There’s a reason Madison Bailey’s name keeps surfacing beyond her Outer Banks fame: she’s willing to talk about what many keep private. Since 2020, the actress has openly shared her borderline personality disorder diagnosis and her identity as pansexual, using a Netflix megaphone to break stigmas.
Born: January 29, 1999 (age 26) ·
Known for: Outer Banks (Netflix) ·
Instagram followers: 8 million ·
Diagnosis: Borderline personality disorder ·
Current partner: Mariah Linney (since 2020)
Quick snapshot
- Born January 29, 1999 in North Carolina (IMDb (actor database))
- Breakthrough role as Kiara Carrera in Outer Banks (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
- In a relationship with Mariah Linney since 2020 (Entertainment Tonight (celebrity news source))
- Publicly shared borderline personality disorder diagnosis in 2021 (BuzzFeed (digital media outlet))
- Exact age of diagnosis (reported as 12, 15, or 18 by different sources)
- Name of previous partner before Mariah Linney
- Precise net worth — not publicly verified
- Parents’ full names — not widely published
- 1999: Born in North Carolina (Outer Banks Wiki (fan-curated database))
- 2017: First acting credit on Black Lightning (Outer Banks Wiki (fan-curated database))
- 2020: Outer Banks premieres; comes out as pansexual; begins relationship with Mariah Linney (Entertainment Tonight (celebrity news source))
- 2021: Publicly shares borderline personality disorder diagnosis (The Mighty (mental health community))
- 2025: Outer Banks ongoing — currently filming season 4 (Nylon (youth culture magazine))
- Outer Banks season 4 expected to air in 2025
- Bailey has expressed interest in music projects alongside acting
- Continued advocacy for mental health and LGBTQ+ visibility
Madison Bailey’s public profile rests on a handful of verifiable biographical anchors. Here they are in one table.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Madison Lilly Bailey |
| Date of Birth | January 29, 1999 |
| Age | 26 (as of 2025) |
| Known For | Outer Banks (Netflix) |
| Partner | Mariah Linney |
| Diagnosis | Borderline personality disorder |
| Sexual Orientation | Pansexual |
| Instagram Followers | 8 million |
Who is Madison Bailey?
Madison Lilly Bailey is an American actress best known for playing Kiara Carrera on Netflix’s Outer Banks. She was born on January 29, 1999 in North Carolina, USA (IMDb (actor database)).
How old is Madison Bailey?
Bailey is 26 as of 2025. She was born in 1999 and celebrated her most recent birthday on January 29, 2025.
What is Madison Bailey known for?
Her breakthrough came with Netflix’s teen drama Outer Banks, which premiered in 2020. She plays Kiara Carrera, a passionate and loyal member of the Pogues crew (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)). Bailey also appeared in the superhero series Black Lightning earlier in her career.
Where is Madison Bailey from?
She was raised in North Carolina, USA. Her ethnicity is mixed, including African-American and Italian heritage, though she has not publicly detailed her full family background.
Bailey’s breakout role came at 21 — a relatively late start compared to child stars, but the timing allowed her to enter the industry with enough maturity to navigate both fame and personal disclosure.
The implication: her late start may have given her a stability that younger stars lack.
Who is Madison Bailey in a relationship with?
Bailey has been in a public relationship with Mariah Linney since 2020. The couple often shares glimpses of their life on social media, and Bailey has described Linney as a steadying presence (Entertainment Tonight (celebrity news source)).
Who is Mariah Linney?
Mariah Linney is a college basketball player at UNC Wilmington. She and Bailey met before Bailey’s rise to fame and have been together since 2020. Linney’s athletic career and her role as Bailey’s partner are occasionally featured in interviews about the actress’s personal life.
Who is Madison Bailey’s ex?
Bailey has not publicly named any previous partners. She came out as pansexual in 2017 while still dating under the radar, and details about earlier relationships remain private (Outer Banks Wiki (fan-curated database)).
While Bailey is open about her current relationship, she has deliberately kept previous romantic history out of the spotlight — a boundary that fans and media increasingly respect given her mental health advocacy.
The pattern: privacy in one area enables openness in another.
What is Madison Bailey’s diagnosis?
In June 2020, Bailey publicly revealed that she has borderline personality disorder (BPD). She later discussed living with the condition in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, describing it as a part of her identity that she manages openly (Entertainment Tonight (celebrity news source)).
Does Madison Bailey have a disability?
BPD is a mental health condition, not a physical disability. Bailey does not have a diagnosed physical disability. She has used her platform to reduce stigma around BPD, which affects emotional regulation and interpersonal relationships (V Magazine (fashion and culture publication)).
There is some inconsistency in reports about when she was first diagnosed. A BuzzFeed (digital media outlet) article states she was diagnosed around age 12, while a fan wiki claims age 18. Bailey herself has not specified the exact age, so this detail remains unconfirmed.
The discrepancy in reported age of diagnosis matters because it affects how fans interpret the timeline of her mental health journey — earlier diagnosis suggests longer-term management, while later diagnosis aligns with typical onset in late teens.
What this means: without a confirmed age, any claim about her diagnosis timeline should be treated as provisional.
Is Madison Bailey LGBTQ+?
Yes, Madison Bailey identifies as pansexual. She came out in 2017 via social media, and her relationship with Mariah Linney is part of her LGBTQ+ identity (Outer Banks Wiki (fan-curated database)). In a 2020 Instagram post, she wrote, I just like who I like
— a line that became widely shared.
Bailey has spoken about the importance of representation, especially for young fans who may be questioning their own identity. V Magazine described her comments as part of a broader effort to speak unapologetically about identity and mental health (V Magazine (fashion and culture publication)).
Does Madison Bailey have a child?
No, Madison Bailey does not have a child. She has not mentioned any children in interviews or on social media. This question often arises because fans sometimes confuse her with older castmates or assume personal life details from fictional storylines.
Timeline of key milestones
- 1999: Born in North Carolina, USA (IMDb (actor database))
- 2017: First acting credit on Black Lightning; comes out as pansexual (Outer Banks Wiki (fan-curated database))
- 2020: Outer Banks premieres; begins relationship with Mariah Linney; publicly shares BPD diagnosis (Entertainment Tonight (celebrity news source))
- 2021: Talks about living with BPD in Teen Vogue and other outlets (The Mighty (mental health community))
- 2025: Continues to film Outer Banks season 4; pursues music projects (Nylon (youth culture magazine))
Confirmed facts
- Born January 29, 1999 (IMDb (actor database))
- Known for Outer Banks (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
- In a relationship with Mariah Linney (Entertainment Tonight (celebrity news source))
- Has borderline personality disorder (BuzzFeed (digital media outlet))
- Identifies as pansexual (Outer Banks Wiki (fan-curated database))
- Does not have children
What remains unclear
- Exact age of BPD diagnosis (reports vary between 12, 15, and 18)
- Name of any previous partner
- Precise net worth
- Parents’ full names and detailed ethnic breakdown
In her own words
I just like who I like.
— Madison Bailey, Instagram (2020), on coming out as pansexual
It’s a part of who I am but it doesn’t define me.
— Madison Bailey, Teen Vogue interview (2021), on living with borderline personality disorder
Summary: what her openness means
Madison Bailey has built a career that intertwines acting with advocacy. By sharing her borderline personality disorder diagnosis and pansexual identity, she has given fans permission to be more open about their own mental health and sexuality. For young women navigating similar questions, Bailey demonstrates that authenticity does not have to come at the cost of professional success. The trade-off is living under constant public scrutiny, but for Bailey, the platform is worth the exposure.
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Frequently asked questions
How did Madison Bailey and Mariah Linney meet?
They met before Bailey’s fame, though the exact circumstances have not been publicly detailed. Bailey has said they began dating in 2020.
Does Madison Bailey have siblings?
She has not publicly discussed siblings in detail. Available biographies do not list any.
What is Madison Bailey’s net worth?
Her net worth has not been confirmed by reliable sources. Estimates from fan sites vary widely but are not verifiable.
What other TV shows has Madison Bailey been in besides Outer Banks?
She appeared on Black Lightning (2017) and has a few other smaller credits listed on her IMDb page.
How tall is Madison Bailey?
She is 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) according to her IMDb profile.
Is Madison Bailey active on TikTok?
Yes, she has a verified TikTok account with millions of followers, though she is most active on Instagram.
What is Madison Bailey’s ethnicity?
She is of mixed race, including African-American and Italian heritage, though she has not provided a full breakdown.
George Thompson is Senior Reporter at UrbanMixr.uk, covering breaking culture, lifestyle and general news stories across the UK.