Accidental super star
xmtoon is an international pop star, a social media sensation with over four-and-a-half million followers and – plot twist – a massive introvert. When we chat on Zoom she’s in her Brooklyn apartment while I’m locked down in London. As you might have guessed, mxmtoon is a stage name. Her real name is Maia and her surname isn’t publicly available, an indicator of her desire for privacy. Throughout our call, she is charming, insightful and empathetic with an easy, hearty laugh. She is also remarkably self-aware, partly due to years of self-reflection through creative expression, partly due to therapy. She tells me, “I love interacting with people, but I don’t gain a whole lot of energy from it.” Her happy place is chilling in her bedroom, sipping tea and doing Google deep dives into obscure historical facts. “My favourite activity ever is being alone.” Even with her friends, she is the quiet one. “I’m the fly-on-the-wall friend, the mom friend that carries granola bars in her backpack and takes care of the people she’s hanging out with.” So, you might wonder, exactly how does a 20-year-old wallflower become a global phenomenon?
