It’s no secret that some of the most notable TikTokers are known for posting “corny” or “cringeworthy” content. Regardless of that notion, though, the biggest creators were able to make millions off of TikTok. This phenomenon poses the question: how did these people rack in millions upon millions of followers for lip syncing and doing dances in their living rooms? Among many, TikTokers who were able to make a living off of it are seen as lacking in depth or being one-dimensional. Despite that concept, a handful of TikTok creators are starting to pave their way through the hate by expanding their influence and taking on entirely different career paths.
There are many prominent TikTokers whose names are associated with being cringy; it’s subjective, but the D’Amelios, Addison Rae, Nessa Barrett, Bella Poarch, etc. are just some of many associated with the group of ‘corny’ content creators. Even though these influencers were able to accumulate such a high amount of followers, they were still viewed in a negative light by a large number of people. It can be assumed that the amount of negativity surrounding these creators could have influenced them to expand their horizons if they weren’t already thinking of doing so beforehand. A lot of creators have taken different routes to show a different side of themselves that the public has not seen before, whether that be starring in some sort of film, creating a product, or shifting into the music industry.
Addison Rae has had the most public rebrand out of the creators mentioned, and her PR team is definitely doing something right. Her shift into the music industry was genius, and it has almost entirely changed how people portray her. Rae released the hit song “Diet Pepsi” on August 9, 2024, and since then, her music career has escalated at an extremely fast pace. She has collaborated with other significant artists like Charli XCX and Lana Del Rey, who have helped bring even more attention to her musical side. Addison Rae’s first album, released on June 6, 2025, debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and contains many songs that became instantly recognizable, such as “Headphones On,” “Aquamarine,” and “Fame Is a Gun.” Other than music, Addison Rae has also starred in He’s All That, collaborated with a wide variety of brands, and has even launched her own makeup line.
Similar to Addison Rae, the D’Amelios have also begun a different approach to their careers. Since Charli and Dixie D’Amelio became extremely popular on TikTok over the years, The D’Amelio Show premiered in 2021. It is a reality television show surrounding the lives of the D’Amelios and their experiences with fame. Other than the television series, both Dixie and Charli D’Amelio have released music on their own. Dixie shifted her focus in 2022 with her debut album, a letter to me, and has been working on expanding her presence in the entertainment industry since then. Above all, though, Charli D’Amelio has had the most successful rebrand of the two, as she has made her debut on Broadway starring in “& Juliet.” This new shift from dancing in TikToks to dancing on a Broadway stage has gained her a lot of respect among her followers and the general public. Being on Broadway brings Charli D’Amelio much joy, and in an interview with USA Today she stated “I just love getting to be myself…I definitely wasn’t that for a while on social media, which I think a lot of people could see.”
Even though famous TikTokers have gotten their start on the platform, doing what they love outweighs continuing to post mediocre videos for views; it is seen through Charli D’Amelio and Addison Rae’s journey with their careers. Not limiting it to these two, but the abundance of TikTokers who have started to shift into different areas of the entertainment industry has evidently become happier and more content with themselves. Not only has it been a good idea for their personal desires, but also for the public and their fans. When those who were once viewed as unexceptional to the public start to create things or do things for themselves (not for views) it earns them more respect. Even if posting cringey or repetitive videos can amount to views on social media, those who are successful should not limit themselves to TikTok for the rest of their lives.
