiring photographers who claimed the British brand was demonstrating nepotism.
