Quen Blackwell Is No Longer Just The Girl Who Makes You Laugh
The viral internet chameleon gives us the inside scoop on her rise through online culture, her fashion brand and her breakout role on HBO.
Quen Blackwell has been making us laugh since 2015, effortlessly jumping from platform to platform like a true internet chameleon. Maybe you first saw her on Vine — falling off chairs, playing guitar with her braids or just being unapologetically funny. Maybe it was her scream-crying meme that cemented her in Twitter history. Perhaps you spotted her in an Instagram dump with Odessa A’zion and Rachel Sennott, or most recently, dancing on stage at Charli XCX‘s Grammy performance. No matter where you found her, one thing is clear — Blackwell has mastered every corner of the internet, from Vine to TikTok (what she calls “Instagram Reels’ older sister,”) proving time and time again that she was born to entertain.
Despite her seamless transitions between platforms, none of it was ever calculated. “Until this year, my career had zero strategy — literally all improv, no rhyme, no rhythm.” What started as a way to entertain her friends eventually spiraled into something much bigger.
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Growing up in a predominantly white Texas suburb after her family moved from Cincinnati, Blackwell found solace in humor. Feeling out of place, she turned to making videos and cracking jokes, no matter how tough the situation. “I remember driving to the prison to see my dad and my mom just being hilarious. Those were the funniest yet hardest drives of my entire life. I think that was the root of my comedy,” she recalls. “Laughing through hard times makes the hard times not bad times.” Blackwell still makes us laugh, but these days, she’s also gracing magazine covers, starring in major brand campaigns and frequenting in It-girl circles at Fashion Week. She’s no longer just the funny girl; she’s redefining fame on her own terms. After all, society could never influence the influencer.
Below, we catch up with Blackwell as she spills the tea on her rise to fame, the inside scoop on her fashion brand, Riquera and her breakout HBO role.
On Dancing With Charli XCX at The Grammys
I was sick all week before rehearsals, so that performance was completely unprepared. Though I’ve been on stage before, and attended events like Coachella where people recognize me, this was something different and new. Being an internet creator is a totally different vibe, you don’t interact with your audience the same way traditional performers do. So, stepping in front of 500 people felt surreal. I have this “entertainer mode” that kicks in, where I push aside any anxiety and just focus on enjoying the moment. Once I let go of the anxiety, it felt like dancing with Charli XCX at an LA party. It would be a whole different story if I had to grab a mic and sing.
On Being On Stage
I’ve made music before, but I’m not hitting those big vocal notes. I’m not a singer or a dancer in the traditional sense, so I could never see myself doing that. I could totally see myself doing a tour, though, but not the traditional kind. Maybe a live cooking show and throw in some nice brand drops, why not? I would also love to do installations in different places, team up with some of the coolest artists I know and create an interactive experience for my audience.
On Her Fashion Brand, Riquera
I’ve already had one collection, and it was well received. For the first drop, I was working with a merchandise manufacturer, so I hit pause and have been reworking the foundation of my clothing line to give it more intention. I never want to be the person who uses my audience or my likeness to sell a mediocre product. If I’m going to create something, I want it to be the best it can be. So, the brand is still in the works. My vision for Riquera is to create everyday pieces that showcase personality and establish it as the ultimate It-girl brand.
On The Inspiration Behind Her Brand
I see my role as an entertainer as making anything compelling, no matter the medium. I’ve always been into cool cuts and patterns, often looking to history for inspiration and adding my own twist. From doing International Baccalaureate art at school, I learned to apply everything I know about anything to my own experiences, especially clothes. I also have a shopping addiction, too — who doesn’t? My inspiration comes from all over the internet, especially Instagram’s Explore page. The app’s algorithm just gets me. Suddenly, I’m obsessed with an ad for jeans or a top I didn’t even know I needed. It all connects: pop culture, entertainment, everything.
On Finding Meaning Beyond the Algorithm
You can find real inspiration on apps, but you’ve got to dig for it. Things can get repetitive when you let the algorithm feed you what it thinks you want. Instead of passively scrolling, dig deeper. If you like a post, check who liked it, explore their page and see who they follow. Don’t settle for what’s in front of you — otherwise, you end up with fast fashion and micro-trends. If you’re only listening to what everyone else wants right now, you miss the chance to dream about what the future actually needs.
On Rachel Senott’s New HBO Comedy Pilot
I’m so excited to be cast in this. I’ve been working alongside True Whitaker, Odessa A’zion, Miles Robbins and Jordan Firstman — [and] it feels surreal. I’ve always had this fear of being half-assed with anything I do, so I spent three years in acting school before I even started auditioning. Comedy in movies doesn’t always click for me, but [Sennott] has an incredible way of making current culture’s humor work perfectly on screen.
On Her Acting Aspirations and the Power of Cinema
Looking ahead, I’d love to work with Luca Guadagnino, Emerald Fennell and Sean Baker. I love thought-provoking films and stories where the protagonist is up against a system they can’t escape. You see their personality shine through, and you can’t help but root for them to overcome it. It’s also a recurring theme in my life, especially with my family’s experiences with incarceration and poverty — fighting the system and winning. Films like that reference so many different parts of society and it makes them incredibly interesting to watch.
