Madison Bailey is the actor behind Kiara “Kie” Carrera, the fiercely loyal Pogue at the heart of Netflix’s Outer Banks. The role made Bailey internationally recognizable, but her career now stretches beyond one series: she has television credits, film work and a growing music catalog of her own.
Madison Bailey quick facts
| Full name | Madison Lilly Bailey |
|---|---|
| Birthday | January 29, 1999 |
| Age in 2026 | 27 |
| Birthplace | Kernersville, North Carolina |
| Profession | Actor and musician |
| Best-known role | Kiara Carrera in Outer Banks |
| @madisonbaileybabe |
Who is Madison Bailey?
Bailey grew up in North Carolina in a large adoptive family. She began pursuing performance as a teenager and built her early résumé through television appearances before Outer Banks arrived. That background helps explain the grounded quality she brings to Kie: even in a series full of treasure hunts and impossible escapes, the character often feels like the friend trying to keep everyone emotionally honest.
Madison Bailey’s age and birthday
Madison Bailey was born on January 29, 1999, making her 27 years old in 2026. Because age-based celebrity pages go stale quickly, the birth date is more useful than a number copied without context.
Who does Madison Bailey play in Outer Banks?
Bailey plays Kiara Carrera, usually called Kie. She is a core member of the Pogues alongside John B, JJ and Pope. Kiara comes from a more comfortable family than several of her friends, but repeatedly chooses the Pogues and their chaotic adventures.
Across the show’s five-season run, Kie grew from the group’s environmentally conscious voice of reason into an adventurer who could take the lead herself. Bailey told Netflix that fans often approach her by calling the character’s name first—a sign of how closely audiences connect the actor with Kie.
Movies and television shows
- Outer Banks — Kiara Carrera
- Black Lightning — Wendy Hernandez
- Creepshow — Carla
- American Horror Stories — Kelley
This is a selected list rather than every credit. Outer Banks remains the project that shaped her public profile, but her earlier television work shows that the breakthrough did not happen overnight.
Madison Bailey’s music
Music is no longer just a side note in Bailey’s biography. Her official site highlights releases including “Honestly,” “The Grey” and “Raincheck.” That work gives her a creative identity separate from Kiara and makes “actor and musician” a more accurate description than “Netflix star” alone.
Personal life
Bailey has spoken openly about identity and mental health, including identifying as pansexual. Older profiles often describe Mariah Linney as her current partner; the pair’s public relationship was reported to have ended in 2025, so it is more accurate not to present an old status as current fact.
That correction is important. A biography should document what a person has chosen to share without treating their private life as a permanently updated scoreboard.
What is Madison Bailey’s net worth?
There is no authoritative public figure. Celebrity net-worth estimates are usually based on assumptions about contracts and sponsorships rather than audited records. We therefore do not attach a precise dollar amount to Bailey’s finances.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kiara’s real name Madison Bailey?
Kiara Carrera is the fictional character; Madison Bailey is the actor who plays her.
Where is Madison Bailey from?
She is from Kernersville, North Carolina.
How old was she when Outer Banks began?
Bailey was 21 when the series premiered in 2020.
For more on the Pogues’ final chapter, read our Outer Banks Season 5 guide.
Sources: Netflix Tudum’s 2026 Madison Bailey interview and Madison Bailey’s official music site.
Updated September 22, 2026.