‘The smartest thing a celebrity has done’: Dua Lipa turns her jetsetter meme into a Google Maps collab

As anyone following Dua Lipa on social media knows, a new photo dump from the singer can only mean one thing: a destination filled with midnight food excursions, aesthetic scenery, and equally Instagrammable looks. The artist loves traveling, and her camera roll knows it—and now Google does too. On May 28, Lipa and her global newsletter platform Service95 partnered with Google to roll out 12 curated travel lists on Google Maps. The lists go from local guides—like must-visits to Mexico City and Tokyo—to more curated locations like the singer’s favorite bookstores or natural wine bars around the globe. Dua’s Lists follow a long-running internet joke about the artist and her seemingly idyllic life. In April, the singer posted a carousel from a trip to Warsaw, followed by a photo dump of her in a safari holiday with Callum Turner, who became her husband this weekend. Last week, her feed featured a trip to Paris for the launch of a skincare line, and she was spotted this week in London, celebrating her wedding. She can’t seem to stand still—and fans have noticed. “Everything about dua lipa’s life is like she rubbed a genie lamp and got all 3 wishes. she’s naturally gorgeous, always on some type of dream vacation, and met her husband bc they were reading the same book. for my mental health, i have to block her,” a user said on X. Another added, “Whatever i prayed for, God literally double it and give it to Dua Lipa.” Dua was here With Lipa’s travels turning into a full-fledged meme, it’s perhaps no surprise that Google is tapping into the joke too—making her feed the springboard for a collaboration. “Whether you’re looking for late-night tacos in Mexico City or a romantic spot in Paris for a candlelit date, these lists give you a front-row seat to Dua’s travels,” Google said in a blog post. Users who turn to the lists for guidance will be able to download them for viewing in their own Google Maps app, making them readily accessible when traveling. But the partnership is not just dropping pins on a map. Each selected location also features a photo taken by Lipa, as well as a short blurb from the artist. A custom pegman—the small humanoid icon that pops up when turning to street view on Google Maps—will also be available in select cities, featuring a Levitating-themed figure in honor of the artist. [Image: Google] The collaboration also follows a recent controversy between the singer and another tech giant. Last month, Lipa sued Samsung for allegedly using an image of her in cardboard boxes for their TVs. (Samsung has denied wrongdoing.) At the time, her team shared that Lipa is “highly selective” of her partnerships, with previous endorsements including Apple, Porsche, Versace, Bulgari, and Nespresso. And while many artist collabs fall through the cracks, Lipa’s lists seem to be warmly welcomed by fans. “Dua Lipa being the face of Google maps makes so much sense the way she must know more streets and places than the maps itself considering how much she travels,” a user said on X. Another added, “Dua Lipa’s Google Maps collaboration is probably the smartest thing a celebrity has done in terms of brand management in recent years. Turning the whole “perpetual vacation” joke into something concrete.” Other users have responded to the lists with the shrug, calling out the selections as somewhat unsurprising. For instance, Dua Lipa’s Mexico City list includes spots like Contramar, which can be found in any other top restaurants list, while her New York City guide features only spots below Manhattan’s 14th Street—its own meme for transplants. “Dua Lipa’s “Essential NYC List” being a cluster of places nearly all in one neighborhood—below 14th street, I have to laugh,” a user said on X. But beyond curated lists—local-approved or not—fans seem to want a little something more. A user shared on Threads, “I need Dua Lipa’s full and detailed step by step tutorial about life.”