TikTok’s 2022 list: Meet Australia’s top 25 creators
These are Australia’s top 25 TikTok stars and how they have attracted millions of fans. See the full list.
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The world’s most popular app has pioneered a new age of instant attention.
In just five years, TikTok — once written off as a silly dance-video fad — has become one of the most prominent, discussed and geopolitically complicated juggernauts on the internet.
And the app has birthed a new generation of ambitious creators — from artists and cooks to comedians and dancers — who are making their names and fortunes on the app.
“This year was a year like no other, and we are so proud of the Aussies on TikTok who have shared their talents, their laughs and their life hacks with us all this year,” TikTok Australia and NZ general manager, Lee Hunter, said.
“From businesses finding new ways to reach their audiences, to creators around the country connecting within their diverse and unique communities, it has been another unforgettable year,” Mr Hunter said.
Here we unveil this year’s top 25 TikTok Australian creators, many of whom have amassed millions of followers on the app in less than two years.
BREAKTHROUGH STARS
From home cooks to stuntmen making their mark, these are the trending creators who hit new heights on the app this year.
NAME: Luke and Scott @lukeandsassyscott
STATE: VIC
FOLLOWERS: 2m
In a space of a few months, brother duo Luke and Scott O’Halloran went from everyday Aussies to social media superstars – garnering two million followers already.
The Melbourne pair have grown a worldwide following on TikTok, which includes superstars Selena Gomez and Rita Ora, thanks to their comedic bits, where Luke deliberately stirs up his older “sassy” brother.
The pair say they pride themselves on providing lighthearted distractions for viewers, but are yet to adjust to their new-found fame.
“The toughest thing is the stories people share with me in confidence. I get so emotional very quickly,” Scott said.
“A lot of people are hurting out there in the world and a lot of people confide very sensitive stories with me and say thank you for making me smile.”
“That’s the flip side of social media. We get to impact people and make them feel special.”
NAME: Jimmy Jan @jimmyjan
STATE: NSW
FOLLOWERS: 685.2K
Jimmy Jan is a Newcastle-born medical student who became permanently paralysed after sustaining a spinal cord injury a freak snow skiing accident in the Snowy Mountains in mid-2021.
Since the accident, he has won the hearts of more than 685,000 TikTok followers, by proving you can live your life to the fullest no matter your circumstances.
During his in-hospital rehab, Mr Jan found he had a lot of spare time and opted to share the story of his accident, which went viral.
“Everyone goes through hard times, and while it might look different to my bump in the road, I think we can all learn to be stronger during hard times, see the positives, and remember how amazing life truly is,” he said.
“My approach to life is to focus on the good stuff that happens, and not get too caught up in the bad, so that’s the vibe of my content, and I’m stoked that people have been connecting with that.
“It is so incredible to see that these little videos I post on the internet have been helping people, showing them how to see life from a different perspective, to appreciate the little things, and not take life for granted.”
NAME: Unice Wani @unicewani
STATE: WA
FOLLOWERS: 7.9m
Australian fashion model Unice Wani first captured the attention of TikTok users when she posted a video of her rendition of the popular and now globally recognised hit single Love Nwantiti by Nigerian singer Ckay.
The 20-year-old gained popularity on the app for dancing and lip-synching along to popular TikTok trends and has since amassed nearly eight million followers in just two years.
Her content now also features fashion and comedy videos.
NAME: Andy Hearnden @andycooks
STATE: QLD
FOLLOWERS: 3.6m
Within six months of being on TikTok, executive chef at Kilcoy Global Foods Andy Hearnden hit one million followers.
The Kiwi chef has produced a suite of inspiring and motivating video clips encouraging young chefs and keen home cooks to push the boundaries in how they select, prepare and cook red meat cuts.
“TikTok has completely changed my life,” he said.
“Come next year, I‘ll be making content full time and working on a few other projects that I’ve been wanting to do for a while.”
Hearnden currently has 3.6 million followers on TikTok, 1.9 million followers on Instagram, and 2.33 million followers on YouTube.
BIG LITTLE COMMUNITIES
Here are some of this year’s favourite communities that have taken Australia by storm.
NAME: Jane Lewis @raintreeart
STATE: NT
FOLLOWERS: 83.4k
The owner of Raintree Art gallery, Jane Lewis, has amassed more than 83,000 followers on TikTok by just filming Aboriginal artists painting their artwork before it’s later sold.
But Louise Numina has proven to be one of the most popular artists to feature on the account — with one video hitting four millions views alone.
Numina is often filmed sitting on blankets spread across the living room floor as she created her bush medicine leaf work on sheets of black canvas.
“Everyone just loves watching her paint and we found that her videos are very engaging,” Ms Lewis said. “The videos have impacted a lot of the artists because they’re getting publicity from the platform.”
Ms Lewis, who isn’t Indigenous herself, said she’s seen a “big movement” towards Aboriginal culture in the past few years.
Raintree Art was first owned by Shirley Collins — the first Indigenous woman to own a commercial gallery in the Northern Territory — before she gave the shop name to her long time friend Ms Lewis.
NAME: Shanae @pretty.bookish
STATE: VIC
FOLLOWERS: 59.1k
Melbourne reader Shanae posts about the books she loves to read, as well as tips on how to use a Kindle. She has more than 59,000 followers and some of her videos have netted millions of likes.
NAME: Koda, Grace and Noah @caiqueing.withus
STATE: QLD
FOLLOWERS: 68.8k
With such a range of pet birds on TikTok, you’re a bit spoiled for choice. But Koda, Grace and Noah have proven to be a hit with more than 68,000 users.
The account – run by a whole family- shows the ins and outs of living with pet parrots.
EATS ON REPEAT
As the recent saying goes, phone eats first. This year, foodies continued to find a home on TikTok, sharing their favourite cooking tips, culinary adventures and all-day cravings.
Here are the popular #FoodTok videos and favourite foodie trends that people couldn’t get enough of this year.
NAME: Natasha Swingler @effectivespaces
STATE: VIC
FOLLOWERS: 3.3m
With more than 3.3 million followers, Natasha Swingler shares her tips on how to fold clothes, wrap presents and organise areas of your home.
The Melbourne woman’s gift wrapping videos have gone viral globally, showing a variety of ways to up the ante or tie the perfect bow.
NAME: Harpreet Kaur @musclehoney
STATE: NSW
FOLLOWERS: 582k
Muscle Honey is a business that harvests raw honey from hives in backyards across NSW.
Harpreet Kaur — who became a beekeeper to produce raw honey for his sick mother — now has at least 30 apiary sites with the help of hive hosts, which he calls “Bee Guardians”.
His videos range from close footage of the bees to showing how the honey is harvested.
NAME: Daen Lia @daenskitchen
STATE: VIC
FOLLOWERS: 1.7m
With 1.7 million followers, Daen Lia has become well loved for her cooking tips.
The Melbourne mum’s first post was in April of 2020m, which combined Jason Derulo’s song Savage Love Tik Tok dance with how to cook a whole fish.
Since then, her simple pasta recipes to sweet treats have become a hit and Ms Lia credits her cooking knowledge to her Spanish and Sicilian mum, as well as her late Sicilian grandmother.
LOVED BY TIKTOK
Here are the popular accounts that made people want to “add to their cart” this year.
NAME: @thelazydoor
STATE: N/A
FOLLOWERS: 9.8k
The Lazy Door account is everyone’s answer to privacy and laziness.
They showcase their device, which automatically closes the door for you when someone leaves it open.
In other words, why move all the way to the door when it can now be done for you?
NAME: April McCullin @waggsandbone
STATE: QLD
FOLLOWERS: 10k
Your pup will be travelling in style thanks to Waggs & Bone who sell pet travel supplies.
Company founder April said the business idea was born after becoming a new dog-mum and discovering her cavoodle Murphy had anxiety when travelling in the car.
She has more than 10,000 followers and the videos feature plenty of cute puppies.
NAME: Gav Plummer @hangeasy
STATE: N/A
FOLLOWERS: 10.2K
Say goodbye to a sore back from juggling the washing and peg baskets while hanging out your laundry.
The Hang Easy device is like a wire coat hanger for the washing basket, designed to hold the laundry at waist height to make it easier to hang clothes on the line.
Gav Plummer’s account has more than 10,000 followers, with videos showcasing the product while also making comedic content about washing.
ONLY ON TIKTOK
Some creators pushed the boundaries of “authentic self-expression” on TikTok — whether it was through creative and community effects, sounds and even filters.
These creators helped set trends by using the app features – and their own creativity.
NAME: Jiemba Sands @jiembasands
STATE: TAS
FOLLOWERS: 4.9m
Jiemba Sands is no stranger to performing tricks, having been a member of the Sands Family Circus alongside his siblings and acrobat father and dancing mother.
His Videos of comedic Parkour-style stunts and circus skits have raked in millions of viewers, including one where he narrowly escaped being hit by a metal frame which had almost 18 million views.
In another video, where he embodied different animal “fighting” traits, he amassed 70.9 million views.
NAME: Chloe Gaggiano @chloegaggi
STATE: QLD
FOLLOWERS: 114.2K
Chloe Gaggiano joined TikTok in 2019.
Many of her videos feature dancing with her friends, including some recent posts with the hashtag #schoolies, which have gained thousands of views.
THE PLAYLIST
From fresh beats to classics making a comeback, the songs on the For You feeds made people hit repeat. In 2022, popular songs on TikTok came from established, emerging, and breakthrough artists, and these creators put an Aussie spin on these top tracks.
NAME: Nathan Lust @nathanlust
STATE: QLD
FOLLOWERS: 4.3m
Nathan Lust’s viral comedy bits and special effects-focused clips have helped him gain more than 4.3 million fans on the app.
Having joined the platform in mid-2019, his early videos feature himself dancing in his living room where he used editing tricks to create conga lines and dance troops.
The theme has since continued and he has even made his own dance trends.
His most recent video saw him dressed in all-pink and superimposed himself into Megan Trainor’s Made You Look video clip, which has since netted 1.5 million views.
NAME: Emily Hodder @emhodder
STATE: VIC
FOLLOWERS: 133.5k
For 21-year-old Emily Hodder, Harry Styles is a popular source of inspiration for her videos, with most about the pop superstar.
The music lover posts videos about gigs she’s been to, as well her singing and dancing, through to commenting on Styles wardrobe choices.
NAME: Zach Mander @zach_mander
STATE: QLD
FOLLOWERS: 224k
Co-host of KIIS 97.3FM Brisbane’s weekend program Collective Noun, Zach Mander is no stranger to keeping audiences entertained.
The Aussie dad’s comedic TikTok posts cover a range of topics including Ikea, iced lattes and the popular children’s program Bluey.
TIKTOK HAS TAUGHT ME
On TikTok, we all learned a thing (or two) this year, as people discovered new recipes, beauty and wellness routines, along with some handy life hacks along the way. These creators showcased some of the popular trends and tutorials for users.
NAME: Madi @madsie.s
STATE: NSW
FOLLOWERS: 236K
Baking and cooking enthusiast Madi shares videos on how to make a variety of baked goods, including microwave mug cakes and biscuits.
She also shares her favourite flavours for homemade ice cream and tips for icing cakes. Her 45-second brownie post was viewed 36.6 million times.
NAME: Dr Karl Kruszelnicki @drkarl
STATE: NSW
FOLLOWERS: 478k
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki has grown a cult following, bringing his outrageously loud shirts and science facts to the app.
Dubbed Australia’s favourite weird nerd uncle, Dr Karl basically serves up piping hot knowledge to all the science questions people have.
NAME: Dr Walt Carroll @oneminmicro
STATE: NSW
FOLLOWERS: 1.5M
Dr Walt Carroll has proven science is really for everyone.
His educational videos include him filming under the microscope to analysing everything from toothbrushes to toilet water — and has amassed a global fanbase.
And it’s this dedication that has seen him become a global TikTok phenomenon, reaching millions of people in under a year.
He has collaborated on social media with the World Health Organisation and partnered with brands to create sponsored content.
FYFAVES
In2022, trending content on TikTok reached For You feeds everywhere, with pets, daily vlogs, and comedy transcending cultures and borders.
These accounts made up some of Australia‘s most memorable TikTok moments this year.
NAME: Jack Say, Sam Zito, and Isaac Gibbons @swag.on.the.beat
STATE: VIC
FOLLOWERS: 1M
Swag On The Beat are a comedy trio from Melbourne’s north who formed during the midst of the pandemic.
The high school friends are known for their absurdist but relatable style of comedy – from the clueless American down under, to the shady dealings of buying black market Rapid Antigen Tests.
NAME: Katrina Ashleigh @katrina_ashleighh
STATE: Western Australia
FOLLOWERS: 210.2k
The Perth woman’s content ranges from cute videos of her German shepherds to patting stingrays at Hamelin Bay, near Margaret River, and walking with an elephant in Indonesia.
Other posts include comical videos of her four-wheel driving, fishing and attempting the viral tortilla challenge trend with friends.
ONES TO WATCH
NAME: Kwame Duah @kwameduahofficial
STATE: SA
FOLLOWERS: 4.8m
What started out as a “joke” between a couple of friends, quickly turned into a series of TikTok hits for world champion bodybuilder Kwame Duah.
His physique – mixed with comedy – has earned him a cult following and currently boasts nearly five million followers on the platform and more than 380,000 Instagram followers.
“I didn’t think I was going to get anywhere with posting the videos and it started more as a fun basis of creating content,” he said.
“For me comedy has always been a big part of my life and as a bodybuilder people wouldn’t expect me to do comedic things which is quite unique and that basically drew people in.
“I also love having fun and putting a smile on people‘s faces and I think that’s what helped me get to where I am today.”
NAME: Ella Watkins @ella.whatkins
STATE: TAS
FOLLOWERS: 2.8m
Hobart content creator Ella Watkins said she made “in the realm of half a million” last year from revenue in brand deals for her comedic TikTok skits.
Having initially dismissed TikTok in favour of wanting to be involved in bigger projects, she now “raves” about the platform and the “opportunities that have opened up to me since joining”.
Within 10 days, one of her videos had been viewed four million times and she gained 170,000 followers.
“It’s crazy. It’s been completely life-changing,” she said. “ A year and a half ago none of this existed and I wouldn’t have thought any of this was possible.”
Earlier this year Ms Watkins won a Tik Tok competition for her video Down Under, which gave her funding to do a 10-part video series. And has more in the works.
Creating Tik Tok content is now Ms Watkins’ full-time job.
She describes her content as “chaotic” and always based in comedy but has plans to do more personal videos, similar one where she baked a cake to celebrate her recent autism diagnosis.
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