In The Haven with a POP-STAR: AKA Katie Begely
Written By Hannah Corbett & Interviewed By Kitty Murphy
Katie— “Popstar Katie,” as almost everyone calls her, though sometimes they just drop the Katie entirely—has always moved to her own rhythm. Growing up, she was captivated by the energy of pop icons. “Everything Addison Rae is doing, I want to be doing,” she says, laughing.
“Growing up as cheesy as it sounds, I really, really admired and looked up to pop stars”
she reflects. “It all started with Hannah Montana, then Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus. And as I got older, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Madonna, Britney Spears… mostly women, really inspired me.”
Katie’s love for pop culture isn’t just aesthetic—it’s visceral. “when I listen to their music, it kind of creeps into why I love teaching spin so much,” she says. “I love music and I love the way their music makes me feel. I’ve never thought the term ‘diva’ was a bad thing. I always thought it was so empowering, and I just loved the confidence that they all had. And so I felt like I always wanted to be a pop star and be like that—sing, dance, entertain.”
Even her name, “Popstar Katie,” reflects that admiration. “I mean, honestly, I think when I made the name, I just was… it was as simple as, I love pop stars. I wanna be a pop star—Popstar Katie,” she says. “But then as I just thought about it, it was like, well, the reason I love ‘pop star’ so much is because I love the way watching them makes me feel”
That energy is exactly what she tries to channel online. “I try to bring that energy, but… you know, without the singing and dancing because I cannot sing. I cannot sing—but I love auto-tune, and I can dance a little…. If somebody was like, ‘Get in the studio,’ we’d just auto-tune the whole thing.
Katie’s drive has always been shaped by her community roots, long before social media or spin classes. “I didn’t realize it, I swam until I was 18 and that swim club was like the world to me. It was like summer camp,” she recalls. “It was one of those things like—it’s what you make it. All the parents would volunteer. They watch each other’s kids for each other. The older kids would babysit the younger kids. It really was just like its own community. Growing up around it—it was called Earlton Swim Club—it’s the best place ever. I’m raising my kids and making them swim there because it’s so incredible.”
She reflects on the lessons learned in the chlorine lanes. “I guess I just realized from that age, with my mom putting me in those kinds of environments, that relationships—you get out what you put in. If you’re willing to help people, if you’re willing to really build connections, you’re gonna feel that in return. And I just love that feeling of community… we wouldn’t have had those experiences if our parents didn’t put in the effort”.
When she moved to Avalon for the summer, she knew she needed a job to support herself. Her second summer there, she started teaching spin at Avalon Fitness, finding balance in the physicality of the work. “What this job provides for me now, I can do as much as I need, and doing spin, it keeps me really busy,” she says. Beyond the physical, she found something equally vital in the people around her. “You have this whole community doing social media, but it’s all on your phone. So teaching spin and being with people in person fills my cup in a different way.”
Avalon itself has left an imprint on her, both personally and professionally. “I think it’s just really incredible to see how much—especially in Avalon—what I’ve learned over the years is that the island really builds on locals and people who are here year-round. They build these businesses that we all get to enjoy in the summertime, but a lot of these people are here year-round, working, grinding. I’ve gotten to know a lot of the business owners down here since I post on social media, and I feel like just getting to know people and having relationships with them has been the best part of being down here—getting to share these businesses online that are owned by the best people.”
Her journey into social media felt like a natural extension of everything she had been doing. Initially, she worked with a YouTuber acting in videos to support her first summer in Avalon, and eventually helped edit them—an experience that inspired her to start her own TikTok. “Stuff on my own page comes pretty naturally,” she says, the ease evident in her voice. But even with that natural talent, stepping into the world of full-time content creation required courage. “I was working with a pasta company as an ambassador and for Beachkrew doing social media, and when all of it dwindled down, I just had no more clients,” she remembers. “Sink or swim, I’m just going to go for it… I’m ready to take this [social media] full time.”
Katie’s relationship with places is as fluid as her ambitions. “I love New York” she says. “I’m someone who loves to change things up. So I love being down the shore for certain parts of the year and then in New York City during the winter. I love my alternate personalities,” she laughs. “But I love both places for such different reasons. I love the shore because it’s local, small businesses, and a strong community. All my friends are down here, it feels very familiar. New York is very new to me, very big, almost a challenge…If I had to choose? Fast, fast, fast as fast as possible. Even in Avalon, I can’t live slowly”.
Katie’s approach to work has always been hands-on. “I never minded doing social media on the side,” she admits. “Growing up, I always had multiple jobs—dog sitting, babysitting, snack bar, lifeguarding—so sometimes doing this full time feels really weird.” Yet that varied background gave her a kind of resilience, a willingness to jump in and learn as she goes.
Family plays a role, too. “My mom loves what I do and she has her own TikTok and Instagram, which is so cute. She makes really good content. But I feel like a lot of my motivation comes from ‘I know where I wanna go, and I know I’m not gonna get there unless I work for it.’ Nothing’s gonna just happen or be placed at my feet.”
"When it comes to pop culture, Katie is all in—she devours it, remembers it, and can talk about it endlessly. 'I’m so into pop culture,
I’m like the biggest pop culture slut you’ve ever met.
I know way too much about everything,' she admits. When we ask who her favorite creator is right now, she instantly says, 'Jake Shane is my favorite ever. He’s hilarious, and his passion for the most random things is so relatable. He’s really good.'"
But what she's dying to do? Is reality TV. “My entire life has been— To be on reality TV. I’d love it if they did Summer House, but at the Jersey Shore… South Jersey.” And if there’s anything we’ve taken away from talking with Katie, is that she’s meant to be on the big screen.
Today, Katie’s life is a balancing act between the digital and the tangible: spinning in a sunlit fitness studio, curating content on her phone, and connecting with a community that exists both online and offline. Through it all, her ambitions remain unapologetically inspired by the icons she grew up loving. “I just really, really admire them,” she says. “They showed me that you can take your passion, your energy, and your creativity and make it your life. That’s what I want to do, too.”
In every sense, Katie embodies the spirit of a modern pop star—not just within her TikTok presence, but in the way she navigates life with boldness, dedication, and an unshakable sense of herself.