Armed with an album, a vision, and a one-woman show, the newly minted pop princess Eli stands at the precipice of superstardom. Last week, the 25-year-old musician closed her sold-out Los Angeles residency: a 21st-century vaudeville complete with sketch comedy, celebrity guests, and a live performance of her debut album, Stage Girl.

Eli’s rise feels predestined: via the All-Consuming Algorithm, an act of God, or sheer will. She broke out in late 2024, livestreaming on TikTok as @journalofadoll and performing her witty, Y2K-esque pop tracks from her bedroom. Her supporters are numerous and recognizable (see: SZA, Doechii, Troye Sivan, Addison Rae, and more), yet Eli arrived at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater on her own terms, singular in her vision for the musical and theatrical world of Stage Girl.

Stage Girl draws from the early-aughts reality singing competitions Eli grew up watching, where she cast weekly votes for her favorite contestants. That democratic approach to stardom translates seamlessly to the social media era, propelling Eli into public view — and she’s paying it forward by holding open auditions for her headline tour opener. When she’s joined onstage by Demi Lovato, ADÉLA, Zara Larsson, Madison Beer, or Jae Stephens, we’re reminded that every pop icon once stared alone at a bedroom ceiling, dreaming of the stage.

Eli’sNorth American tour kicks off this March in Washington, DC. See below for her photo diary from the One-Woman Show.