Before she was "Brianna Chickenfry" and long before she was headlining Barstool Sports podcasts or navigating high-profile breakups in the public eye, Brianna LaPaglia was just a girl from the South Shore of Massachusetts. Honestly, it's easy to forget that these internet stars had real, boring lives before TikTok existed. But for Brianna, her roots in Rockland are exactly what shaped the "relatable party girl" brand that eventually made her a millionaire.
Where did Brianna LaPaglia go to high school?
Brianna LaPaglia attended Rockland High School in Rockland, Massachusetts. She graduated around 2017. If you aren't familiar with the area, Rockland is a small town about 20 miles south of Boston. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows everyone, and for Brianna, it was the backdrop for a childhood that she’s described as being both normal and a bit "crazy" at times.
While some influencers pretend they grew up in a vacuum of perfection, Brianna has always been pretty open about her upbringing. She wasn't some polished pageant kid. She was a self-described "degenerate" who loved animals—at one point having everything from guinea pigs and cats to a snake and a lizard.
Swimming, diving, and life as a Bulldog
High school wasn't just about hanging out with her best friend Grace O’Malley (yes, they really have been friends that long). Brianna was actually quite active in school activities. Most notably, she was a student-athlete.
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- The Swim Team: Brianna was a member of the Rockland High School swimming and diving team.
- Athletic Success: She wasn't just a participant; she was competitive enough to continue her athletic career into college.
- The "Townie" Vibe: Growing up in Rockland gave her that distinct "South Shore" personality—fast-talking, unfiltered, and unapologetically loud.
It’s funny to think about her at a swim meet, knowing that just a few years later she’d be one of the most famous podcasters in the country. Her time at Rockland High School was basically the "incubation period" for the personality we see today. She has often credited her hometown friends and family for keeping her grounded, even when her life turned into a whirlwind of NYC parties and celebrity drama.
From Rockland to Ohio: The pre-med dream
After graduating from Rockland High School, Brianna headed off to Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio. This is where the story gets interesting.
She didn't go to school for media or communications. Believe it or not, she actually started out as a pre-med student. She wanted to be a doctor. Imagine going into surgery and seeing Brianna Chickenfry holding the scalpel.
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While at Baldwin Wallace, she continued her swimming career. In her sophomore year (the 2018-19 season), she was officially on the Yellow Jackets' Women's Swimming and Diving roster. But the rigid structure of being a student-athlete and a pre-med major eventually clashed with her growing presence on TikTok.
The TikTok pivot that changed everything
By 2020, while the rest of the world was stuck inside during the pandemic, Brianna was in her dorm room making videos. She wasn't trying to be a "creator." She was just talking about being hungover and drinking "lazberry coradas" (Blue Raspberry Coolattas) from Dunkin'.
It worked. People loved her.
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She eventually dropped out of college to move to New York and work for Barstool Sports. It’s a classic "hometown girl makes it big" story, but it all started back in those Rockland High School hallways.
Why her high school years actually matter
In the world of influencers, authenticity is a currency. Brianna’s "value" comes from the fact that she doesn't feel manufactured. When she talks about her childhood in Boston or her long-term friendship with Grace, it feels real because it is.
Most people who search for Brianna LaPaglia high school info are looking for "dirt" or a transformation story. The truth is actually more relatable: she was a regular kid who was good at swimming, loved her pets, and had a loud personality that eventually found an audience of millions.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’re following Brianna’s career or looking to understand how she built such a loyal community, keep these things in mind:
- Long-term loyalty: Her friendship with Grace O'Malley started in their youth and is now a professional partnership. Surrounding yourself with people who knew you "before" is a major key to staying sane in the spotlight.
- Pivot when necessary: She wasn't afraid to ditch a pre-med track for a risky career in media. If your gut says your current path isn't the right fit, it’s okay to change direction.
- Lean into your roots: Brianna didn't try to hide her Boston accent or her "townie" background; she used them to stand out in a sea of generic LA influencers.
Rockland High School might have just been four years of her life, but it’s the foundation of the Chickenfry empire.