TikTok is close to hitting 2 million users since its takeover of Musically in 2018. The app features short-style videos that often become addictive for all ages to scroll through. Within the 34 million videos that get posted a day, there are a myriad of influencers. Some of them have broken through to become something bigger than just a post.
Some of the biggest names from TikTok are sisters Charli and Dixie D’Amelio. Charli quickly became one of the most followed users on TikTok from her dance videos. Her sister followed in her steps by creating her platform. They were also a part of the “hype house,” a shared house in Los Angeles for influencers.
TikTok helped kickstart the fame of these two sisters and helped get them a TV show deal with Hulu. Their show, called “The D’Amelio Show,” featured the life of the girls and their family as a normal reality TV highlight. Apart from the television series, dancing TikToks turned into a Broadway deal for Charli. She starred in the musical “& Juliet” as a part of the ensemble. “Charli was always so good at TikTok dances, being on Broadway and dancing fits her,” said senior Natalie Hanson.
Instead of continuing her TikTok “career” of dancing, Dixie turned her fame into a chance to write music and model. Dixie still has active accounts on social media, but she doesn’t post as often as she used to. “I have seen some pictures on websites of Dixie modeling clothes too, but I think that Charli definitely made the most of the fame,” Hanson said.
Another popular dance influencer from the pre-COVID era is Addison Rae. She is also a former member of the Hype House. After her departure from the house, she began to explore writing music. Her first single “Obsessed” released in 2021. Around this time, she also appeared in the movie “He’s All That.”
Addison Rae’s career exploded after she stepped back into the music industry in 2024. She released another single titled “Diet Pepsi” which currently has 534 million streams. Soon after the song took off, she announced her album “Addison” which was released on June 6, 2025. Addison Rae has since exploded in popularity and is currently on a worldwide tour for her new album.
In 2019, these three TikTokers were filming dance videos in front of their bathroom mirrors. “I remember watching their TikToks come up on my for you page and learning the dances. It’s funny to think that was 6 years ago,” recalled senior Ellie Wright. Time has definitely changed these girls, and their former TikTok fame has launched different careers for each of them.
TikTok is an easy site to get your face on the internet, and its influence reaches far beyond short form videos. The site has become a launchpad for full fledged careers in entertainment, fashion, and music. Anyone can go viral overnight which lures users into contributing to the algorithm. This also convinces people that TikTok is a new version of the “American dream” for digital creators. Many companies are discovering the next big star on social media by offering sponsorships and incentives to post. The only question is who will come out of the algorithm next and become the leader to a generation of followers.
