TikTok Australia stars Mescia twins, Bailey Pickles, Peach explain success

In a minute these young Australians lives, including 20-year-old twins Olivia and Ashley Mescia, were changed thanks to viral video sharing app TikTok.

Videos between six and 60 seconds changed the lives of these young Australians who have made it big on the viral video-sharing platform TikTok.

They have signed record deals, earned thousands of dollars and met their heroes after posting videos about their lives and talents.

The Chinese owned app has been bashed by critics who claim the troves of data it collects is used by the Chinese Communist Party.

However, the application is used by more than 2.5 million Aussies and changed the lives of dozens.

Twin sisters Ashley and Olivia Mescia have a huge following on TikTok. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Sydney twins, Olivia and Ashley Mescia, 20, made it big on the platform last year and said that unlike Facebook or Instagram you can go viral on TikTok with just one post.

“Our biggest growth was in September to October last year we went from about 400,000 followers to one million after one of our videos went viral,” Ashley said.

“The video was not anything crazy in itself, it was a glow up trend. Where we just went from looking pretty rough to putting make-up, doing our hair and getting changed. The way it works you do this transition with your arm and you cut it to look like it changed instantly.

“We had been working on our social media, our Facebook and Instagram, for a few years but TikTok is where it really went viral for us.”

The twins now work with some of their favourite brands earning thousands of dollars for endorsing beauty products, clothes and accessories.

They also started their own fitness program.

More than half of TikTok’s users are women, with 1.5 million on the app. It is most popular with Generation Z also.

Pickles has been able to meet his heroes after posting videos on TikTok. Picture: Instagram

Despite this, it was only through his mum’s nagging which got musician Bailey Pickles, 17, from Camden, to post on the application in March.

“My mum is an absolute legend. She convinced me that it would be a good idea to put my stuff out to the world,” he said.

His mother, Renee Pickles, also came up with the idea for the video concept which made her son go viral.

“Mum said how about we do a couple of videos of you playing something on piano when you hear it for the first time,” he said.

He’s gained almost 400,000 followers from posting his music on the app and has been contacted by international producers who want to work with him.

The two highlights have been getting messages from Guy Sebastian and his favourite artist Jacob Collier.

Eight Clients founder, an agency specialising in TikTok marketing, Marcus Willis said the platform is rapidly changing and in coming months it will be less likely for users to go viral. “As platforms monetise more it does not necessarily mean they promote organic contact. If you look at Facebook there is a much smaller chance of seeing organic content over promoted content,” he said.

“That is not how they make money. It will be interesting to see where TikTok moves to as they are slowly growing into that system where there is more ad content on the application.” The other large concern for the application is the rising tensions between China and the US.

US President Donald Trump attempted to ban the platform prompting a scare among content creators.

Peach was able to use the TikTok platform to connect with music labels and has now signed a record deal. Picture: Instagram

Australian musician Peach, who asked to not have her real name published, earned a record deal after posting her musing and music on the application.

Most of her followers are in the US and she was worried she would lose them if the ban had gone through.

“It was a weird time. I was thinking about different apps or platforms that I could use to connect with them (her US audience),” she said.

“The app changed everything for me. I didn’t have connections, or contacts within the music industry. After using the app it has made my life do a full 180 degree change and I’m signed to a label with new music to come out next year.”