Doja Cat, real name Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, is an American rapper and singer who first gained attention in 2018 with the release of her song “Mooo!” which went viral on social media. However, it was in 2019 that Doja Cat truly rose to mainstream fame, largely thanks to the popularity of her songs on TikTok.
In August 2019, Doja Cat’s song “Juicy” with Tyga started gaining traction on TikTok, kickstarting a viral dance challenge. This was followed by Doja Cat’s song “Say So” going massively viral on TikTok in late 2019 and early 2020, where it was used in over 12 million videos on the platform. “Say So” helped launch Doja Cat’s successful debut album “Hot Pink” in November 2019.
On TikTok, Doja Cat is known for her quirky and playful persona, showcased in videos where she dances to her songs wearing fun costumes and makeup looks. She often interacts with fans directly in duets and comments. With over 21 million TikTok followers, Doja Cat has mastered leveraging the platform to grow her music career and fanbase.
Doja Cat’s TikTok Username
Doja Cat’s official TikTok username is @dojacat. She created her account in 2019 under the handle @dojacatmusic at first before changing it to the current @dojacat username. Doja Cat primarily uses her TikTok account to connect with fans, post behind-the-scenes content, and share new music.
Number of Followers
As of February 2023, Doja Cat has over 25.9 million followers on her TikTok account, making her one of the most popular artists on the platform. She gained a massive following in a short amount of time after launching her TikTok in 2019. Doja’s viral dances and humorous personality helped her account grow exponentially. Within just over 3 years, Doja Cat has become the 18th most followed music artist on TikTok globally.
Most Popular TikTok Videos
One of Doja Cat’s most popular TikTok videos is her dance to her song “Say So”, which has over 15 million views. The dance went viral thanks to its catchy choreography featuring hip swivels and arm movements (source). Fans loved learning and recreating the dance, causing it to explode in popularity.
Another highly-viewed TikTok is Doja’s video dancing to Megan Thee Stallion’s “Girls in the Hood”, garnering over 13 million views. Doja performs quick footwork and arm movements in sync to the beat of the song (source). Fans were impressed by her dance skills and choreography.
Lastly, Doja’s “streets” remix of her song “Like That” earned over 12 million views, thanks to the catchy beat and Doja’s quirky dancing. She bops her head and sways her arms in an amusing way that complements the funky track (source). The silly, lighthearted video resonated with fans.
TikTok Content Style and Persona
Doja Cat is known for portraying bold, quirky, and humorous personas in her TikTok videos. She often takes on exaggerated or ironic characters, like a valley girl persona in one video where she says “oh my god, like totally” in an exaggerated accent. In another video, she pretended to be a rapper with a deep voice, wearing baggy clothes and a du-rag while dancing and lip syncing to a rap song.
Doja’s personas are a big part of her appeal on TikTok, where she can showcase her versatility and excellent comedic timing. She fully commits to each character, using unique body language, costumes, accents, and humor tailored to that persona. Her chameleon-like ability to transform into different roles shows her creative spirit and captures fans’ attention.
Even when not in character, Doja exhibits a fun, silly, and carefree energy in her TikTok videos. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, often making jokes or poking fun at herself and current trends. This down-to-earth sensibility resonates with fans who feel they’re seeing Doja’s authentic, unfiltered personality shine through.
Impact on Music Career
TikTok had a massive impact on launching Doja Cat’s mainstream music career. In 2019, her song “Mooo!” went viral on TikTok with videos of people dancing and lipsyncing to the quirky cow-themed track. This exposure from TikTok helped the song reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (cite: https://www.ilnacollective.com/post/the-reign-of-doja-cat-on-tiktok).
However, Doja Cat’s biggest TikTok hit was “Say So” in 2020. The track blew up on TikTok with millions of videos using the song, propelling it to #1 on the charts. According to Pitchfork, TikTok was a “real turning point for Doja Cat’s career” and the “highlight of her astonishing, unprecedented TikTok reign” (cite: https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/the-mystery-of-doja-cats-unimpeachable-tiktok-reign/).
Doja Cat didn’t pander to TikTok trends though. As stated by Corq, her natural creativity resonated with users: “TikTok changed how we make music, but it’s Doja Cat’s natural creativity and persona that makes her a star for the digital age” (cite: https://corq.studio/insights/doja-cat-doesnt-make-music-for-tiktok-shes-a-natural-star-for-the-digital-age/).
In summary, TikTok was the launching pad for Doja Cat’s mainstream success. Her unique style and sounds organically resonated with users, sparking viral trends that propelled her career to new heights.
Fan Interaction
Doja Cat is known for engaging with fans directly through her TikTok account. She often takes fan requests for dances, songs to sing, and questions to answer. A great example of her fan interaction was highlighted in this TikTok video: Doja Cat showing love to her fans. In the video, Doja Cat pauses her concert to have a sweet moment with fans, signing autographs and taking selfies. Fans praised her humility and kindness in the comments. She frequently goes live on TikTok to chat with fans in real time and responds to fan comments on her posts. Her approachable persona on the platform allows fans to feel connected to her.
Controversies
Doja Cat has faced some controversies related to her TikTok account over the years. In May 2020, some old controversial tweets resurfaced where Doja used homophobic language [1]. This led to backlash on TikTok and other platforms. Doja eventually apologized saying she was young and ignorant when she made those remarks [2]. More recently in 2022, some fans accused Doja of queerbaiting in her TikTok videos with other female creators. However, Doja has not directly addressed this latest controversy.
Legacy and Influence
Doja Cat has cemented herself as one of the most influential TikTok stars and artists of her era. With over 24 million followers on the platform, Doja consistently generates viral hits that permeate into mainstream culture. She has mastered the art of creating catchy dance challenges and comedy skits that users love to duet and recreate. Hits like “Mooo!” show Doja’s skill at transforming TikTok virality into commercial success.
Beyond the app, Doja’s TikTok fame has boosted her music career immensely. Songs that first gain traction on TikTok, like “Say So” and “Kiss Me More,” often end up becoming top charting hits. As evidenced by her album Planet Her reaching #1 on the Billboard charts, Doja has established herself as a defining pop artist of her generation. Her ability to connect with Gen Z audiences through bite-sized, meme-worthy content on TikTok has been crucial to this crossover success.
Even amidst controversies, Doja’s legacy as “TikTok’s favorite pop star” remains cemented. She has paved the way for other artists to harness the power of TikTok virality. Her seamless fusion of music, fashion, and internet culture continues to shape youth culture. When examining the icons that defined the TikTok era, Doja Cat undoubtedly ranks among the greats.
Conclusion
Doja Cat’s TikTok account has had a major impact on her music career and pop culture presence. With over 17 million followers, her quirky and meme-filled videos have connected her to a massive Gen Z fanbase. Hits like “Mooo!” went viral on TikTok before becoming mainstream smashes. Her TikTok content blends music promotion with absurd humor and a carefree persona that resonates with young fans. While she has faced some backlash for controversial old posts, Doja’s TikTok reign remains hugely popular. Her account has cemented her status as a forward-thinking artist with a finger on the pulse of internet culture. With Doja poised to remain an influencer on TikTok and beyond, her creative viral videos will likely inspire artists for years to come.
