Kim Petras was born on August 27, 1992, in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. She is a German singer and songwriter based in Los Angeles, California, United States. She began recording music as a teenager and gained recognition for her pop music and distinctive high-pitched singing voice. Her mother is a dancer, and her father is an architect.

Her journey in the music industry started with her independently releasing various singles from 2017 to 2019. Some of her notable early singles include "I Don't Want It at All," "Heart to Break," and "1, 2, 3 Dayz Up." These singles charted on Billboard's Dance/Electronic Songs chart. In 2019, she independently released her first two full-length projects, "Clarity" and "Turn Off the Light."

In 2021, she signed with Republic Records and released the EP "Slut Pop" in 2022. Her collaborative single "Unholy" with Sam Smith topped charts internationally, including the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100. This achievement made her the first openly transgender solo artist to reach number one in the United States.

Kim Petras has also made history by becoming the first openly transgender artist to receive a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Unholy" in 2023. She is the second transgender woman to win a Grammy, following Wendy Carlos.

Her early life was marked by her medical gender transition, which she discussed on a German television show at the age of 13. She was approved for gender-confirmation surgery at 16 years old, making her one of the youngest people to undergo the procedure at that time.

Throughout her career, Kim Petras has been an advocate for the transgender community and has used her platform to inspire others.