Meet a few of Kansas City’s TikTok stars. Here’s how they got so many followers

Bria Jones downloaded the TikTok app last year because she heard it was “the next big thing.”

She made videos for the social media platform where, she says, her work could “actually be seen” instead of solely on Instagram.

“I was able to let my guard down, and when I did, I noticed that those videos blew up and got me a lot of attention,” said Jones, 26, of Kansas City, Kansas. She now has more than 250,000 followers on TikTok.

TikTok has millions of users across the world. It hit 2 billion global downloads on the App Store and Google Play this year, seeing its greatest growth in the first quarter of 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic forced people to stay in and seek entertainment from the internet.

But it has generated controversy as well. TikTok users took credit for inflating numbers for President Donald Trump’s rally in Tulsa last month, and since then the administration has attacked the platform because of its ties to a Chinese company. TikTok insists it is loyal to the U.S.

Regardless, Jones was right that it is “the next big thing,” where Kansas City TikTok creators share dancing videos, give advice and spread awareness.

Ricky Kidd, who was wrongfully imprisoned for 23 years for a crime he didn’t commit, uses the app to advocate for criminal justice reform. (See story here.)

Dave Jorgenson — originally from Shawnee — runs The Washington Post’s TikTok with a following of over 560,000. The account started with behind-the-scenes videos at the office, but recently, Jorgenson has been sharing quarantine content from home.

Here are a few Kansas City creators who have picked up substantial followings on TikTok and how they’ve done it.

Bria Jones

Jones, who has 8 million likes on her TikTok account, @heybriajones, started with beauty, fashion and lifestyle content.

In one of her first popular videos, she recreated celebrity outfits.

Now she’s branching out.

She’s using her account to speak about microaggressions and racism she’s experienced as a Black woman and to offer advice to her followers who, she said, call her their “big sister.”

“I wanted my platform to be more than just the girl who can put outfits together,” Jones said. “I want to bring value to people in lots of ways.”

Her first video was “Things Black girls are tired of hearing.” She includes comments and questions she’s received, such as, “Why do you talk white,” “Can I touch your hair,” and “You’re pretty for a Black girl.”

Jones said Black women in fashion are underrepresented and that includes TikTok. The app has come under fire for the way it filters videos so that creators of color aren’t as visible on the app as white creators. As Forbes put it, “If the majority of popular creators on TikTok are White, for example, this can prevent creators of color with smaller followings from being seen and recommended as often on the platform.”

But Jones still shows up in front of the camera.

“As frustrating as it can be for me to put hours into my content and for it to underperform because of what I look like, I still show up for the Black girls who look like me,” Jones said.

Jones said consistency, authenticity and not being afraid to make mistakes have helped her gain traction.

“People love when you are genuine, and it shows,” Jones said.

Lucky the pit bull

A rescue pit bull named Lucky — with some cameos from his siblings — has a TikTok following of over 90,000 on his account, @1luckypitbull.

His owner, Gina Rudman, first shared Lucky’s rescue story on Facebook. She then made an Instagram account and started on TikTok last year.

In his most popular video, Lucky is wearing a Patrick Mahomes jersey. Text around him shares how he was abandoned in a house for a month and was shot in the face and leg but is now living with his new family in Lee’s Summit.

“It’s a perfect sanctuary and place for a ragtag group of rescue dogs,” Rudman said. She has nine pit bulls.

Rudman said although Lucky’s TikTok has gained quite a following, she devotes most of her social media time to his Instagram, where she gets a lot of messages.

She said his story raises awareness about animal cruelty and the sweetness of pit bulls. She urges people to adopt animals instead of buying them.

“These dogs live their best lives every day on Instagram stories, and it gives people hope and makes them happy,” Rudman said.

Luke and Paul Harwerth

Luke and Paul Harwerth of Kansas City, 27-year-old twins, have found their niche on TikTok: Disney Broadway.

They have more than 30,000 followers and 300,000 likes on their account, @TwinSauce. Both have danced since they were 13, so naturally, dancing videos make up most of their content.

They said their videos consistently got around 200 likes when they started. But when they recreated an “Aladdin” dancer’s choreography, they got over 60,000 likes and 350,000 views.

The twins starting making videos eight years ago on YouTube.

But they said TikTok has been a “creative escape” for them since they got started on the app earlier this year.

“You have to put the work in, but if it stops being fun, then it’s not really worth the time that it takes,” Luke said.