Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, known professionally as Doja Cat, born October 21, 1995, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer.
She built her career from SoundCloud uploads to five studio albums, a Grammy win, and a global fanbase.
Who is Doja Cat?
Doja Cat is an American rapper and singer who rose from internet virality to mainstream superstardom. She blends hip-hop, pop, and R&B into a sound that has produced multiple chart-topping hits and Grammy nominations.
She first caught widespread attention in 2018 with her comedic viral single “Mooo!” and quickly followed that momentum with a string of critically praised albums. Her ability to shift between rap, pop, and experimental sounds helped her reach audiences well beyond traditional hip-hop fans.
Her stage name combines “doja,” a slang term for weed, with her love of cats. The name reflected her playful internet personality before she became one of the most-streamed artists in the world.
Doja Cat won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 64th Grammy Awards in 2022 for her collaboration “Kiss Me More” with SZA.
Early Life of Doja Cat
Doja Cat was born in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Shortly after her birth, her mother relocated the family to New York City, where she spent her first five years.
Her father, Dumisani Dlamini, is a South African actor and composer of Zulu descent, best known for starring in the original Broadway production of Sarafina! Her mother, Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer, is a Jewish-American graphic designer and painter.
Her parents had a brief relationship and later separated. Doja grew up primarily under her mother’s care.
From ages 8 through 12, she lived in Sai Anantam Ashram, a Hindu commune in Santa Monica led by musician Alice Coltrane. There, she received training in Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance form. She later described the experience as creatively formative but socially restrictive.
The family eventually relocated back to Tarzana. Her brother’s interest in rapping directly inspired her own early writing and rapping. She also taught herself piano during her childhood years.
Doja Cat Age
Doja Cat is 30 years old as of June 9, 2026, born on October 21, 1995. Her zodiac sign is Libra. By 30, she had released five studio albums and was in the middle of her Tour Ma Vie World Tour.
Doja Cat Ethnicity and Nationality
Doja Cat holds American nationality, born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She is of mixed South African and Jewish-American heritage, with her father being of Zulu descent and her mother of Jewish background.
That multicultural upbringing shaped both her artistic sensibility and her global audience appeal.
Doja Cat Height and Weight
Doja Cat stands at 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m) tall. Her weight is approximately 125 lbs (57 kg). Her athletic background in dance, including Bharatanatyam and breakdancing, contributes to her fluid, physical performance style on stage.
Her constantly changing looks, from shaved head to elaborate wigs and crystal-covered outfits, have made her one of the most visually inventive performers in pop music. At Paris Fashion Week 2023, she appeared covered in red paint and 30,000 red crystals, making international headlines.
The performance outfits she designs in collaboration with major fashion houses showcase her visual ambition as much as her musical output.
Doja Cat Musical Style and Influences
Doja Cat’s sound blends hip-hop, pop, electronic R&B, and internet-influenced humor into something that consistently defies genre labels. Her willingness to shift styles, from bubbly pop on Hot Pink to hard rap on Scarlet to 1980s-inspired pop on Vie, makes each album a distinct artistic statement.
Her key musical influences include Erykah Badu, Pharrell Williams, Jamiroquai, PartyNextDoor, and Drake. She also cites Indian and Japanese culture as creative inspirations.
Her 2023 album Scarlet leaned heavily into rap. By contrast, Vie (2025) moved toward high-gloss pop and R&B, drawing comparisons to the sounds of the 1980s.
Doja Cat Education
Doja Cat attended a performing arts high school in Los Angeles, where an aunt helped secure her a spot. She studied dance alongside her academic coursework.
She dropped out of high school in her junior year, around age 16, to focus on music full time. After leaving school, she taught herself singing, rapping, and music production using GarageBand at home.
Her early self-taught recordings on SoundCloud eventually attracted the attention of producers and led directly to her record deal with Kemosabe Records and RCA Records.
Doja Cat Career
Early Career
Doja Cat released her first song, “So High,” on SoundCloud in late 2012. The track attracted the attention of producer Jerry “Tizhimself” Powell, who connected her with producer Yeti Beats. That introduction led to studio sessions and her first formal recordings.
At 17, she signed a recording contract with Kemosabe Records and RCA Records. Her debut EP, Purrr!, followed in August 2014 and introduced her playful, internet-savvy approach to music.
In the years after Purrr!, she released a string of singles and collaborated with artists including Elliphant and Skoolie Escobar. Her debut studio album, Amala, arrived on March 30, 2018. However, the album made a limited commercial impact.
Breakthrough Album / Hit Song
Later in 2018, she released “Mooo!” on her YouTube channel. The comedic track went viral overnight, drawing attention from artists including Chris Brown and Chance the Rapper. That single repositioned her from a niche SoundCloud artist to a mainstream name.
She released her second studio album, Hot Pink, in November 2019. The album peaked at number 9 on the Billboard 200.
The single “Say So” from Hot Pink reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — her first chart-topper. The remix featuring Nicki Minaj gave the song additional momentum and cemented her pop crossover status.
Her third studio album, Planet Her, followed on June 25, 2021, and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200. The lead single “Kiss Me More,” a collaboration with SZA, became a global hit and earned her the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 64th Grammy Awards in 2022.
Recent Work
Doja Cat released her fourth studio album, Scarlet, on September 22, 2023. The harder rap-focused project marked a deliberate departure from her earlier pop sound. The single “Paint the Town Red” earned nominations at the 2024 Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Song and Best Melodic Rap Performance.
Her fifth studio album, Vie, arrived on September 26, 2025, via Kemosabe Records. The 15-track project returned to her pop and R&B roots, with production contributions from Jack Antonoff, Blood Orange, and George Daniel. Vie debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200.
She made her debut as musical guest on Saturday Night Live during the Season 51 premiere on October 4, 2025, performing “Aaahh Men!” and “Gorgeous” from the album.
Doja Cat Discography
Doja Cat has released five studio albums. Amala (2018) was her debut, followed by Hot Pink (2019), which launched her to mainstream fame. Planet Her (2021) peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200 and spent over 150 weeks on the chart.
Scarlet (2023) took a harder rap direction and produced the hit “Paint the Town Red.” Her fifth and most recent album, Vie (September 26, 2025), features 15 tracks and represents her most pop-leaning work since Planet Her.
She also released her debut EP, Purrr!, in August 2014, along with numerous standalone singles and high-profile collaborations throughout her career.
Doja Cat Awards and Recognition
Doja Cat won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 64th Grammy Awards in 2022 for “Kiss Me More” with SZA. That win came after she had been nominated across multiple categories in previous years.
She received five Grammy nominations at the 65th Grammy Awards in 2023, including Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance, both for “Woman.” The 66th Grammy Awards in 2024 brought three more nominations, including Best Rap Song and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Paint the Town Red.”
Forbes named her one of the highest-paid figures in hip-hop in 2022, reporting she earned approximately $25 million that year from music and brand partnerships. That same year, Forbes also placed her on the 30 Under 30 list.
Doja Cat Tours and Concerts
Doja Cat has toured internationally in support of each of her studio albums. Her live performances combine elaborate stage design, elaborate costumes, and high-energy choreography.
In support of Vie, she launched the Tour Ma Vie World Tour, a 50-date global run that began with shows in Australia, New Zealand, and Asia in late 2025. The North American leg started in October 2026 in Detroit.
The tour wraps up at Madison Square Garden in New York on December 1, 2026.
She performed the lead single “Jealous Type” at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards alongside saxophonist Kenny G, one of the most-discussed performances of that awards show.
Doja Cat Partner
Doja Cat has never been married. Her relationship status as of June 2026 is not publicly confirmed.
She reportedly dated comedian Jeffrey “J” Cyrus from late 2022 into early 2024. Before that, she briefly dated singer JAWNY from mid-2019 to February 2020.
Doja and Stranger Things actor Joseph Quinn sparked dating rumors in August 2024 when the two were spotted together in London. They were seen again at a Mexican airport in February 2025, and at the premiere of his film Warfare in Los Angeles in March 2025.
As of September 2025, she told The New York Times she was “just having fun” and “allowing things to happen” in her love life.
Doja Cat Net Worth
Doja Cat’s estimated net worth is $22 million as of 2026. Her primary income sources include music sales, streaming royalties, touring, and brand partnerships with major companies including Pepsi. She also earns from merchandise and high-profile collaborations.
In February 2021, she purchased a home in Beverly Hills for $2.2 million and later sold it for $2.35 million. Her endorsement deals and festival headlining fees have grown substantially alongside her Grammy-winning status.
Forbes reported she earned approximately $25 million in 2021 alone, reflecting the commercial peak of Planet Her and its accompanying touring and partnerships.
Doja Cat Social Media
Doja Cat maintains an active presence across multiple platforms. On Instagram, she posts under the handle @dojacat, sharing music updates, fashion moments, and personal content.
She also uses X (formerly Twitter) under the handle @DojaCat, where her posts have frequently gone viral. Her official website at dojacat.com hosts music, tour information, and merchandise.
Her social media engagement has been central to her rise, as viral moments across YouTube, TikTok, and Twitter helped turn early songs like “Mooo!” and “Say So” into global hits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Doja Cat’s net worth?
Doja Cat’s estimated net worth is $22 million as of 2026. Her wealth comes from albums, streaming, touring, and brand partnerships including Pepsi.
How old is Doja Cat?
Doja Cat is 30 years old as of June 9, 2026, born on October 21, 1995.
Who is Doja Cat married to / dating?
Doja Cat has never been married. Her current relationship status is not publicly confirmed as of June 2026.
What is Doja Cat’s biggest hit song?
Her biggest hit is “Say So,” which reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2020. Her Grammy-winning collaboration “Kiss Me More” with SZA also ranks among her most successful songs.
Where was Doja Cat born?
Doja Cat was born in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
What is Doja Cat famous for?
Doja Cat is famous for her genre-blending music, her viral internet presence, and her Grammy win for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Kiss Me More” with SZA.
The Bottom Line
Doja Cat won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 64th Grammy Awards in 2022, capping a run that included a number 1 Billboard Hot 100 single and a top-two album on the Billboard 200.
She grew up between New York, a Hindu commune in Santa Monica, and Los Angeles, and taught herself music production using GarageBand before ever entering a studio. That background as a self-starter shaped every release she has made since.
Her fifth album, Vie, arrived in September 2025 and debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200, with a 50-date world tour following in support. We hope you enjoyed reading about Doja Cat. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!