For years, Paige Niemann became internet-famous for looking almost exactly like Ariana Grande. Now, she is revealing what she claims the pop superstar told her behind closed doors.
According to the influencer, Grande privately reached out with an unexpected message, not to criticize her viral impersonations, but to encourage her to stop hiding behind someone else’s image and embrace who she really is.
Rather than focusing on the attention Niemann had been receiving online, Ariana Grande’s alleged message centered on self-confidence.
According to Niemann, the singer wrote per The Mirror, “I am flattered and I am sure you’re very sweet. But I just wanted you to know, I looked back a little ways on your page and I think someone should tell you if they haven’t today that you’re very beautiful as YOURSELF.”
Grande reportedly continued by telling the influencer she didn’t need to transform her appearance to be appreciated, adding she was beautiful “without all the make up and trying to make your face look more similar to someone else’s and whatnot.”
The message concluded with another encouraging reminder that read, “I had to say it because it is the truth. Always do what makes you happy of course but if I didn’t say that to you, I’d regret it. You’re beautiful as you are. Take care.”
Niemann Is Now Trying To Move Beyond Her Grande Persona
Paige Niemann revealed the alleged conversation on “Turning the Paige,” a reality TV series documenting her efforts to redefine herself after years of being known primarily as Ariana Grande’s lookalike.
She first went viral on TikTok at just 12 years old by recreating the actress’s signature hairstyles, makeup, outfits, and mannerisms.
As her following exploded, so did criticism from online users, with many speculating she had undergone cosmetic procedures to strengthen the resemblance.
Now 22, Niemann says she is trying to establish an identity separate from the comparisons that made her famous.
Ariana Grande Once Slammed TikTok Impersonators
Long before Paige Niemann revealed the alleged private message she received from Grande, the “God Is A Woman” singer had already made it clear she was uncomfortable with the wave of TikTok impersonators recreating her look and her “Victorious” character, Cat Valentine.
In 2020, Grande shared filmmaker Jordan Firstman’s satirical video criticizing internet memes that strip artistic work of its original meaning, saying it perfectly captured how she felt.
Referring to creators who copied her signature ponytail, oversized sweatshirts, winged eyeliner, and Cat Valentine voice, Grande wrote on Instagram Stories, “Omg can this please also double as your impression of the pony tail tik tok girls who think doing the Cat Valentine voice and that wearing winged eyeliner and a sweatshirt is doing a good impersonation of me … cause this really how it feels.”
Doctor Urges Caution As Grande’s Appearance Fuels Harmful Online Speculation
The intense scrutiny surrounding Ariana Grande’s image extends well beyond the rise of her impersonators, with fans now debating the singer’s own appearance in ways experts say can be damaging.
Recent social media discussions have accused Grande of engaging in “body checking” after photos and videos of the Grammy winner circulated online, prompting concern among some fans about her noticeably slimmer physique.
Speaking to Bored Panda, Dr. Monica Li explained that body checking is “when an individual repeatedly and intentionally measures, scrutinizes, or monitors their body size, shape, or weight,” adding that it is “often linked to eating disorders or body dysmorphia.”
However, he stressed that it is impossible to determine someone’s intentions from photos or videos alone.
Dr. Gizem Seymenoglu also cautioned against making assumptions about Grande, noting that public speculation can be damaging and emphasizing that “appearance should be only one part of someone’s identity, rather than the thing they’re valued for most.”
Ariana Grande Says The Version Of Herself Fans Called Healthy Was Actually Her ‘Unhealthiest’
As speculation about Grande’s appearance continues to resurface, the singer has previously urged fans not to judge a person’s health based solely on how they look.
In a candid TikTok video shared in 2023, she revealed that the version of her body many people compared her current appearance to was actually when she was struggling the most.
“Personally for me, the body that you’ve been comparing my current body to was the unhealthiest version of my body,” she said.
Grande explained that she was “on a lot of antidepressants and drinking on them and eating poorly and at the lowest point of my life” during that period, despite many believing she looked healthier then.
She also reminded fans that “there are many different kinds of beautiful” and urged people to be “gentler and less comfortable commenting on people’s bodies,” emphasizing that they never truly know what someone else may be going through.
