Many of us celebrated when a preschooler danced her way into virality with her rendition of the “Boots on the Ground” line dance. With a miniature fan in her hand, perfect timing, and the kind of adorable charm that lights up a screen, LaR’iyah (affectionately nicknamed “Miss Shirley”) became a household name across timelines. Riding the wave of her popularity, the toddler has made appearances at various trail rides and even the music video for “Boots on the Ground.” Recently, she danced alongside Niecy Nash-Betts on The Jennifer Hudson Show. As her popularity has soared, so have questions—some well-meaning, some loaded—about consent, safety, and the ethics of turning toddlers into digital celebrities.
When two Black women icons like Tina Knowles and Michelle Obama link up, we already know it will be epic. But no one was quite ready for the moment that had the crowd on their feet and social media buzzing.