The Face Behind the "Midwest Princess" Aesthetic
If you've spent more than five minutes scrolling through the kaleidoscopic world of Chappell Roan, you’ve probably seen her. Maybe she was laughing in the background of a chaotic Instagram Live, or perhaps she was the one holding a bedazzled prop just off-camera. Her name is Misha Sattar, and honestly, calling her just a "best friend" feels like a massive understatement.
People constantly ask, "Who is Misha?" and "Are they related?" or—inevitably—"Are they dating?"
The reality is actually way more interesting. Misha isn't some corporate handler or a PR plant. She’s the Creative Director. She’s the person responsible for the specific, DIY, "scrapbook" energy that has made Chappell (real name Kayleigh Rose Amstutz) a global sensation. When Chappell says, "She’s just as much Chappell Roan as I am," she isn't just being sweet. She's being literal.
Who is Misha Sattar, Really?
Basically, Misha is a Pakistani-American visual artist and animator who grew up in Nebraska before moving to Texas. She’s a 2021 graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas, where she studied at the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology.
She didn't start at the top, though. Back when she was 14, she was making illustrations for Rookie, that iconic online teen magazine that basically raised a generation of creative outsiders. That’s where she honed her vibe: glitter, doilies, Polaroids, and a very specific "living in the moodboard" philosophy.
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Here is the quick breakdown of her background:
- Full Name: Ramisha Sattar (she goes by Misha or Misha Spice).
- Education: BA in Design and Production from UT Dallas.
- Roots: Born in Lincoln, Nebraska; family later moved to North Texas.
- Day Job: Creative Director for Chappell Roan and Director of Design for the astrology app CHANI.
How she met Chappell
It’s the ultimate Gen Z professional origin story. They didn't meet at a networking event or through a high-powered agent. Chappell saw Misha's work on Instagram, liked her style, and reached out about designing some merch. That was back in March 2022.
What started as a gig for a single hoodie turned into Misha becoming the wardrobe assistant for the "My Kink is Karma" music video. From there, the two became inseparable. They even shared a Twitter account for a while.
The "Cousins" Joke and the Shipping Rumors
You've probably seen the TikToks. The ones where fans analyze every look they give each other. Because they are so close, fans naturally started "shipping" them—assuming they must be a couple.
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They aren't.
Actually, the whole "we're cousins!" thing you might see in their captions or videos is a running joke they started specifically because the shipping made them feel a little weird. It’s their way of poking fun at the internet's obsession with their relationship. In a 2025 interview on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Chappell clarified that she has been in a serious relationship with someone else for months—someone from her past who is "completely outside" the music industry.
Misha has her own life, too. She’s often posted about her own partner on social media. They’re just two creative women who found a "ride or die" friendship in a notoriously lonely industry.
What She Actually Does for the Brand
Misha’s influence is everywhere. If you like the fonts on the vinyl packaging for "Good Luck, Babe!"—that’s Misha. If you love the weird, infomercial-style visuals for "The Giver"—that’s her too.
She describes her work as a mix of "South Asian and American roots." You can see it in the intricate details. She’s mentioned before how she sees a bridge between the heavy embroidery of Desi clothing and the fringe and sparkle of Western "cowboy" wear.
Her Creative Fingerprints
- Stage Visuals: She was the animator for the massive screens at Coachella, Lollapalooza, and the Governors Ball.
- Merch: She designs the shirts, the posters, and the physical albums.
- Marketing: She helps conceptualize the "unapologetically queer" world that fans get to escape into.
It’s a rare thing to see a pop star give this much credit to their creative director. Usually, those people are kept in the basement. But with Chappell and Misha, it’s a partnership. They go to the Grammys together. They do 45-minute livestreams where they just hang out and talk to fans.
Why This Partnership Matters
The music industry usually tries to polish everything until it’s sterile. Misha’s work is the opposite. It’s "messy" in the best way. It uses riso prints, bad drawings (on purpose), and sparkly gel pens.
It works because it feels human.
For queer, Desi women especially, seeing Misha in such a high-profile position is a big deal. She’s spoken about the struggle of being an artist in a community where that isn't always the "standard" career path. By being the architect of the Chappell Roan "look," she’s proving that "making gay art" is a viable, world-changing career.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creatives
If you’re looking to follow in Misha’s footsteps or just want to support the work, here is the move:
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- Look at the Credits: Next time you buy a physical record, look at the design credits. People like Misha are the reason the "vibe" exists.
- Embrace the DIY: Misha’s career started on Tumblr and Instagram with "tangible" art like collaging and bedazzling. You don't need a $10,000 suite of tools to start.
- Separate the Art from the Artist: It's tempting to want every close friendship to be a romance, but respecting their boundary as "cousins by choice" keeps the community a healthy place for them to interact with us.
Misha Sattar is more than a sidekick. She’s the visual translator for one of the biggest stars of 2026. Without her, the "Midwest Princess" might have just been another singer; with her, she’s an entire world.