London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

TikTok: The reality of being a British Asian influencer

TikTok: The reality of being a British Asian influencer

It's easier than ever to become famous or go viral in a matter of seconds thanks to TikTok.

From catchy songs to funny videos, more and more successful influencers are making a living from the platform.

The lifestyle is full of highs and lows, but can it last forever when it clashes with your culture, community and faith?

BBC Asian Network sat down with three British Asian TikTokers to hear their stories.

Tat'heer Fatemah, Lil Maz and Salwa Aziz got together at the BBC Asian Network studios


'I think before I speak'


Tat'heer Fatemah began her influencer journey during the first Covid lockdown in 2020.

She aspired to be a make-up artist and thought TikTok would help her gain business opportunities.

"My first video was on my hand piercings and this went viral," the 21-year-old says.

But with more than 100,000 followers and a combined total of 4.5 million likes on TikTok, Fatemah is now cautious with what she posts.

"There are some topics I would love to speak about, but now I can't because it will draw more attention to me," she says.

Despite many people praising her make-up skills, Fatemah also experiences misogynistic and racist comments on a daily basis.

Her latest viral video - where she shaves her face - has hit 11 million views and continues to grow.

But Fatemah says the comments underneath were "filled with men asking me if I was a man or transgender".

"People were even diagnosing me with medical conditions," she says.

"A lot of women are hairy, brown girls [and] can relate to me because a lot of us have to shave their face every day.

"It's not fair for someone to call me a man for having facial hair."

Fatemah credits TikTok for helping her to grow her business, but finds herself conflicted due to her faith.

"This lifestyle isn't forever. If I want to improve on my connection with my religion, then I will stop posting myself on TikTok."


'My hate comments are from men'
Salwa Aziz says she experiences abuse online


Salwa Aziz first went viral on TikTok in 2020.

"I posted a video with mum and we were recreating a scene from an EastEnders episode and it went viral and reached over 100,000 views," she says.

"I remember thinking 'this is amazing, I've made it'."

The 22-year-old says she gets a "buzz" when people find her relatable as it shows she is known outside her own community.

But she is no stranger to online abuse.

"From my own experience my hate comments are from men in my community and because I am a brown girl they feel like they have a hold over me," she says.

"I once posted a video on TikTok and so many people loved it, girls were tagging their friends.

"Months later, my video was reposted by a meme page and the comment section was filled with brown men making remarks about weight."

Salwa often finds herself questioning how long she will keeping posting online.

"For me it's not a career right now, but TikTok will give me opportunities," she says.


'I would cry all the time'
Lil Maz has 5.9 million followers on TikTok


Lil Maz is best known for her comedy videos, skincare routines and being 4ft 7in.

Just like Salwa and Fatemah, she also began her TikTok journey during lockdown.

"I was bored out of my head and didn't think I would do this as a full-time career. So I posted my first video and it went viral," she says.

Her famous "stop tickling me" video has since gained 43.5 million views, 5.3 million likes and more than 100,000 comments.

The 20-year-old says the key to her success is her contagious laugh.

But with a growing platform of more than five million followers, Maz regularly experiences racial abuse and negative comments.

"When I first started making videos hate comments would really get to me and I would cry all the time," she says.

"It made me doubt this lifestyle, and I would think 'do I even want to do this anymore?'

"Now I don't let it bother me because they're just jealous they don't have the confidence to post videos."

Maz believes it is important for her to be open and transparent about her mental health.

She is thankful to her millions of followers for being supportive, but admits it's now overwhelming for her to be seen in public.

"When a bunch of people approach me in public I try to hide because I get nervous," she says.

But she adds: "I love TikTok and I don't know what else I could do."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
So, what's happened is, I think, government policy, not just under Labour, but under the Conservatives as well, has driven a lot of small landlords out of business.
Larry Summers, the former U.S. Treasury Secretary, is resigning from Harvard University as fallout continues over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
U.S. stocks ended higher on Wednesday, with the Dow gaining about six-tenths of a percent, the S&P 500 adding eight-tenths of a percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq climbing roughly one-and-a-quarter percent.
From fears of AI-fuelled unemployment to Big Tech's record investment, this is AI Weekly.
US Lawmakers Seek Briefing from UK Over Reported Encryption Order Directed at Apple
UK Business Secretary Calls on EU to Remove Trade Barriers Hindering Growth
Legal Pathways for Removing Prince Andrew from Britain’s Line of Succession Examined
PM Netanyahu welcome India PM Narendra Modi to Israel
Shadow Diplomacy: How Harry and Meghan’s Jordan Trip Undermines the Monarchy
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, comments on immigration in the UK.
Bill Gates, the UN and the WEF are attempting to construct "a giant digital gulag for all of humanity" via digital ID, CBDCs and vaccine passport infrastructure.
Britain’s Channel Crisis: Paying Billions While the Boats Keep Coming
Downing Street’s Veteran Deception Scandal
UK HealthCare Expands ‘Food as Health’ Initiative Statewide to Tackle Chronic Illness in Kentucky
Leonardo Chief Says UK Set to Decide on New Medium Helicopter Programme
UK Slows Chagos Islands Agreement After Concerns Raised in Washington
European and UK Stock Markets Reach Fresh Highs as Banks and Miners Lead Rally
UK Government Insists Chagos Islands Negotiations Continue After Minister’s ‘Pause’ Remark
No Confirmed Deal for Engie to Acquire UK Power Networks Amid Market Speculation
UK Reaffirms Updated Entry Requirements for Travellers as of February 25, 2026
General Atlantic to sell equity stake in ByteDance, valuing the company at $550 billion
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Secures Pledge from China for Greater Imports of Quality Goods
Lord Mandelson Condemns Arrest as Driven by ‘Baseless Suggestion’ He Would Flee Abroad
Former UK Ambassador Released on Bail Following Arrest in Epstein-Linked Investigation
UK Parliament Orders Release of Former Prince Andrew’s Government Vetting Files
Reddit Fined £14 Million by UK Regulator Over Failures in Age Verification Controls
UK Moves to Tighten Regulation of Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video Under New Media Rules
British Woman Who Reported Rape in Hong Kong Faces Possible Prosecution
'Christianity is the religion that has made this country great.'
Man Receives Parking Ticket 38 Years After Offense: ‘City Officials Said It’s Legitimate’
Woman Receives Gift Card for Christmas – Discovers It Is ‘Worth’ 63,000,000,000,000,000 Pounds
UK Sanctions New Zealand Insurer Maritime Mutual Following Allegations Over Russian Oil Cover
Reform MP Danny Kruger Condemns UK’s ‘Unregulated Sexual Economy’ in Call for Tougher Controls
The Show Must Go On: Prince William and Kate Middleton Shine at the BAFTAs Amid Andrew’s Arrest
UK Sanctions Russian ‘Illicit Oil Traders’ After Email Blunder Exposes Sanctions Evasion Network
Russia Amplifies Baseless Claims That UK and France Plan to Arm Ukraine with Nuclear Weapons
UK Imposes Sanctions on Two Georgian Television Channels Over Alleged Russian Disinformation
United States National Parks See Noticeable Drop in Visitors from Canada, U.K. and Australia
UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand Escalate Sanctions on Russia as Ukraine War Marks Four Years
I Gave Andrew a Nude Massage Inside Buckingham Palace
UK Economy Faces Acute Strain as Trump’s Global Tariff Reshapes Trade Landscape
UK Signals Retaliation Is Possible as New US Tariff Policy Threatens Trade Stability
British Police Arrest Former Ambassador Peter Mandelson in Epstein-Related Misconduct Probe
Australia Officially Supports Proposal to Remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from Royal Succession
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan remains silent on ISIS brides' resettlement plans in Melbourne
Former UK Ambassador Peter Mandelson Arrested in Connection with Jeffrey Epstein
Jacob Rees Mogg afraid to talk about Peter Mandelson arrest on “suspicion of misconduct in a public office” (Pedophilia, corruption, etc.)
United Nations Calls for Global Action Against Disinformation and Hate Speech Online
Tucker Carlson warns of an inevitable clash in Western societies over mass migration
President Trump warns countries against abandoning recent trade deals with the US
×