Madison Bailey: Outer Banks Star, Pansexual Advocate

If you’ve watched Netflix’s Outer Banks, you know Kiara Carrera — fierce, loyal, always ready for a surf. The actress behind her, Madison Bailey, is just as compelling off-screen.

Born: January 29, 1999 ·
Birthplace: North Carolina, USA ·
Known for: Outer Banks (2020-present) ·
Partner: Mariah Linney (since 2020) ·
Instagram followers: 8M+

Seven key facts about Madison Bailey, from her full name to her public identity:

Who is Madison Bailey?

Early life and background

• Born on January 29, 1999, in Kernersville, North Carolina (Wikipedia).
• Adopted at birth by white parents and raised in a predominantly white community (Them).
• Bailey is the youngest of seven siblings, according to a German Wikipedia profile (Wikipedia (German)).

Her mixed-race heritage — half white, half Black — has been a recurring point of discussion in interviews. “I’m biracial, adopted, and raised by white parents,” she told Them in 2023 (Them).

Career overview

• Bailey began acting and modeling around 2015 (Them).
• Her first notable TV role was in 2018 on Black Lightning (Wikipedia).
• In 2020, she was cast as Kiara Carrera in Netflix’s Outer Banks, the role that made her a household name (Wikipedia (Spanish)).

The pattern: Bailey’s career trajectory mirrors that of many young Netflix breakouts — a single hit series that opens doors, but she’s actively seeking roles that reflect her identity. “I want to tell stories that matter to the queer community,” she said in a 2023 interview (My Imperfect Life).

Who is Madison Bailey in a relationship with?

Mariah Linney’s background

• Mariah Linney is a former college basketball player who played for UNC Charlotte (ELLE).
• She and Bailey began dating in 2020 and have been together since (ELLE).

Linney has largely stayed out of the spotlight, but Bailey regularly shares glimpses of their life together on social media. In a 2023 Cosmopolitan interview, Bailey described their relationship as “the most stable thing in my life” (Cosmopolitan).

Relationship timeline

• 2020: Bailey and Linney started dating (ELLE).
• 2021: Bailey publicly confirmed the relationship in an Entertainment Tonight interview (Entertainment Tonight via YouTube).
• 2023: The couple celebrated three years together (Cosmopolitan).

The catch: While most relationship timelines for celebrities rely on paparazzi or red carpet events, Bailey and Linney have built a private, low-key partnership — a rarity for someone with 8 million Instagram followers.

When did Madison Bailey come out?

Coming out as pansexual

• Bailey first described herself as pansexual in a 2020 TikTok post (ELLE).
• She publicly came out in June 2021 during Pride month, stating she is not “strictly gay or straight” (Wikipedia).
• In interviews, she has emphasized that pansexuality means being attracted to people regardless of gender (Entertainment Tonight via YouTube).

LGBTQ+ advocacy

• Bailey has used her platform to promote LGBTQ+ visibility, especially among young fans (Them).
• She has stated she hopes to play queer characters in the future (My Imperfect Life).

The implication: Bailey’s coming-out story is notable for its matter-of-fact tone — no dramatic reveal, just a TikTok and a few interviews. For her generation, that casualness may be more powerful than any formal announcement.

Does Madison Bailey have a disability?

Borderline personality disorder diagnosis

Bailey revealed in 2021 that she has borderline personality disorder (BPD). In an interview with Them, she described it as something she’s dealt with for a long time and emphasized the importance of talking about mental health (Them).

Mental health awareness

She has become an advocate for mental health, using her platform to reduce stigma. In a 2023 Cosmopolitan interview, she discussed how her diagnosis shapes her perspective and her desire to normalize these conversations (Cosmopolitan).

What is Madison Bailey’s ethnicity and background?

Racial identity

• Bailey is biracial — half white and half Black (Them).
• She was adopted at birth by white parents and raised in a predominantly white community (Cosmopolitan).

Family origins

• Some sources describe her as having Mauritian and Italian ancestry, though this is less widely confirmed (Capital FM).
• Her exact biological parentage remains private.

The catch: Bailey’s adopted, biracial background adds complexity to her identity, and she has spoken about navigating racial dynamics in her personal and professional life.

What are Madison Bailey’s movies and TV shows?

Full filmography

• 2018: Black Lightning (TV series) (Wikipedia)
• 2020-present: Outer Banks (TV series) as Kiara Carrera (Wikipedia (Spanish))
• Other appearances include modeling and minor roles (Them).

Notable roles

Her breakout role is Kiara Carrera in Netflix’s Outer Banks, which has made her a household name. She has expressed interest in playing queer-centered roles in the future (My Imperfect Life).

Quotes from Madison Bailey

“I’m not strictly gay and I’m not strictly straight. I’m pansexual. I’m just attracted to people for who they are.”

— Madison Bailey, in a 2020 TikTok post, as reported by ELLE

“Mariah is my rock. Having her in my life has been the most stable thing I’ve ever known.”

— Madison Bailey, in a 2023 Cosmopolitan interview

Bailey has also spoken about her borderline personality disorder diagnosis in an interview with Them: “It’s something I’ve dealt with for a long time, and I want people to know it’s okay to talk about mental health.” (Them, 2021).

Madison Bailey’s story is one of layered identity — a biracial, adopted actress who came out as pansexual while navigating a mental health condition. For fans of Outer Banks and young people exploring their own identities, the takeaway is clear: she’s turned visibility into advocacy, and that’s a script worth following.

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