Get to Know 'Outer Banks' Star Madison Bailey
Meet the 25-year-old North Carolina-born actress.
Outer Banks is one of the hottest shows on Netflix. The series debuted in 2020 and has been going strong ever since. Outer Banks features a host of young actors , including up-and-coming star Madison Bailey as Kiara "Kie" Carrera. With a career that is rapidly gaining steam, many fans are eager to learn more about Bailey, including her love life and her history on Outer Banks.
She Has Connections to North Carolina
While many of the show's cast members hail from California or other surrounding states, Bailey actually has a deep connection to the setting of Outer Banks. The actor was born in Kernersville, North Carolina, in 1999. Bailey was adopted as a baby and has been open about her experience of being raised by parents of a different race. "I was adopted into a white family. As a kid, you don't realize that you're riding on a privilege that doesn't belong to you," the actor said.
Bailey started acting when she was a child, appearing in shows like Constantine and Swamp Murders. In 2020, Bailey's life would change forever when she was cast as Kiara in Outer Banks.
She Was Late to Be Cast as Kiara
Bailey met Outer Banks actor Rudy Pankow on a flight, prior to receiving her final call for the role of Kiara. She later revealed that Pankow reached out to her, telling her she was his pick for the part. "I had a DM from him," Bailey revealed. "He was like, 'I knew you were Kiara the second I saw you.' And I was like, 'Oh my God, did this guy three seats up really just DM me?' He went and found our mutuals, found my page, and messaged me."
It's not clear just how much influence Pankow had on Outer Banks showrunners, but not long after the airplane encounter, Bailey was officially cast as Kiara. Her easy charm and natural talent made her an immediate fan-favorite, and she's been a staple of the series ever since.
What's Her Love Life Like?
Many fans are invested in the private lives of their favorite stars. It's no different with Bailey, who has become a public figure over the past several years. Bailey, who is active on social media, including TikTok, where she regularly shares videos of her singing ventures, has been open about her love life. In 2020, the young star confirmed to her social media followers that she identifies as pansexual, revealing "Nobody knows what pansexual means. Girls, boys, trans boys, trans girls, nonbinary babies. It's what's on the inside, boo."
Bailey is also open with her fans about her mental health. She's talked about being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder when she was 17, admitting that she takes things day by day and that, like other young people around the world, she's figuring things out as she goes. Certainly, it is Bailey's authenticity and reliability that has made her such a hit on social media, even as her acting talent helped her breakthrough on Outer Banks.
