Tampa Native Doechii Lands on Forbes 30 Under 30 List for 2026

Tampa native Doechii made the Forbes 30 under 30 list for 2026. The GRAMMY Award-winning artist earned this honor for her mix of "razor-sharp rap with R&B, pop, and experimental flair," plus her "bold visuals" that grabbed attention across the music world, according to WTSP.

Each year, Forbes spotlights what it describes as the "top" young entrepreneurs, leaders, and changemakers in the U.S. working across various industries. The publication gathers suggestions from more than 8,000 U.S. list alumni. They also contact venture capitalists, corporations, universities, and founders to find promising candidates.

"While there's no one-size-fits-all formula for making the Under 30 list, Forbes editors look for scale, impact, creativity, and potential for success," Forbes writes.

The artist, who goes by the Swamp Princess, became the third-ever woman to win the Best Rap Album GRAMMY for her album Alligator Bites Never Heal. The album tips its hat to her Florida roots. She gave a shoutout to her hometown while accepting the award.

"There's so many people out there who probably don't know who I am. I call myself the Swamp Princess because I'm from Tampa, Florida!" Doechii said at the time. "There's so much culture in Tampa. Whenever people think about Florida, they only think about, like, Miami, but Tampa has so much talent. Labels, go to Tampa. There's talent there, okay?"

Before stardom found her, she was Jaylah Hickmon. Just a student at Blake High School in Hillsborough County. The school offers a "conservatory-style arts education" with tough academic courses that work alongside its programs in music, visual art, and theater.

Billboard named the rapper 2025 Woman of the Year. She snagged two VMAs for her hit song "Anxiety," winning Best Hip-Hop Video and Best Choreography.

Doechii stopped by her alma mater last year. Students welcomed her with performances by who she described as "the future icons of entertainment" and she answered their questions during a conversation in the school's auditorium.