Over the past couple of years, the video sharing app TikTok has become one of the most popular apps in the world. With its rise in popularity came the emergence of numerous TikTok stars that users follow and whose content are consumed by many.
These TikTok stars rose to fame by captivating audiences with their talent, wit, or humor. With billions of users on the platform, it’s safe to say that these accounts are the top of the TikTok world. In this article, I will list the 15 most followed accounts on TikTok.
Charli D’Amelio
This American social media personality and dancer from Norwalk, Connecticut has been the most followed individual on TikTok globally since March 2020, with more than 121 million followers. Charli D’Amelio started posting videos in May 2019 and gained fame through her dance choreography videos.
With her TikTok popularity, D’Amelio voiced one of the characters in the 2020 animated film StarDog and TurboCat and is set to star in the upcoming 2021 Hulu docuseries The D’Amelio Show. Forbes states that the 17-year-old was the second-highest earning TikTok personality in 2019.
I have seen her on TV a couple of times and learned that she was a competitive dancer for more than 10 years before she started her career in social media.
Khaby Lame
Khabane Lame, more popularly known as Khaby Lame, is the second most followed user on TikTok with more than 98 million followers. Lame is known for his short comedy skits where he mocks people who make simple tasks complicated for no reason.
He was born in Senegal but is currently based in Italy. He grew up in a devout Muslim household living in a public housing complex in Chivasso since the age of one. Lame still currently lives there.
He was working as a CNC machine operator before he started his TikTok career while the country was locked down due to the global health crisis.
Addison Rae
The third most followed TikTok user is American singer, social media personality, and dancer Addison Rae Easterling, more commonly known as Addison Rae. She currently has over 82 million followers and despite ranking third, Forbes named her the highest-earning TikTok star.
She first joined the social media platform in July 2019 and uploaded dance videos to trending songs. Rae eventually became part of The Hype House, a collaborative group of TikTok users, since December 2019.
She has partnered with several brands, including American Eagle, launched her own cosmetics line, Item Beauty, and is set to star in the upcoming teen romantic comedy He’s All That.
Bella Poarch
Next up is Bella Poarch, the fourth most followed TikTok star in the world with over 77 million followers. This Filipino-American social media personality and singer created her account in January 2020 but only started actively posting content in April of that year.
Her claim to fame was a video that eventually became the most liked video on TikTok, where she lip syncs to British rapper Millie B’s song “Soph Aspin Send”. She signed a deal with Warner Records in 2021 and released her debut single “Build a Bitch” in May 2021.
Zach King
Unlike some of the people in this list, Zach King was already relatively famous when he started on TikTok. King is an American internet personality, filmmaker, and illusionist who’s known for his six-second “magic vines,” where he makes digital edits to make it appear like he’s performing magic.
He started posting his work, which he describes as “digital sleight of hand”, on YouTube in 2008 and on Vine in 2013. He expanded to TikTok in 2016 and is currently the fifth most followed user on the platform with more than 62 million followers.
Will Smith
Who doesn’t know the American actor and rapper Will Smith? The Fresh Prince joined TikTok in March 2019 and is now the sixth most followed user on the platform, with 60 million followers.
The Men in Black and The Pursuit of Happiness star usually posts videos of himself dancing, doing comedy skits, or participating in challenges.
TikTok Official Account
It’s not surprising that the social media platform’s official account is among the most followed accounts.
The TikTok official account currently has 56 million followers.
Spencer X
Spencer Polanco Knight, also known as Spencer X, is a beatboxer and music producer who is currently the eighth most followed user on TikTok, with 54.3 million followers. He also uploads his works on YouTube, where he has 2.1 million subscribers.
His global stardom started with a video called “One beatboxer, 14 genres” that went viral and its follow-up “One beatboxer, 20 sound effects,” which also garnered millions of views. Aside from beatboxing, he creates original tracks, produced tracks and comedic tracks.
After gaining global attention, Spencer X was able to collaborate with several known musicians, including Alicia Keys, Marshmello, and Sean Kingston.
Dixie D’Amelio
It’s no surprise that the elder sister of TikTok’s most followed star Charli D’Amelio is among the platform’s top users. Dixie D’Amelio began posting videos on the platform after her younger sister gained popularity. Dixie is now the ninth most followed TikTok user, with 54.1 million followers.
While Charli specializes in dancing, Dixie focused on her singing career. She released her first single “Be Happy” in June 2020 and signed a record deal with HitCo Entertainment in August of the same year.
In December of last year, she released her second single “One Whole Day”, which featured Wiz Khalifa.
Loren Gray
Loren Gray Beech, also known as Loren Gray, an American singer and social media personality who started her social media stardom on Musical.ly when she was in sixth grade. The app eventually merged with TikTok, where she now is the 10th most followed user with 53.6 million followers.
Before becoming an independent artist, she was with Virgin Records and Capitol Records until February 2021. Gray has her own jewelry brand called “&always,” which she launched in December 2020.
She was the most followed TikTok user from March 31, 2019 to March 25, 2020.
JustMaiko
Michale Le, also known on social media as JustMaiko, is an American dancer, choreographer and social media personality based in Florida. Similar to Loren Gray, he started posting videos on Musical.ly. Le is currently the 11th most followed TikTok user, with 49.7 million followers.
He is best known for dancing videos and dancing tutorials, where his brothers and sister often appear. His video where he danced to Shakira’s song Hips Don’t Lie on an escalator is one of TikTok’s most viewed videos.
He has collaborated with other dancers and personalities, including Jason Derulo and Crissa Jackson.
Kimberly Loaiza
Kimberly Guadalupe Loaiza Martinez, also known as Kimberly Loaiza, is a Mexican singer and social media personality who is currently the 12th most followed user on TikTok, with 48.4 million followers.
She started her social media career on YouTube in 2016, which is now one of the most followed channels in Mexico.
Loaiza released her first single called No Seas Celoso in 2019 and her 2020 song Me Perdiste became a hit, with 20 million plays on Spotify.
Jason Derulo
Jason Joel Desrouleaux, who goes by his stage name Jason Derulo, is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer who is currently the 13th most followed on TikTok, with 47.7 million followers. Born to Haitian parents in Miramar, Florida, Derulo began singing at a young age.
He’s a very accomplished singer, selling more than 30 million singles and even achieving eleven Platinum singles, including the songs Wiggle, Talk Dirty, Want to Want Me.
Derulo’s style of music incorporates hip-hop and R&B and he has cited Michael Jackson as his inspiration.
CZN Burak
Burak Özdemir, known as CZN Burak on TikTok, is a Turkish chef and restaurateur who is currently the 14th most followed user on the platform, with 45.3 million followers.
He is the owner of the Hatay Civilizations Table chain of restaurants that has three branches in Turkey and one in Dubai.
CZN Burak became an internet sensation for his preparation and presentation of Turkish recipes. He also makes funny videos related to cooking.
Riyaz Aly
The Bhutanese-Indian actor and model Riyaz Aly is TikTok’s 15th most followed user with 44.2 million followers. Aly is known for his lip sync viral videos and fashion style. He also posts some comedy-themed videos on his TikTok account.
Because of his popularity, he has appeared in numerous popular Hindi and Punjabi music videos.
The 16-year-old aspires to become a Bollywood actor someday.
Conclusion
Being part of this most followed TikTok stars list is no easy feat. While it may appear as if they are making their videos effortlessly, these content creators actually put in a lot of thought and effort into each of their video uploads.
Seeing that only a few mainstream celebrities were included in this list, I believe that any ordinary person with creativity and a goal can work their way to become stars on social media platforms like TikTok. It will all come down to dedication and patience in doing the things you love.
