TikTok officially made its awards-show debut in the U.S. this week, and it arrived with the kind of spectacle only the platform could pull off. From a razz-colored carpet buzzing with creators to a Hollywood Palladium crowd roaring for Ciara, the inaugural TikTok Awards felt less like a ceremony and more like a live-action For You Page.
That energy carried straight onto the carpet, where RuPaul’s Drag Race icon Monét X Change stopped to chat with Gayety about reality TV mayhem, queer representation, wedding stress, and the comedy special that made her laugh the hardest this year.
Unsurprisingly, Monét did not arrive in reflection mode, she arrived in confidence.
No Regrets, Just Reality TV
With the trailer now out for Peacock’s upcoming season of The Traitors, Monét made it clear she’s fully at peace with whatever viewers are about to see.
“I said what I said, I did what I did,” she said, laughing. “And what I said was some bullshit.”
For Monét, who won RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 4 and later competed on All Stars: All Winners, reality television is familiar territory. Rather than bracing for backlash, she sounded energized by the messiness that comes with competition shows, especially ones designed to reward deception.
“I’m excited,” she added. Fear, it seems, is not part of the rollout.
Taking the Win Where It Counts
When the conversation shifted to Heated Rivalry, a series drawing attention for its romantic storytelling, Monét focused less on labels and more on impact.
“Even though they’re allegedly not queer,” she said, “we’ve got to take our wins.”
For her, the value lies in visibility. Seeing queer love broadcast across both Canada and the U.S., she explained, still matters, even when representation isn’t perfect. The takeaway was pragmatic rather than precious: progress shows up in different forms, and sometimes it’s worth claiming what moves the needle.
Wedding Planning Is the Real Competition
Away from the screen, Monét is deep in wedding planning, a process she described with the same dramatic honesty fans expect from her.
“It’s stressful,” she said. “There are so many decisions I didn’t know I needed opinions on.”
Place settings, lighting, logistics, the details pile up quickly, and so does the cost. Her advice for anyone heading down the aisle? Keep expectations realistic.
“Marry Jeff Bezos,” she joked. “Then you’ll be fine.”
A Night Built for Creators
Monét’s red carpet moment unfolded during a night packed with highlights. The show opened with a live, variety-style performance led by Mikey Angelo, featuring creator cameos and viral callbacks. Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa reignited their Dancing with the Stars chemistry mid-performance, sending the room into a frenzy.
Ciara delivered the evening’s defining musical set, blending new tracks like “Ecstasy” from CiCi with era-defining hits including “Goodies” and “1, 2 Step.” Elsewhere, surprises kept rolling: plush toys launched into the crowd, creators were paired for spontaneous collabs, and themed cam moments kept the energy moving.
In a philanthropic nod tied to its Creator of the Year honor, TikTok also announced a $50,000 donation to Feeding America, supporting meal programs nationwide.
The Comedy Moment That Took It
Before heading inside, Monét named her favorite “gay moment” of the year: Robbie Hoffman’s Netflix comedy special.
“It’s so funny,” she said, praising Hoffman’s unapologetic delivery and sharp humor. It was a fitting pick from someone who has built a career on timing, wit, and knowing exactly when to push the line.
As the TikTok Awards closed out its first U.S. chapter, Monét X Change remained exactly what fans expect, candid and completely unbothered. In a room designed to celebrate trends, she proved that personality still outlasts the algorithm.
