Gold Coast mum wins hero award at TikTok For You Fest 2022

A mother-of-two who shot to online fame detailing life after becoming at mum at 17 has just scooped a major Australian award.

A woman who rose to online fame detailing her experiences as a single teen mum has scooped a major Australian award.

Kat Clark, 36, was named “Creator of the Year” at TikTok’s annual For You Fest, held in Sydney on Thursday night.

The mum-of-two, from the Gold Coast, has amassed a following of 3.3 million people since joining the popular social media platform and regularly shares content about life as a young mum.

Kat, who welcomed eldest daughter Latisha at the age of 17, was praised on the night for her “creativity, innovation and diversity” in her digital storytelling.

“Every one of this year’s nominees is a star,” TikTok Australia and New Zealand General Manager, Lee Hunter, told news.com.au.

“But the TikTok community has spoken with over a million votes cast, and a huge congratulations to the Creator of the Year, Kat Clark, TikTok for Good creator Jazz Thornton, and Video of the Year creator Katrina Ashleigh, [who are] all such worthy winners.

“I can’t wait to see what they do next.”

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Gold Coast woman Kat Clark rose to TikTok fame detailing her experience of being a teen mum to her daughter Latisha, now 19. Picture: Instagram/KatClark

One of her most notable early videos showed Kat and Latisha – who share a birthday – celebrating their 35th and 18th milestones together, leaving TikTok viewers in disbelief over their striking resemblance.

Kat told news.com.au at the time strangers often mistake them for siblings, a fact that often causes lots of confusion.

“We both get our IDs checked when we enter venues and I love telling people and seeing their faces,” she said.

“Even attending parent teacher interviews has been quite funny and seeing other parents faces when they drop off their kids to my house.

“I had one mother ask me if my mother was home and I had to tell her I was the parent of the household.”

The 36-year-old later married husband Jonathan and had another child, 11-year-old Déjà. Picture: Instagram/KatClark

She has over 3.3 million followers on the social media platform. Picture: Instagram/KatClark

The mother, who also has an 11-year-old daughter Déjà with husband Jonathan, has delved into many more controversial topics with her platform – including dating rules for her daughter’s future boyfriend.

While in another video, she tackled criticism she receives for dressing “inappropriately” for a mum.

“Wear whatever you want, despite what anyone tells you,” she captioned a clip of herself dancing in a figure-hugging black dress with sheer panels.

@katclark86 Wear whatever you want despite what anyone tells you ✌🏽 #mumanddaughter#bodypositivity♬ h - user86066691056

However, Kat – who has landed a Spotify podcast Basically Besties, hosted alongside Latisha, off the back of her TikTok success – recently found herself in hot water over a video filmed while on holiday in the US.

Kat quickly apologised for her comments made as she walked through a Jewish community in New York after followers around the world pointed out they were “upset” by her “ignorant” remarks.

Her mistake hasn’t appeared to have affected her popularity, with Kat winning the 2022 AACTA for Best Digital Creator last week.

She apologised for an ‘ignorant’ comment she made while in New York recently. Picture: Instagram/KatClark

Last week she won an AACTA award for Best Digital Creator. Picture: Instagram/KatClark

“Are you freaking kidding me!?!” she wrote on Instagram after taking home the title.

“To be recognised in front of some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry is incredibly humbling.

“I never thought that sharing my life with you would create the life it has. I am so very appreciative of all the support I have been given from my family and friends but most of all from my followers and fans.

“You guys are the reason this award was given to me and this award is yours as much as it is mine because I wouldn’t be receiving it if weren’t for you. This is OUR award! We won this together.”

TikTok’s “Creator of the Year” award was won by Millie Ford in 2021, who presented Kat with the gong tonight.