On Thursday (Dec. 18), influencers and celebrities gathered at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles for the first-ever TikTok Awards in the United States, which celebrated creators across sports, music, editing, and fashion.
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The star-studded event was hosted by La La Anthony, and awards were presented by icons such as Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles and hotel heiress Paris Hilton, according to the BBC. R&B superstar Ciara even took the stage to perform a medley of her hits, including “Goodies,” “1, 2 Step,” and “Like A Boy,” according to TikTok’s newsroom.
Keith Lee made TikTok history as the first TikTok star to win the Creator of the Year award. Other Black creators, such as “Love Island USA” star Jeremiah Brown, also had a night of celebration after being crowned winners in their respective categories. We’re taking a look at who these creators are and why they won.
Keith Lee – Creator of the Year Award
With a whopping 17.3 million followers, 29-year-old Keith Lee has been boosting Black businesses across the United States with his authentic food reviews. The content creator also makes it a point to give back to those in need, often handing out money or giving large tips to restaurant staff in his videos.
However, as someone who grew up anxious and shy in front of the camera, Lee could not have foreseen this trajectory. In a red carpet speech after winning the award, Lee shared a message for his younger self.
“I’m speechless, but I would tell him to keep going. You are not just a kid with anxiety. You are not just a kid who follows in his brother’s (MMA fighter Kevin Lee) footsteps. You are yourself and everything that you do is going to happen the way it’s supposed to.”
Jeremiah Brown – Rising Star Award
Jeremiah Brown, 25, was all over TV screens during the summer on season 7 of “Love Island USA.” During his time on the show, the Islander was in a couple with controversial Islander Huda Mustafa. However, he has since turned into a beloved TikTok influencer with a following of more than 2.2 million since being voted off the show.
During his acceptance speech for Rising Star of the Year, Brown thanked God and his followers for giving him a platform. He also gave a shoutout to fellow “Love Island USA” contestant Ace Greene, who was in the crowd.
Mariah Rose – MVP of The Year Award
With more than 700,000 followers, Rose has cemented herself as TikTok’s go-to influencer for all the tea in the sports industry. She often gives her viewers a recap of NFL weeks and NBA scandals, and she keeps her followers up to date with the drama surrounding Sherrone Moore. Basically, if anyone knows what is going on in sports, it’s Mariah Rose—and that’s why she is TikTok’s MVP of the Year.
In her acceptance speech, Rose gave an encouraging word to her viewers and fellow content creators:
“Just know that we have such an opportunity to make an impact on this world. There are so many more important things going on than the things we stress about every day… Your voice matters, and you have an opportunity to really change the world with the audiences we have in this room.”
Shamela – Immediately Added To Cart Award
The winner of TikTok Shop’s “Immediately Added to Cart” award was Shamela (@Klothesminded). Shamela’s videos focus on reviewing products from the TikTok Shop and telling her followers what items are worth their hard-earned money. Now, her reviews are TikTok certified!
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