Before diving into an article about the rise and fall of The Midwest Princess (Chappell Roan), it is essential to consider a fresh perspective from an ancient Greek fable writer, Aesop: If you try to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one. Even an exceptionally talented artist who seems to employ a brilliant marketing strategy with dazzling makeup and costumes, like Chappell Roan, can still experience burnout.
Drag Aesthetics for Visual Branding
The term "Drag" is often immediately associated with gender defiance, where a man presents femininely (Drag Queen) or a woman presents masculinely (Drag King). Did Chappell Roan suddenly transform her appearance with a beard or a broad chest like a man? No, Chappell continues to embrace hyper-femininity, even while being romantically involved with women. Drag aesthetics themselves represent fluidity, celebrating diversity rather than creating new identity boxes. Chappell Roan masterfully explains this in one of her songs, Pink Pony Club, with lyrics that say, ‘... I heard that there’s a special place, where boys and girls can all be queens every single day ….’ (Sim, 2024).
Niche for Target Market & Association
Social media marketing has an analytical system that easily reaches Chappell Roan’s primary niche target market: the LGBTQ+ community. From the album covers and song lyrics alone, her music quickly resonates with young people trapped in the binary stereotypes of sex, gender, and sexuality. However, Chappell Roan also adopts a traditional marketing approach that many other musicians use—serving as an opening act for other artists’ tours (Magpoc & Macaro, 2024). Similar to how Sabrina Carpenter opened for Taylor Swift’s tour, Chappell Roan joined the Guts World Tour, performing HOT TO GO! as a duet with Olivia Rodrigo (Wilkes, 2024). This approach serves as an inspiration for both artists and entrepreneurs alike.
Transparency in Duality on Social Media
The concept of dual identity has also been showcased by Charli XCX in her latest album (brat), and similarly, by Chappell Roan. This is strongly supported by her visual branding—appearing on phone screens with bold makeup and extravagant costumes while also showing her bare face in casual moments. This fosters a stronger connection with fans, particularly Gen Z, who are increasingly open about mental health. However, it also unsettles some who believe that being famous should mean constantly performing fan service. It seems excessive to cancel Chappell simply because she prioritizes her mental health while performing. After all, being a musician is still a job—like any other industry—that can be physically and emotionally exhausting (Davis, 2024).
When Chappell canceled her performance in Raleigh, North Carolina, she admitted to being overwhelmed and unprepared for the massive reaction from both long-time and new fans. This was followed by further cancellations in Paris and Amsterdam. She expressed her regret on X and promised further explanations later (Chappell Roan's X Account, 2024). It is entirely reasonable for celebrities and artists to set boundaries with their fans—fame does not strip an individual of their right to enjoy life. Parasitic relationships with celebrities can be dangerous, as they can trigger feelings of unfairness among fans who are unable to meet or interact with their idols (GINSBERG, 2024).
Consideration for the Community
Before fame began consuming her privacy, Chappell Roan always prioritized the people attending her performances—even when only 150 people watched Pink Pony Clubunable to get refunds (Dunn et al., 2024). in 2021 (@withlovejohana, TikTok, 2024). However, this is something Chappell must now discuss with her marketing team, particularly with input from psychologists. If last-minute cancellations (within a week) continue, she risks being perceived as unprofessional. Many fans have already booked flights and are
Regardless of the professional aspect of her work, the emotional branding Chappell Roan has cultivated with her fans is a testament to her successful marketing strategy. While many have criticized her passive-aggressive responses to fans' anger over concert cancellations, others sympathize with her mental health struggles. Chappell Roan’s visual branding and niche are already well-established, bringing us back to the quote at the beginning of this article: If you try to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one. – Aesop.