TikTokFrom making waves across industries, to advocating for Black voices, our visionary #BlackTikTok community continues to elevate Black creativity and drive industry-shifting influence on and off of TikTok. This Black History Month and year-round, we're celebrating the brilliance of #BlackTikTok and amplifying the culture-defining impact of our Black creator community.
We're kicking off our Black History Month celebration with the debut of our 2024 #BlackTikTok Visionary Voices list, alongside a series of IRL events and in-app initiatives including our first-time #ShopBlack program, in-app livestream events, #BlackMusic playlists, and the announcement of our #BlackTikTok creator grant program in partnership with Black Girl Ventures.
Meet Our 2024 #BlackTikTok Visionary Voices
Photo Credit: TikTok
We're thrilled to continue to elevate Black creatives who are breaking boundaries and inspiring others both on and off the platform. Our 2024 #BlackTikTok Visionary Voices List honors Black creators, Business Owners, and Industry Disruptors who are making a positive impact on TikTok and beyond, using their creativity to celebrate, honor and shape Black culture and history. This year's honorees are forging paths in beauty, education, health, fashion, food, music, dance, activism, and more.
Creators
@aliyahsinterlude (New York, NY) - Aliyah’s Interlude is an artist based in New York who combines her love for music and fashion to make content that has garnered her love from all parts of the world. Her eclectic style, which she has coined “Aliyahcore,” has sparked trendsetting fashion influence on TikTok and beyond. Her hit single “IT GIRL” was released last year, and she plans to release even more music in the future.
@accessbytay (Toronto, Canada) - Taylor Lindsay-Noel is an entrepreneur and creator from Toronto, Canada who uses her platform to inspire change. After a gymnastics accident left her paralyzed from the chest down, Taylor persevered, using her TikTok platform to help educate others on disability and accessibility awareness, all while breaking down stereotypes and advocating for change.
@misswondroussoul (Toronto, Canada) - Ms. Hassan is a creator from Toronto, Canada who combines her passion for teaching and fashion through her authentic teacher outfit videos. With her creative flair and dedication to education, she uses her platform to inspire fellow educators and students alike, demonstrating the power of self-expression through fashion in the classroom. Through her videos, she brings a unique blend of style and pedagogy, making learning a truly engaging experience for all.
@nyane (Amsterdam, Netherlands) - Nyane is a content creator and entrepreneur whose eye for fashion and beauty has built an international audience devoted to her original style and keen eye. Through TikTok video series like "Let's Do My Makeup," she has popularized an NPC-style beauty format that has taken the beauty community by storm. In addition to producing premium, luxe content, Nyane aims to empower all skin, hair, and body types, letting her fans know that beauty and inspiration can always be found within.
@onestopchop (Stafford, VA) - Daven Gates is a home cook originally from Queens, New York who expresses his love of food and entertainment through his videos on TikTok. He is an Army Vet who uses his platform to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to use cooking as an outlet, utilizing soothing voiceovers to share tutorials and "Back to the Basics" recipes.
Industry Disruptors
@cocojones (Nashville, TN) - Coco Jones is a GRAMMY-nominated artist from Lebanon, Tennessee, who combines her love for singing, acting, & fashion through videos on TikTok. Using her soulful voice as an R&B singer, she gives her fans a peek inside her world.
@victoriamonet (Los Angeles, CA) - Victoria Monét is a GRAMMY-nominated multi-hyphenate creator from Sacramento, CA who shares her artistry, adventures in motherhood, and creative process on TikTok. Incorporating her talents as a triple threat, Victoria uses her platform to share stories, encourage fans, and bring people into her world. Her hit single On My Mama inspired the viral #onmymamachallenge, which has more than 30 million views on TikTok.
@doctor.darien (New York, NY) - Dr. Darien Sutton is a board-certified emergency medicine physician born and raised in New York City. A graduate of NYU School of Medicine, he is also a dual degree graduate of NYU Stern School of Business where he simultaneously obtained his Masters of Business Administration. Aside from his clinical practice, Dr. Darien has special interests in public health education through digital media, with vested personal interests in the intersection of racial inequities and healthcare disparities.
@igobylu (Los Angeles, CA) - LU KALA is an artist who is destined to break the mold. With a gift for writing striking pop tracks, the fiery voiced songstress — with signature vibrant orange hair to match — is redefining what a pop star sounds and looks like. LU KALA has amassed over 95 million streams, and her recent single "Hotter Now" charted in the top 10 for Top 40 airplay in Canada its first week out.
@jordan_the_stallion8 (San Diego, CA) - Jordan Howlett, widely known as 'Jordan The Stallion,' is a celebrated content creator with a global fan base exceeding 23 million. His dynamic presence on TikTok has earned him over 12 million followers and over 2.6 billion views, thanks to his innovative content and signature single-zoom-in technique. Founder of The Fast Food Secrets Club ®, Jordan combines candid storytelling with insider industry insights, resonating deeply with his audience.
Small Owned Businesses (SMBs)
@lorvaeeyewear (Atlanta, GA) - In 2022, business partners De'arra Taylor and Tara Jones co-founded Lorvae Eyewear, an idealization of De'arra's passion for sunglasses. De'arra, with a distinctive personality, style, and love for fashion, is the epitome of a young, ambitious, and inspirational leader. Tara is distinguished by her passion for business, her commitment, and her clarity of vision to carry brands through rapid and continuous growth. Together, they are determined to make Lorvae a household luxury brand for all.
@pochigoods (Los Angeles, CA) - Trenton Williams is an Industrial Designer from Los Angeles, CA who has spent over a decade working for some of the top footwear brands in the industry. While in college, Trent had an idea to create what he coined, "a modern-day fanny pack," and founded Pochi Goods. He now uses his TikTok platform to show his process — from concept, to creation, to launch.
@realmcandles.ca (Toronto, Ontario, CA) - Danielle Johnson discovered her passion for candle making during the pandemic and channeled that passion into founding Realm Candles, an online store selling handmade vegan candles. As creative director, she also produces relaxing ASMR TikTok videos showcasing the process of candle making and packing orders.
@theskincarebakery (Harrisburg, PA) - Kymani Ashanti is a 24-year-old Black business owner of The Skincare Bakery, revolutionizing the skincare industry with mouth-watering, dessert-inspired skincare goodies. Alongside her boyfriend Logan, Kymani hand-makes and hand pipes luxurious creations, showcasing her products to an audience of over one million on TikTok.
@topicals (New York, NY) - Olamide Olowe, a Forbes 30 under 30 inducted entrepreneur and investor, serves as the Founder and CEO of Topicals. Olamide got her start as an entrepreneur in 2015 when she co-founded the beauty brand SheaGIRL, in partnership with SheaMoisture and later acquired by Unilever in 2017. In 2020, Olamide combined her passion for creativity and love for business to launch Topicals, which is currently the fastest growing skincare company at Sephora and responsible for over $100k in donations to various mental health organizations.
Celebrating Visionary Black Voices In-App and IRL
Starting on January 30th, we're celebrating the brilliance and boundless creativity of #BlackTikTok through a series of in-app initiatives, IRL events and programming across our #BlackTikTok in-app hub, where we will feature inspiring stories from creators, community voices and Black-owned businesses including @topicals, @naturalgirlwigs, and @sorellafashion, and non-profit organizations @blackgirlscode, @raisefashionnow and @blackgirlventures. This month's programming is also set to feature a first-time #ShopBlack program, in-app livestream events, #BlackMusic playlists, and the announcement of our #BlackTikTok creator grant program in partnership with Black Girl Ventures.
This year, we're bringing our #BlackTikTok celebration to life IRL with a series of event moments. Over the coming weeks, we're hosting the next installment of our Visionary Voices Black Hollywood Brunch in Los Angeles, in honor of Black creatives in media and entertainment. We're also excited to partner with Paramount Pictures to bring our #BlackTikTok community to Atlanta and Los Angeles for a special advanced screening of the upcoming movie Bob Marley: One Love, in theaters February 14th, to celebrate the life and legacy of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity.
To celebrate the creativity, craft, culture and artistry #BlackTikTok brings to the platform every day, TikTok has partnered with visual performance artist Fabian Williams, to commission a custom mural in Atlanta. Fabian’s artwork explores themes of Black liberation, innovation and joy and his Atlanta TikTok mural will pay tribute to the many ways Black creatives and innovators in Atlanta are shaping the future. Fabian's mural will be unveiled on February 5th at 335 Peters St SW in Atlanta.
#ShopBlack on TikTok Shop
Join us in celebrating diversity, inclusivity and empowerment on TikTok Shop as we activate TikTok's first in-app shoppable #ShopBlack program, where we'll feature Black entrepreneurs on TikTok Shop. This initiative will spotlight Black-owned businesses and Black creators using the TikTok Shop Affiliate program to help customers shop with purpose and support Black-owned businesses this February. Black-owned brands, including @topicals, @iamstormisteele, @forvrmood, @byamicole, @sooslick, @lysbeautyofficial, @sorellafashion and more will be featured in this year's first-time in-app #ShopBlack experience. Elevate voices, inspire change and shop with purpose this February!
Visionary Voices Out of Phone: #BlackTikTok on the Big Screen
For Black History Month, as a part of our Out of Phone: Cinema partnership, we're teaming up with Screenvision Media to celebrate #BlackTikTok on the big screen, where this year's Visionary Voices will be spotlighted across Screenvision's robust network, which includes 1500 theatres nationwide. Throughout the month of February, cinema-goers around the United States will see our 2024 #BlackTikTok Visionary Voices honorees celebrated during Screenvision’s Front + Center movie preshow.
Black Girl Ventures Innovate Together TikTok Grant Program
Last year, we announced an investment of $1M to support the work of Black Girl Ventures to increase access to financial and social capital for Black and Brown entrepreneurs. To continue our investment within the Black community, we're teaming up with Black Girl Ventures to launch the Innovate Together Grant Program, empowering small business owners, entrepreneurs and content creators in the beauty, lifestyle and consumer sectors on their journey to success. The program will provide grants of up to $10,000 to selected participants, as well as pair business owners with standout creators to help elevate and refine their business's social strategy, helping entrepreneurs craft captivating content that resonates with target audiences.
Throughout Black History Month and beyond, we celebrate the impact of Black artistry and Black music. This month, our sounds page will feature guest playlists and a special cross-genre weekly #BlackMusic playlist highlighting a collection of songs from music icons and next-gen voices across TikTok's Black music community. Our Visionary Voices Industry Disruptor honoree Victoria Monét will be featured as our #BlackMusic playlist cover artist.
Spotlighting the stories of TikTok's Visionary BLXCK Community
As part of our company-wide Black History Month celebration, our internal employee resource group (ERG) BLXCK will highlight the inspiring stories of our #BlackTikTok employees with a special interview series and multi-office celebration. By fostering an inclusive culture that promotes safe spaces for employees to connect and celebrate community, our BLXCK ERG continues to champion Black voices within TikTok.
@BlackTikTok - Follow the Community
We're committed to honoring and celebrating the excellence that is #BlackTikTok this month and all year-round. Be sure to follow @BlackTikTok, @TikTokCreators, and @TikTok to stay up-to-date on our Black History Month programming and the #BlackTikTok community.
