Who is the girl who got famous from TikTok?

The short-form video sharing app TikTok has seen exponential growth in popularity in recent years, rising to become the most downloaded app of 2020 according to Newsweek. On the platform, users can create and share 15 to 60 second videos featuring dancing, comedy skits, stunts, and more. One of the biggest stars to emerge from TikTok has been teenager Charli D’Amelio. With over 133 million followers, she is the most followed person on TikTok as of early 2023.

Early Life and Dance Background

Charli D’Amelio was born on May 1, 2004 in Norwalk, Connecticut to Marc and Heidi D’Amelio. According to Bol News, D’Amelio started dancing at the age of 3 at the Studio 8 Dance Complex in Monroe, Connecticut. She trained and competed at a competitive level in many dance styles including contemporary, ballet, jazz, acro and hip hop. As she got older, D’Amelio started to focus more on contemporary and jazz styles. She competed at the national level with her Studio 8 Dance team and performed as a competitive solo dancer at regional and national competitions.

Joining TikTok

In late May of 2019, Charli D’Amelio downloaded the TikTok app for the first time while bored at a dance competition. She started posting short dance videos to songs she liked, without any expectations that they would go viral. According to one source, her very first TikTok video showed her dancing with a friend to the song “Lottery” by K Camp in May 2019.

One of her early dance videos, posted in June 2019, blew up on the platform. The 16-second video showcased her dancing to the song “Lalala” by Y2K and bbno$ in her dance studio. That initial viral TikTok catapulted her into the spotlight and quickly gained her hundreds of thousands of followers.

As reported by a TikTok source, one of her other earliest viral hits was a video of Charli dancing and lip syncing to the song “Dollar Menu” by bbno$ in her bedroom in July 2019. The creative video showcased her talent and personality, earning over 12.4 million likes in a short period of time.

Rapid Growth on TikTok

Charli D’Amelio experienced a meteoric rise in popularity on TikTok in 2019. Within just over a year, she went from being a regular teen posting dance videos to becoming the most followed creator on the entire platform.

In July 2019, Charli had around 5 million followers on TikTok. By the end of that year, she had over 17 million followers. Her growth accelerated even more in 2020. By April of that year, Charli had over 50 million followers, making her the first TikTok creator to hit that milestone.

Currently, Charli has well over 100 million followers on TikTok, making her the most followed person on the platform. Her videos regularly receive millions or even tens of millions of likes. She holds the record for the TikTok video with the most likes, at over 50 million.

Charli’s exponential growth is unmatched on TikTok and reflects her incredible popularity among users. She went from relative obscurity to global stardom in barely over a year. Her dances, collaborations with other creators, and fun personality resonated widely with TikTok’s user base.

Charli D’Amelio TikTok Followers Count and Statistics

Signature Dances

Charli D’Amelio became famous for her choreographed dances on TikTok that spawned viral dance trends. Her most iconic dance was “The Renegade”, a 15-second high-energy hip-hop dance she choreographed to the song “Lottery” by hip-hop artist K-Camp. The Renegade went hugely viral in late 2019/early 2020, becoming one of the biggest TikTok dance trends with millions creating their own versions.

The Renegade dance moves were complex and distinct, featuring Charli quickly moving her arms in different directions while bouncing her knees and hips. Part of its viral appeal was the challenge it presented for other dancers to learn and replicate Charli’s choreography. She didn’t just follow existing dances and trends but brought her own creative style.

Other signature dances of Charli’s include “The Hype House”, an energetic routine performed alongside other major TikTok creators, and the “Own It” dance featuring unusual arm movements timed to the Billie Eilish song. Through popularizing these dances Charli established herself as an elite dancer and choreographer on TikTok, setting trends rather than just following them.

Leveraging Fame

As Charli D’Amelio’s popularity grew on TikTok, she began leveraging her massive following into lucrative business opportunities.

One major way she capitalized on her fame was through sponsored content and brand deals. According to Forbes[1], D’Amelio earned $4 million in 2020 from sponsorships with brands like Hollister and makeup brand Morphe. She often promotes these brands and products in her TikTok videos.

D’Amelio has also launched her own merchandise lines, including items like hoodies, sweatpants, phone cases, and other apparel featuring her name and logo. The merchandise allows fans to publicly display their support for the social media star.

She further expanded her fame by appearing on TV shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and in a Super Bowl commercial for Sabra hummus. These appearances allowed her to reach audiences beyond just TikTok.

Controversies

D’Amelio has been involved in some controversies and drama during her rapid rise to fame. In November 2020, she faced backlash over a YouTube video that was seen as insensitive. In the video, D’Amelio and her sister Dixie complained about the food made by their private chef. Viewers criticized them as being ungrateful during a pandemic when many were struggling [1].

She has also been involved in some drama and rumors with other popular TikTok creators. In 2020, there was alleged “beef” between the D’Amelio sisters and the Hype House collective. She also had a public falling out with former best friend Lil Huddy after they stopped collaborating [2]. These controversies have come with the territory of being one of the biggest stars on TikTok.

Impact on Culture

Charli D’Amelio has had a significant impact on popular culture since rising to fame on TikTok. As one of the most followed personalities on social media, Charli has influenced fashion and beauty trends, especially among younger audiences. Her casual style featuring oversized sweatshirts and Vans sneakers became a fad on TikTok.1 Charli even launched her own clothing line Social Tourist in partnership with retailer Hollister in 2021.2 Her make-up looks and hairstyles are widely copied by fans.

In the dance community, Charli has popularized dances created for TikTok. Her early viral dances like the Renegade brought hip-hop choreography to mainstream audiences.3 Many dancers now aim to create a viral TikTok challenge for Charli. Her participation gives them major exposure. Some critics argue that Charli appropriates dances from black creators without giving proper credit.4 However, Charli has used her platform to showcase diversity in dance.

What’s Next

Charli D’Amelio still has a promising future ahead as she continues to grow her brand and pursue new opportunities. She now has over 164 million followers on TikTok as of January 2023, and will likely reach 200 million in the near future (1). Her popularity shows no signs of slowing down.

D’Amelio plans to expand into new content formats beyond just dancing videos. She launched her own podcast called “Charli XCX” in 2021, featuring interviews with celebrities and influencers. D’Amelio also appeared in Super Bowl commercials in both 2021 and 2022 as her fame widened beyond just TikTok. She signed a deal for a reality show on Hulu called “The D’Amelio Show” which premiered in 2021 and was renewed for a third season in December 2022 (2). As D’Amelio matures, she will likely continue leveraging her massive popularity into business ventures in podcasting, TV, and commercial sponsorships.

Conclusion

In summary, Charli D’Amelio’s rise to fame was nothing short of unprecedented. In less than 2 years, she went from being an unknown teen dancer to the most followed content creator on TikTok with over 100 million fans. Her infectious enthusiasm and consistency in posting fun 15-60 second dances catapulted her profile. D’Amelio’s story serves as inspiration that anyone can achieve internet stardom on TikTok with creativity and persistence.

D’Amelio’s legacy and impact on internet culture will be long lasting. She paved the way for many other young creators to find fame on TikTok through dance trends and challenges. Her signature dances to hit songs sparked millions of users to try copying her moves and put their own spin on it. The culture of dance challenges she popularized has become an integral part of TikTok. Beyond that, D’Amelio showed the possibilities of leveraging TikTok fame into lucrative brand deals, merchandise, books, and other opportunities. She remains a role model for Generation Z on achieving success through consistent hard work and positivity.