From dominatrix to the internet’s new It girl, who is Julia Fox?

Every generation has their very own enigmatic It girl, and having become thoroughly ingrained in the post-pandemic zeitgeist, Julia Fox is doubtlessly the woman of the moment.

Following the well-known formula of the obscure socialite, the actress, artist, model and mother has mastered the art of online virality, while somehow remaining shrouded in mystery.

From appearing opposite Adam Sandler in the Safdie brothers’ Uncut Gems to embarking on a whirlwind romance with Kanye West and leaving a trail of provocative paparazzi shots in her wake, Julia Fox is a name on everyone’s lips.

But who is this captivating creature, and why is the internet so enthralled?

According to a conversation Ms Fox had with The Cut, the rich and famous are supposed to provide a sort of public service. “Celebrities are not that f*cking important,” she said. “We’re in a pandemic. Give people something to talk about. Do your fucking service, do your job.”

An ethos she truly lives by, it’s almost impossible to make your way through a social media scroll without hearing her signature vocal fry draw out every syllable or seeing her washboard abs, DIY drop waists, and smudged black eyeliner.

Chaotic energy aside, Julia Fox has us in the palm of her hand. An expert in causing a calculated stir, she has somehow refrained from becoming an overnight sensation. Withstanding the test of time so seamlessly, she’s got a memoir on the way, which she humbly describes as a “masterpiece”.

Julia Fox teases her book: "I don't want to give too much of it away, because I'm very superstitious so I don't like to speak of things before they're finished. It's so far a masterpiece, if I do say so myself…it was a memoir at first, but now it's just like my first book." pic.twitter.com/5qPdfOjxLs

— Variety (@Variety) March 29, 2022

Rising to fame as Adam Sandler’s lover in Uncut Gems, it wasn’t until she wrote an in depth analysis of date night with Ye for Interview Magazine that she truly broke into the public consciousness. Though the romance only lasted six weeks, Fox told Entertainment Tonight that the relationship was the best thing that could have happened to her. Being with him was “like hitting a reset button. It kind of brought a spark back into my life that I had kind of forgotten about.”

Before the pair called it quits, Fox appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast, hosted by Alex Cooper, for a revealing interview that introduced the masses to her signature drawl.

Lampooned by thousands of TikTok users and celebrities alike, this trending audio thrust Julia Fox into our subconscious. I’ll let her speak for herself…

@spotify

Here for @juliafox #kanyewest being each others’ muses ? #juliafox #callherdaddy #daddygang #ye #popculturetea

? Unka Jahms on Spotify x Call Her Daddy podcast – Spotify

Throughout the lengthy conversation on Call Her Daddy the infamous Fox tells Cooper that before she broke Hollywood, she worked as a dominatrix in Manhattan. Her first introduction to acting and an opportunity to explore her sexuality, working at a sex dungeon became more than just a way to pay the bills.

While Fox has also co-founded a knitwear label with her best friend Briana Andalore based on sensual minimalism, this multi-hyphenate’s credentials also extend to the realm of artist.

In 2017, she helped to curate an exhibition revolving around blood, death, and the ritual of rebirth, entitled RIP Julia Fox. In an interview with HuffPost, she described using her own blood in the creative process because she “wanted the show to be as authentic and personal as possible.” She confirmed that she “extracted the blood with a syringe and used the syringe to paint on the silk. It wasn’t as bad as it seems.”

Having used paparazzi culture to her advantage, Fox has become known for her avant-garde style and isn’t afraid to push fashion boundaries. Yes, I’m referring to her human hair clutch, DIY bandeau and low rise jean pairing, and her scantily clad weekly shop.

Whether it’s seeking out Elon Musk’s phone number so that she can talk “techy things” or recording an earnest tutorial on how to make her signature two-piece, it can seem like this starlet is a tad out of touch with reality.

However, having told The Cut that she never had any dreams of becoming ‘super mega-famous’ because she refuses to “not live authentically”, her celebrity status is enjoyed on her own terms, which is nothing if not refreshing.

Plus, we love a self-aware queen.

julia fox doing her signature eye makeup with mud from the hot springs is so funny pic.twitter.com/1jxEgiNAYW

— internet baby (@kirkpate) May 27, 2022