innovators
Creators who bring a new twist to what it means to be a content creator. They are pioneers in their fields and have a unique point of view in everything they do. They are constantly pushing boundaries — not afraid to experiment and try something new — and inspire millions with their creations.
At the intersection of creative ingenuity, music curation, and digital art is where you will typically find Billy Yue, also known as 8illy. Billy is a generational talent whose impact holds deep roots in music platforms and the For You page on Tiktok: namely with his cardboard art short films, vibe-y music videos, and mood playlists. His Cantonese-Chinese background earned him a spot on Tiktok’s 2021 API Trailblazers list.
“To be nominated as an Innovator means a lot, especially since a lot of my life and identity involves being creative. It tells me that I’m on the right path and that I’m doing something different, which is a huge goal for me when it comes to creating content. The TikTok community shows me there are a lot of people out there that share the same interests, ideas, and passions as me. I’ve met a lot of friends and found encouragement through this community — it makes me really wanna go hard and create cooler stuff every day.”
Describe yourself as a song: “Rick and Morty” by Soulja Boy
Describe yourself in three words: “Tight as hell.”
Photographed by Yaw Asiedu
Devon Rodriguez
“I’ve always wanted to make TikTok videos that are unique and original.”
Devon Rodriguez is a New York City-based artist and TikTok content creator whose talents and creativity have amassed him a large following and community. Originally from the South Bronx, Devon’s early inspiration came from New York’s famed street art scene, which led him to begin practicing graffiti at age eleven. In the summer of 2020, Devon quickly built a following on TikTok by creating highly realistic drawings of New York commuters and capturing their reactions on the subway. The enormous success of his work across his social media channels has led him to collaborate with a number of major brands.
“I’ve always wanted to make TikTok videos that are unique and original, so being named an Innovator lets me know that listening to my gut was the right move. The TikTok community is a place where I feel like myself because everyone is authentic and fun. As someone new to the art world, I haven’t felt comfortable at high-end galleries, so I never went to art shows, which probably hurt my networking opportunities. However, TikTok is all about being relatable and embracing your genuine self without having to put up an act, so it makes the networking and marketing aspect easy for me.”
Describe yourself as a song: “Started from the Bottom” by Drake
Describe yourself in three words: “Cool, Calm, Collected.”
Photographed by Yaw Asiedu
Jasmine Chiswell
“It’s so amazing and inspiring to see so many creators create content they love and be themselves.”
Jasmine Chiswell is a social media content creator and television personality who has amassed a large following on all platforms, especially TikTok. Originally from Scotland, she is now living in Los Angeles in one of Marilyn Monroe’s former homes. As a content creator, one of Jasmine’s main goals is to bring as much joy and happiness to as many people as she can through her unique vintage-themed viral dances and comedy. Jasmine recreates Marilyn Monroe’s looks by dressing in many different vintage outfits, describing her style as very unique and easy to spot out in the crowd.
“TikTok has changed my life in so many ways! I love making daily content as a way to bring joy to others. That’s why I’m so honored to be nominated as an Innovator. It’s so amazing and inspiring to see so many creators create content they love and be themselves.”
Describe yourself as a song: “Blue Velvet” by Bobby Vinton
Describe yourself in three words: “Kind, Determined, Light-hearted.”
Photographed by Yaw Asiedu
Science, TikTok’s biggest animator with close to 10 million followers, has his character appear in starkly colored blue jeans, a Supreme-esque hoodie, and a yellow crown in every video on his channel, whether he’s starring in a music video, a storytime-style animation, or a quick joke based on trendy audio.
“What does it mean to be an Innovator? I think it’s awesome. I think it means I bring something different to the community and I hope other people will also try to do something different to inspire others while in the limelight. TikTok inspired me to make short-form content and inspired me to actually try to create new things that wouldn’t normally get seen by the public eye.”
Describe yourself as a song: “Leave Me Alone” by Micheal Jackson & “Feel” by Kendrick Lamar.
Describe yourself in three words: “Kind, Determined, Light-hearted.”
Photographed by @dazecontra
Combining animation and dance, Maddi Winter has amassed a huge following as she continues to break barriers in the TikTok world. She is an emerging TikTok superstar known for her unique style of content and her distinctive brand of animation — she animates her dances frame by frame via a process known as “rotoscoping.” Maddi’s videos mirror her light-hearted persona, while inspiring others to spread positivity.
“I’m thrilled that TikTok allows me to keep inspiring people to be the best version of themselves and find what truly lights their fire. The TikTok community has inspired me to push boundaries in the animation space and not be afraid to take risks. Their love and support has given me the strength to share my passion with the world.”
Describe yourself as a song: “Follow Your Fire” by Kodaline
Describe yourself in three words: “Resilient, Passionate, Unique.”
Photographed by Yaw Asiedu
Mikayla Nogueira is a New England-based makeup artist who began her career as a beauty content creator after going viral on TikTok for sharing game-changing makeup techniques and tutorials. Mikayla started practicing makeup at the age of 10 and knew it was her passion early on. Now, in her early twenties, she has successfully taken the beauty world by storm and prides herself on her authentic and honest reviews, tutorials, and lifestyle content, all with her Massachusetts flair.
“I believe it is incredibly important to follow your dreams regardless of how ‘out of sight’ they may seem. Holding on to my dream and working toward it every day is the reason my goal of being an award-winning beauty content creator came true. TikTok has inspired me to be myself, work harder than I ever have before, and to live my life to the absolute fullest. Having a large platform can be intimidating, especially when you come from a small historical town and are not used to being in the spotlight. Yet, I have felt so loved and accepted by my TikTok supporters with each post I make. It shows me that there is absolutely good in this world, and it inspires me to be kind every day. Knowing I am accepted on TikTok allows me to remain genuine and authentic in my content.”
Describe yourself as a song: “Dream On” by Aerosmith.
Describe yourself in three words: “Carefree, Modest, Determined.”
Photo provided by Mikayla Nogueira
Kyne is a Filipino Canadian drag queen and math communicator who bridges STEM education with queer entertainment. Kyne developed his love for math in school, and while earning his Bachelor of Mathematics he birthed his drag persona: the disco-loving, flute-playing, karaoke-singing drag queen Kyne. With these two passions in hand, Kyne took to TikTok to combine math and drag in short form videos. Today, Kyne explores every math topic under the sun and more, all while dressed in high-glamour drag looks. Kyne makes learning fun, and kicks down every stereotype you ever had about math or the people who study it.
“Who would have thought a drag queen teaching MATH would be so popular? Math is my favorite subject and I want to sing about it from rooftops. When I started making these videos I thought only a super niche audience could appreciate them. I’m proud that I get to share my favorite subject with so many people, and hopefully break down many stereotypes about math and also gay people. I love that TikTok introduces me to new subcultures I never knew existed, and teaches me things I never knew I needed to learn. I’m inspired to be more open about my culture as a Filipino-Canadian, my interests as a math nerd, and my lifestyle as a drag queen — all while enriching people’s day with learning something new.”
Describe yourself as a song: “Genie in a Bottle” by Christina Aguilera.
Describe yourself in three words: “Unbounded, Divergent, Hyperbolic”
Photographed by Yaw Asiedu
Parker Locke is a 20-year-old self-taught 3D and visual effects (VFX) artist from San Antonio, Texas. While quarantining during the pandemic, he learned about 3D and VFX just for fun, but now TikTok has helped him turn those skills into a full-time career. He is best known for recreating scenes from popular movies and TV shows, bringing them to life in his own backyard. Outside of TikTok and his 3D and VFX work, Parker has a deep passion for design — he created his own watch company, Misano Watch Co., when he was just 18 years old.
“This recognition means so much to me. TikTok has changed my life, and I cannot thank the whole community enough for all they have done for me! The creative creators in the TikTok community have helped me find my creative spark and inspired me to showcase it in my own way.”
Describe yourself as a song: “Nonstop” by Drake.
Describe yourself in three words: “Creative, Passionate, Dedicated.”
Photographed by Yaw Asiedu
Piff Marti
“I prefer doing things my way rather than conforming to the standards of the industry and society.”
Shaquille Edwards, aka Piff Marti, is a New York-based rapper known for his smooth flows, vibe-y production and impressive lyrics. He got his first taste of acclaim after his series of self-produced music videos went viral on TikTok in April of 2021. Piff’s driving force is his deep desire to make music that speaks to the thoughts and feelings of those who listen to it, and it is that same authenticity and relatability in his music that has allowed him to build a cult-like following.
“This recognition is a reminder that my decision to be an unapologetically free thinker was a great decision. In life, I prefer doing things my way rather than conforming to the standards of the industry and society. The TikTok community inspired me by simply showing me that there are thousands of different ways to express yourself creatively. I wouldn’t have been as comfortable being my full self on camera had I not watched so many people put themselves out there. It showed me that the community doesn’t care about how cool or attractive you are. They just care about dope content.”
Describe yourself as a song: “Do Not Disturb” by Drake.
Describe yourself in three words: “Free, Present, Fun.”
Photographed by Yaw Asiedu
Dubbed as the “best dressed guy on TikTok” by Vogue Magazine, Wisdom Kaye is a 19-year-old digitally native creative who is changing the men’s fashion conversation as we know it. Born in Houston, Texas, Wisdom has come to notoriety through his fresh and unique take on men’s fashion by challenging hypermasculinity with a comedic bend, and is poised to rewrite the rulebook on what it means to be a fashion star in 2021. He has become a fast favorite of some of fashion’s biggest players such as Dior, Zegna, Fendi, Ralph Lauren, and Hugo Boss, among commercial powerhouses such as Netflix, Motorola, and Revlon — he is also the first TikTok native talent to walk in the famed AMFAR Gala Show in Cannes.
“Being nominated as an innovator means a lot to me honestly. I’ve put so much effort into my content over the past year so to be recognized like this means so much to me! The TikTok community inspires me every day by giving me amazing ideas to feed off of.”
Describe yourself as a song: “Fancy Clown” by MF DOOM.
Describe yourself in three words: “Tired, Happy, Aspiring.”
Photo provided by IMG Models
#Innovators TikTok facts:
GreenScreen
Color Customizer
Bling Bling
Disco