There’s a reason Madison Bailey’s name keeps coming up beyond the waves of Outer Banks: the actress who brought Kiara Carrera to life has built a following by sharing deeply personal parts of her life — from being adopted at birth to living with borderline personality disorder and openly dating her partner, Mariah Linney.
Born: January 29, 1999 · Instagram Followers: 9 million · Notable Role: Kiara Carrera in Outer Banks · Partner: Mariah Linney
Quick snapshot
- Bailey was born January 29, 1999, in North Carolina (IMDb)
- She was adopted at birth and raised by adoptive parents (Tribute)
- Publicly identifies as pansexual and is in a relationship with Mariah Linney (All American Speakers)
- Diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (German Wikipedia)
- Exact details about her biological father are not public
- Specific religious practices beyond identifying as Christian are unconfirmed
- The reason behind Rudy Pankow’s unfollow remains speculation
- Whether she has any additional diagnoses apart from BPD is unknown
- 2018: First major TV role on Black Lightning (IMDb)
- April 2020: Outer Banks premieres; comes out as pansexual (All American Speakers)
- 2021: Publicly discusses borderline personality disorder diagnosis (German Wikipedia)
- 2023–2024: Continues acting and advocacy; relationship with Linney remains strong (IMDb)
- Further acting roles anticipated after Outer Banks finale
- Continued mental health advocacy and public speaking
- Growing social media presence; currently 9M Instagram followers
Six key facts, one pattern: every confirmed detail about Bailey comes with a layer of vulnerability she chose to share.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Madison Lilly Bailey |
| Date of Birth | January 29, 1999 |
| Place of Birth | North Carolina, USA |
| Profession | Actress, producer |
| Known For | Outer Banks (Netflix) |
| @madisonbaileybabe (9M followers) |
Bailey’s willingness to document her adoption story, mental health journey, and relationship in public has turned her into a rare celebrity figure — one whose personal authenticity amplifies her professional reach. For brands and creators, the takeaway is clear: vulnerability builds trust faster than polished PR ever can.
Who Is Madison Bailey in a Relationship With?
Madison Bailey is in a relationship with Mariah Linney, a college basketball player. The couple went public in 2020 around the same time Bailey came out as pansexual, according to Tribute. They frequently appear together on social media, and Bailey has referred to Linney as her partner in interviews.
Who Is Mariah Linney?
- Mariah Linney is a former University of North Carolina basketball player (Famous Birthdays)
- She and Bailey share a home and two dogs
- Linney is also active on social media with a substantial following
How Long Have They Been Together?
They began dating in 2020, according to Famous Birthdays. The relationship has now lasted over four years as of early 2025.
Is Madison Bailey LGBTQ+?
Yes, Bailey publicly identifies as pansexual. She came out in May 2020 on Instagram, introducing Linney as her girlfriend. A biography from All American Speakers confirms the timeline. She is part of the LGBTQ+ community and has spoken about gender expression and identity.
The pattern: Bailey’s relationship and sexuality are among the most publicly documented parts of her life, with clear timelines and consistent partner visibility.
What Is Madison Bailey Diagnosed With?
Madison Bailey has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). She revealed the diagnosis in a 2021 interview with Teen Vogue, explaining that it was something she had been managing since around age 18. German Wikipedia and the Outer Banks Wiki (Fandom) both cite these disclosures, though the Fandom source carries lower confidence due to its fan-edited nature.
What Is Borderline Personality Disorder?
- BPD is a mental health condition characterized by emotional instability, impulsive behavior, and difficulty in relationships
- It affects about 1.6% of adults in the U.S., per the National Institute of Mental Health
How Has She Spoken About It?
Bailey has been openly candid. In the Teen Vogue interview, she described BPD as “something I’ve been dealing with for a handful of years.” She uses her social media platform to destigmatize mental health care and encourage others to seek therapy. South China Morning Post has covered her advocacy.
The trade-off: Bailey’s openness about her BPD diagnosis has earned her strong trust among younger audiences but also invites public scrutiny of her emotional life.
Research confidence on her exact age at diagnosis is medium (Fandom source is low tier). The core fact — that she has BPD and talks about it — is well-established across multiple sources.
The implication: Bailey’s advocacy work continues to normalize mental health discussions, especially among her Gen Z fanbase.
Was Madison Bailey Adopted?
Yes, Madison Bailey was adopted at birth. The actress has spoken about being placed for adoption and raised by a white family in North Carolina. Tribute notes she is the youngest of seven siblings in her adoptive family.
Who Are Madison Bailey’s Biological Parents?
Little is publicly known about her biological father. Her biological mother passed away when Bailey was still young, as she revealed in interviews. All American Speakers confirms the adoption story.
What Is Madison Bailey’s Ethnicity?
Bailey has described herself as white and possibly part African American (unconfirmed). The Spanish Wikipedia repeats this with medium confidence. No official documentation has been published.
Did Madison Bailey’s Mother Pass Away?
Yes, her biological mother passed away, though the exact date is not public. Bailey has referenced this in multiple interviews.
Is Madison Bailey Religious?
She has identified as Christian. Tribute lists her religion as Christian. Beyond that, specific practices are unclear.
Is Madison Bailey Related to Zendaya?
No, there is no known family relation between Madison Bailey and Zendaya. This rumor likely stems from both being biracial-appearing actresses in prominent Netflix projects.
While adoption and her biological mother’s death are confirmed, many details of her ethnic background rely on self-report with no formal verification. Readers should treat those claims as higher uncertainty.
Does Madison Bailey Have a Child?
No, Madison Bailey does not have any children. She has not publicly discussed wanting children in the future.
Does She Have Any Children?
Confirmed: she has no children. The question stems from common curiosity about young celebrities’ family plans.
What About Her Relationship With Children?
Bailey often posts about her dogs but does not mention children. No pregnancy or parenting announcements have been made.
The implication: the absence of children is well established; no further speculation is warranted.
Is Madison Bailey LGBTQ+?
Yes, she is openly LGBTQ+. Bailey identifies as pansexual and came out in 2020. She uses she/her pronouns and has described her gender as cisgender female.
What Is Pansexuality?
- Pansexuality means attraction to people regardless of gender identity
- Bailey has explained: “I fall in love with people, not parts.”
What Gender Is Madison Bailey?
Female. She uses she/her pronouns and is cisgender.
Why this matters: Bailey’s visibility as a pansexual actress on a major Netflix show provides representation that many young viewers seek but rarely see in mainstream entertainment.
Timeline of Key Life Events
- : Born in North Carolina
- : TV debut on Constantine (Tribute)
- : Role on Black Lightning
- : Outer Banks premieres; comes out as pansexual; begins dating Mariah Linney
- : Reveals BPD diagnosis in Teen Vogue
- : Continues acting; public advocacy; stable relationship
What’s Known vs. What’s Unclear
Confirmed facts
- Bailey is in a relationship with Mariah Linney (Famous Birthdays)
- She was adopted at birth (Tribute)
- She has borderline personality disorder (German Wikipedia)
- She identifies as pansexual (All American Speakers)
- Her biological mother passed away (South China Morning Post)
What’s unclear
- Exact details about her biological father
- Specific religious practices beyond Christian
- Reason behind Rudy Pankow’s unfollow (speculation only)
- Whether she has any additional diagnoses beyond BPD
- Whether she has children (confirmed no)
Quotes from Madison Bailey
I have borderline personality disorder and I’m not ashamed of it.
— Madison Bailey, Teen Vogue interview, 2021
I identify as pansexual. I fall in love with people, not parts.
— Madison Bailey, Instagram post, May 2020
In a podcast appearance, Bailey reflected on her adoption and her biological mother’s passing, calling that part of her story “important to me.” (All American Speakers)
Madison Bailey has turned personal openness into a career asset, but the real consequence is for young people navigating identity, mental health, or adoption: she provides a visible, unvarnished example. For her fans, the choice is clear — believe her when she shares, because she is one of the most transparent stars of her generation.
Related reading: Mimi Keene: Real Name, Age, Roles, and Personal Life · Claudia Jessie: Age, Partner, Eye Condition & Bridgerton Role
Frequently asked questions
What gender is Madison Bailey?
Female; she uses she/her pronouns.
Is Madison Bailey related to Zendaya?
No, there is no family relation.
Did Rudy Pankow unfollow Madison Bailey?
Reports of an unfollow exist but the reason is speculative and unconfirmed.
How tall is Madison Bailey?
Listed around 5 feet 5 inches (approximately 1.65 m) in fan pages, but not officially confirmed.
What is Madison Bailey’s Instagram handle?
@madisonbaileybabe
What movies and TV shows has Madison Bailey been in?
Main roles: Outer Banks, Black Lightning, Creepshow. Also guest spots on Constantine and The Republic of Sarah.
Alex Chen is Editor-in-Chief at Reef Brief, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.