The inaugural TikTok Awards officially arrived in the U.S. last night, transforming the Hollywood Palladium into something that felt less like a traditional awards show and more like a real-life For You Page. Amid razz-colored carpet glam, surprise collabs, and a high-voltage Ciara performance, viral creator Jools Lebron took a moment to reflect on the year that quietly changed everything.
Lebron, who became an internet fixture after her use of the phrase “very demure” sparked a viral wave, spoke with Gayety’s Andy on the carpet about what comes after a breakout moment, when the memes linger, but real life keeps moving.
“It’s been up, it’s been down,” Lebron said when asked about the months following her sudden rise. Rather than leaning into the fantasy of overnight success, she described a year shaped by contrast, noting that growth often came from moments that weren’t especially glamorous.
“I’ve had a lot of times that made me grow,” she added, framing the experience as something earned rather than bestowed.
A New Normal After Virality
The TikTok Awards marked a symbolic full circle for many creators in attendance, recognition from the very platform that launched their careers. For Lebron, it also highlighted how much had shifted since her viral moment first took off.
“This year I learned that sometimes you’ve got to get situated with yourself,” she said. The lesson, she explained, was less about reinvention and more about grounding.
“What does normal look like after having the most viral moment in the world?” Lebron asked, laughing, but clearly meaning it.
That sense of recalibration echoed throughout the night. TikTok crowned creators, storytellers, trendsetters, and breakout talents who defined the For You Feed this year, while also signaling a broader commitment to creator culture in the U.S. In the spirit of its Creator of the Year winner, TikTok announced a $50,000 donation to Feeding America, supporting meal programs nationwide.
Inside TikTok’s IRL For You Page
The ceremony itself leaned fully into the platform’s chaotic charm. Ahead of the show, creators walked a bold razz-colored carpet, a playful departure from standard red carpet fare — as live pre-show hosts Dylan Kevitch, Hannah Kosh, and Taylor King captured arrivals in real time.
That energy spilled into a variety-style opening led by Mikey Angelo, who unveiled an original TikTok version of his annual year-end wrap. The crowd erupted when Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa reunited during Recap Guy’s performance, reprising their Dancing with the Stars chemistry.
Ciara delivered the night’s defining musical moment, tearing through a medley that blended new material like “Ecstasy” from CiCi with classics including “Goodies,” “1, 2 Step,” and “Like A Boy.” Elsewhere, surprises kept coming: Mr. Fantasy emerged from the audience for an impromptu onstage collab, Labubu Cannon launched plushies into the crowd, and Creator Collab Cam paired unexpected duos for spontaneous content.
As title sponsor, e.l.f. brought its Glow Reviver Collection to life through “Lippie Land,” an immersive playground complete with customization stations, photo ops, and product drops tied to TikTok Shop favorites.
A Gay Moment That Made Her Laugh
When asked her favorite gay moment of the year, Lebron sidestepped the expected answers. Instead, she pointed to the internet’s reaction to JoJo Siwa.
“My favorite gay moment,” she said, “was a few of the things JoJo Siwa did that were hilarious because they ended up not being very gay at all.”
The comment landed as playful and perceptive, a reminder that queer culture often thrives on irony just as much as visibility.
As the Palladium buzzed late into the night, Lebron appeared comfortable standing in her moment without clinging to it. In a room built to celebrate trends, her takeaway felt refreshingly steady: viral fame might open doors, but self-awareness is what carries you through them.
