You can’t stop the beat, and you also can’t stop the Blonkaissance that is upon us. If you’ve spent any time on TikTok lately, then you’ve almost definitely seen the wave of Nikki Blonsky Cameo videos fans have been blessedly sharing with the public. The Hairspray star has been making Cameos that all feature her signature grumble as she sings a line from the Hairspray song “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” They’re simply a joy to watch and a highly encourage you to curate your FYP so you get a daily dose of movie musical nostalgia from these videos.
As people share more and more of the videos, Nikki’s getting more and more time back in the spotlight. She’s reportedly raised her Cameo rate from $20 to $100 thanks to her resurgence in popularity, and I couldn’t be happier for her. The musical theatre girlies want more Tracy Turnblad! Let the Blonkaissance flourish!
Nikki won two Critic’s Choice Awards for playing Tracy in Hairspray in 2007, but she hasn’t been in the public eye as much in the years since then. Now that we’re seeing more of her online, it’s time to catch up and get an update on what Nikki Blonsky is doing today.
Nikki Blonsky Today
Nikki Blonksy’s Career
After her breakout role in Hairspray, Nikki’s career didn’t totally take off the way you might think. She had roles on TV shows like Ugly Betty, SMASH, and Fresh Off The Boat, but nothing that matched the magnitude of Hairspray. Her most recent role was on the Peacock show Bosco in 2025.
In 2017, Nikki spoke to Out about her disappointment with her career. She said: “I did not take a conscious step out of Hollywood and so long as I’m alive, I never will. Singing and acting has been my dream since I was three. It kind of feels like the industry left me. It’s no offense to the industry because I understand that there are new actors and actresses everyday. There are new films and new roles to be cast. Hairspray though was just a very different entity. It felt like they took me to the top of a mountain and gave me everything I ever wanted. Then after a year, they all just looked at me and said, Okay, bye! and left me with no way to get down. I would be lying if I said I still didn’t struggle with it. I see a lot of my other co-stars steadily working and I question whether I did something wrong.” Hopefully the Blonkaissance helps her career move in the right direction.
Nikki Blonsky’s Wife
The good news is that Nikki has a lot of love in her life, and her famous Cameo is part of the reason. Nikki married her wife Hailey Jo Jensen in October 2023. They met when Nikki was doing a TikTok Live and Nikki called Hailey out in the chat. Hailey had been a fan of Nikki since Hairspray and later ordered one of Nikki’s famous Cameos from her. They started DMing and the rest is history. Ah, modern love!
“I remember when Hailey came to see me in California, and they got to the top of my staircase, and they were carrying their luggage and they turned around and I just saw their face right in front of me for the first time, and I said, ‘This is the person I’m going to marry for sure,’ ” Nikki told Out.
The couple got matching ring tattoos and live together happily with their dog Charlie. A true happily ever after!
Nikki Blonksy’s Instagram
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Nikki is very busy on social media, including on Instagram. Her bio refers to Hairspray and her queer coming out in 2020, with the line “Mama, I’m a Gay Girl Now! She posts about Hairspray memorabilia and some family photos, plus a throwback Tracy Turnblad performance at a recent drag brunch. And, of course, the Cameos. Never forget the Cameos.
