Aya Tanjali has always been a star as far as her six million TikTok followers are concerned - but in recent days, the 16-year-old has earned infamy away from the popular video-sharing app after appearing in a controversial music video for rapper Ice Spice.
The rapper came under furious fire this week for featuring Aya in the video for her new song Deli, in which the teenager is seen twerking on all fours in a very sexually-charged clip.
Fans were quick to express their shock at the minor being included in the clips, slamming the rapper for the decision.
But while much of the hate and criticism has been directed at Ice Spice - how much is actually known about the teenager at the center of the controversy who, away from the bright lights of TikTok fame, spends her days as an average high schooler from Austin, Texas.
16-year-old TikTok star Aya Tanjali (left in pink) was recently featured times in Ice Spice's music video for her song Deli
Aya 16, is based in Austin Texas and is a high school student.She's a TikTok creator with over six million followers and a one million dollars net worth
Aya was recently featured twerking in Ice Spice's music video for Deli
Who is Aya Tanjali and what does she do?
Aya Tanjali was born in Austin Texas. She is currently 16 years old and attends high school. She often posts pictures and videos from her school's classrooms, gym, hallway and restrooms.
Her father is a businessman, her mother is a housewife, and her younger sister Sophia is also a student.
She is a TikTok creator with over six million followers. On her Instagram she has one million followers.The TikTok star has an estimated net worth of one million dollars.
Aya posts videos that feature dancing, comedic skits, lip-syncs, challenges, outfits, and adventures with her friends and sister.
She went viral in 2020 when she danced to Megan Thee Stallion’s song Sex Talk.
Aya has gotten endorsed by many brands which include WMC CLOTHING, Lovely's Kouture, Alayja White, YBN Cosmetics and VL Jewelry.
In one of her YouTube videos, she admitted vulnerably that she gets bullied by fellow classmates. She also mentioned online that a teacher allegedly spoke negatively about her in class when she wasn't there and she wrote: 'How dare he speak down on the mf princess.'
She had to attend summer school and jokingly wrote: 'At least I'm in one of my favorite teachers class room for summer school.'
Aya often posts pictures and videos that were shot and recorded in her high school. She is pictured with her student ID badge in her school's library
Young Aya poses on the left side beside her smiling mother on the right
Aya is pictured on the left alongside her younger sister Sophia in the middle and their mom on the right
What is Aya Tanjali's connection to Ice Spice?
Aya Tanjali recently went viral for twerking on the deli counter in Ice Spice's newest music video Deli, despite being 16 years old.
The video's note warned: 'Viewers should be warned this video features a minor dancing in a sexually provocative manner, which may violate state and federal laws.'
The two follow each other and someone commented: 'One of the dancers in this video is 16 years old, a fact likely known to Ice Spice as the two follow one another on Instagram.'
After all the hate that was thrown at Ice Spice, Aya posted an Instagram story on July 28 that showcased her best friend bringing her snacks to make her feel better.
The text on the video reads: 'My bestie noticed I was sad and came with goodies and treats.'
Her second Instagram story just two hours later, featured a short clip from the Deli music video where she is shown dancing by Ice Spice. The text featured four heart-eyed emojis and reads, 'chewed.'
After all the hate that was thrown at Ice Spice, Aya posted an Instagram story on July 28 that showcased her best friend bringing her snacks to make her feel better
Her second Instagram story featured a short clip from the Deli music video where she is shown dancing by Ice Spice. The text featured four heart-eyed emojis and reads, 'chewed'
Aya posted a video in a huge house alongside her mother and sister and her caption reads: 'home shopping.' In the video, Aya starts twerking and her mother jokingly smacks her behind
@ayaatanjali_ House shopping 😍😍😍
♬ Dam shorty - BangBang
This isn't the first time that Aya has twerked on camera. She often postsmany twerking videos on her social media, and some are even recorded in her high school.
Aya posted a video in a huge house alongside her mother and sister and her caption was: 'Home shopping.' Her video text reads: 'My mom so cute lol.'
In the video, Aya starts twerking and her mother jokingly smacks her behind.
One can assume based off of that interaction, that her mother is supportive of her daughter's public dancing, and most likely signed off on Aya participating in Ice Spice's video.
Being that Aya is most likely the breadwinner in her family as a young millionaire, it can be inferred that she will possibly be providing the down-payment on the house instead of her parents.
How did AyaTanjali cause such a scandal?
The teenager became embroiled in a furious controversy this week when rapper Ice Spice debuted a very sexually-charged music video for her song Deli - in which Aya can be seen down on all fours twerking.
Critics were quick to slam Ice Spice for featuring the teenager in such a provocative way, with Twitter users hitting out at the rapper's choice of twerking star.
'I’m actually kinda disgusted that ice spice had that lil girl twerking in her music video but let me not say too much,' one person wrote.
'There’s no way no one told her having a minor twerking in your music video is a terrible idea,' another chimed in.
A third added:'ICE SPICE NOOOO!!!! AYA TANJALI IS 16!!!!!'
The rapper, 23, released the highly-anticipated music video for her new single Deli from the deluxe version of her debut album Like...? on Wednesday.
Ice Spice, wearing a white tank top with a necklace reading 'Princess', held bundles of dollar bills as she twerked in a bodega and smacked her behind.
In addition to the saucy performances by Aya and Ice Spice herself, the lyrics of the song are also filled with plenty of risque moments, with lines like 'I'm still shaking ass in the deli' and 'she a baddie she showing her pantie'.
