TikTok: Ultimate guide to SE QLD’s top 20 stars
Aussies are achieving stardom through their skyrocketing influence on TikTok. But what is TikTok and who should you follow? Here’s our guide to QLD’s top 20 stars.
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Creators, comedians and even pets are achieving stardom by the minute with their rising influence on TikTok.
Some have seen their businesses take off – others have secured record deals, brand endorsements and managers through their success on the social media platform.
These are the top 20 TikTok stars in SE QLD – and how they made it big with their fans.
SARAH MAGUSARA – 16.4 MILLION FOLLOWERS
The 19-year-old Brisbane mum has one of the most popular TikTok accounts in Australia, boasting a massive 943.1 million total likes. Sarah began uploading photos of her daily life on Instagram in 2014 and quickly gained a loyal following for her bubbly dance and fitness videos that feature both her and her adorable young daughter.
MITCHELL PETTIGREW – 4.2 MILLION FOLLOWERS
Brisbane photographer Mitchell Pettigrew makes viral content from strangely satisfying slow motion videos of rivers, oceans and bays. The videos, often overlaid with soft electronic music, have amassed more than 73 million likes from viewers across the globe.
BRODIE AND DYLAN PAWSON – 7.9 MILLION AND 2.4 MILLION FOLLOWERS
Professional parkour athletes Brodie and Dylan Pawson have amassed millions of followers with their gravity-defying stunts, filmed at cities across the world. Described as Brisbane’s “real-life Spidermen”, both Dylan and twin brother Brodie have appeared on Australian Ninja Warrior and made videos that have been viewed upwards of 31 million times.
IAN ZARO – 1.9 MILLION FOLLOWERS
Comedian Ian Zaro rose from social media stardom to television celebrity as he featured on the ABC show Black Comedy for two seasons. After a stint in Auckland Ian has returned to Brisbane, where he continues to make videos that feature lip-synching, public stunts and dancing.
LAKOTA JOHNSON – 1.8 MILLION FOLLOWERS
Gold Coast-based model and actor Lakota Johnson is one of the fastest rising stars on TikTok, having gained 200,000 fans on the app in a single month. Lakota has appeared in ad campaigns for JayJays and Footlocker, and posts videos lipsyncing, showcasing his daily life, and telling viewers what he likes in women.
SASHA MORPETH – 1.7 MILLION FOLLOWERS
21-year-old model Sasha Morpeth has scored millions of followers after sharing her opulent Gold Coast lifestyle. Sasha’s videos frequently feature act-outs, beauty product reviews and viral challenges with her mum.
CHRISTIAN HULL – 1.1 MILLION FOLLOWERS
Brisbane man Christian Hull is just “trying to find comedy in (his) mess of a life”. His videos feature hilarious commentary on everyday occurrences, such as a hike through nature or losing his car in a CBD carpark.
BEN HUTCHINSON – 1.1 MILLION FOLLOWERS
Ben Hutchinson is a well-known YouTuber that built a large TikTok following with his candid videos that show him dancing and cross-dressing in visually stunning outfits across SE QLD. His videos have amassed more than 35 million likes on the platform.
JARHN MANNING – 670,200 FOLLOWERS
Self-taught artist Jarhn Manning showcases his alternative style in a series of lipsyncing, skits and POV videos. He has fast become one of the most popular social media stars to originate from the Gold Coast.
AMOS PEARCE – 553,000 FOLLOWERS
This Catahoula Beagle cross may be Brisbane’s first animal to reach social media stardom on TikTok, and with a face like that, it isn’t difficult to understand why. The “rescue dog turned king” shows off his agility skills, eating prowess and sass in his videos.
TAYLOR TREDREA – 543,200 FOLLOWERS
This self-professed goth girl from Maroochydore speaks candidly about mental health, relationships and alternative fashion. Since launching her profile in 2018, she has established a strong following on the platform, racking up over 11 million likes.
CONNOR EVANS – 525,000 FOLLOWERS
Amateur interviewer Connor Evans has made a name for himself on TikTok for his funny vox-pop style videos. Connor is filmed approaching strangers from locations across SE QLD and asking questions such as, ‘Is it okay to date a mate’s ex?’ and ‘Which country has the best looking guys?’.
MIKAELA TESTA AND ATIS PAUL – 478,400 FOLLOWERS AND 304,900 FOLLOWERS
This TikTok power couple recently moved into a three-storey mansion on the Gold Coast. The glamorous pair document their life in a series of vlogs, one of which recently went viral for calling Sydney the “capital of Australia”.
JULIA WOODFORD – 345,200 FOLLOWERS
Gym owner, personal trainer and WBFF Bikini Pro Athlete Julia Woodford “started TikTok before it was cool”. Julia posts videos of her workouts, bikini competitions and nights out on the Gold Coast.
GENEVA VANDERZEIL – 274,300 FOLLOWERS
DIY and upcycling trends have become popular on the platform, where Brisbane resident Geneva Vanderzeil has garnered attention for turning trash into aesthetically-pleasing treasure. Millions of people have watched her videos that feature everything from an upcycled kids bike to a tutorial on how to paint furniture with a sock.
TAMMY HEMBROW – 269,200 FOLLOWERS
Glamorous Gold Coast fitness model Tammy Hembrow shares videos of her family, lip-synching, dancing and hanging out at home. Her Instagram remains her most popular social media platform with over 12 million followers, allowing her to launch a series of successful business ventures, including the TammyFit app.
SHANI GRIMMOND – 267,900 FOLLOWERS
Brisbane beauty expert Shani Grimmond shares her daily life in vlogs watched by millions worldwide. The influencer successfully expanded from her YouTube channel, which she launched in 2011, to become a commercial success across a variety of social media platforms and develop her own clothing line, SG The Label.
JADE GROBLER – 256,400 FOLLOWERS
South African-born bikini model Jade Grobler appears to be living her best life on the Sunshine Coast, where she posts a number of popular videos featuring the sun, sand and a very cute golden retriever.
LACHY DRAHM – 221,700 FOLLOWERS
21-year-old Lachy Drahm is a musician from Brisbane who posts TikTok videos of popular music covers. Though he seems to have recently deleted several posts, those that remain boast a whopping 3.3 million likes.
CHLOE SZEP – 219,200 FOLLOWERS
Young Gold Coast mum Chloe Szep gained a loyal following on her Instagram which has since followed her to TikTok, where she shares lip-synching, dancing and challenge videos. Her most recent post showed the heartwarming scene of her mother meeting her son for the first time.
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