Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

TikTok: The reality of being a British Asian influencer

TikTok: The reality of being a British Asian influencer

It's easier than ever to become famous or go viral in a matter of seconds thanks to TikTok.

From catchy songs to funny videos, more and more successful influencers are making a living from the platform.

The lifestyle is full of highs and lows, but can it last forever when it clashes with your culture, community and faith?

BBC Asian Network sat down with three British Asian TikTokers to hear their stories.

Tat'heer Fatemah, Lil Maz and Salwa Aziz got together at the BBC Asian Network studios


'I think before I speak'


Tat'heer Fatemah began her influencer journey during the first Covid lockdown in 2020.

She aspired to be a make-up artist and thought TikTok would help her gain business opportunities.

"My first video was on my hand piercings and this went viral," the 21-year-old says.

But with more than 100,000 followers and a combined total of 4.5 million likes on TikTok, Fatemah is now cautious with what she posts.

"There are some topics I would love to speak about, but now I can't because it will draw more attention to me," she says.

Despite many people praising her make-up skills, Fatemah also experiences misogynistic and racist comments on a daily basis.

Her latest viral video - where she shaves her face - has hit 11 million views and continues to grow.

But Fatemah says the comments underneath were "filled with men asking me if I was a man or transgender".

"People were even diagnosing me with medical conditions," she says.

"A lot of women are hairy, brown girls [and] can relate to me because a lot of us have to shave their face every day.

"It's not fair for someone to call me a man for having facial hair."

Fatemah credits TikTok for helping her to grow her business, but finds herself conflicted due to her faith.

"This lifestyle isn't forever. If I want to improve on my connection with my religion, then I will stop posting myself on TikTok."


'My hate comments are from men'
Salwa Aziz says she experiences abuse online


Salwa Aziz first went viral on TikTok in 2020.

"I posted a video with mum and we were recreating a scene from an EastEnders episode and it went viral and reached over 100,000 views," she says.

"I remember thinking 'this is amazing, I've made it'."

The 22-year-old says she gets a "buzz" when people find her relatable as it shows she is known outside her own community.

But she is no stranger to online abuse.

"From my own experience my hate comments are from men in my community and because I am a brown girl they feel like they have a hold over me," she says.

"I once posted a video on TikTok and so many people loved it, girls were tagging their friends.

"Months later, my video was reposted by a meme page and the comment section was filled with brown men making remarks about weight."

Salwa often finds herself questioning how long she will keeping posting online.

"For me it's not a career right now, but TikTok will give me opportunities," she says.


'I would cry all the time'
Lil Maz has 5.9 million followers on TikTok


Lil Maz is best known for her comedy videos, skincare routines and being 4ft 7in.

Just like Salwa and Fatemah, she also began her TikTok journey during lockdown.

"I was bored out of my head and didn't think I would do this as a full-time career. So I posted my first video and it went viral," she says.

Her famous "stop tickling me" video has since gained 43.5 million views, 5.3 million likes and more than 100,000 comments.

The 20-year-old says the key to her success is her contagious laugh.

But with a growing platform of more than five million followers, Maz regularly experiences racial abuse and negative comments.

"When I first started making videos hate comments would really get to me and I would cry all the time," she says.

"It made me doubt this lifestyle, and I would think 'do I even want to do this anymore?'

"Now I don't let it bother me because they're just jealous they don't have the confidence to post videos."

Maz believes it is important for her to be open and transparent about her mental health.

She is thankful to her millions of followers for being supportive, but admits it's now overwhelming for her to be seen in public.

"When a bunch of people approach me in public I try to hide because I get nervous," she says.

But she adds: "I love TikTok and I don't know what else I could do."

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
Tulsi Gabbard Unveils Evidence Alleging Political Manipulation of Intelligence During Trump Administration
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Trump Announces Coca-Cola to Shift to Cane Sugar in U.S. Production
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi K2: A New Open-Source AI Model
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
×