London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Oct 27, 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
Education or Indoctrination? The Growing Debate Over Religious Participation in British Schools
Germany's Vanishing Shopfronts: The Silent Collapse of the Businesses That Built Its Cities
Northern Ireland Executive Reaches Agreement on Public Transport Modernization and Cross-Border Rail Infrastructure Funding
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Approves New North Sea Carbon Capture and Storage Industrial Clusters
Office for National Statistics Reports Stabilization in Private Rental Growth Across Major English and Welsh Regional Cities
United Kingdom Automotive Manufacturing Output Rises Moderately as Electric Vehicle Assembly Lines Expand in the Midlands
Competition and Markets Authority Launches Formal Inquiry Into Cloud Computing Infrastructure and Artificial Intelligence Partnerships
Scottish Government Finalizes Emergency Budget Adjustments Following Multi-Year Public Sector Funding Shortfalls
National Health Service England Announces Major Emergency Care Overhaul to Alleviate Severe Winter Capacity Pressures
Chancellor Rachel Reeves Prepares Autumn Budget Amid Intensifying Scrutiny Over Public Spending and Fiscal Rules
Bank of England Signals Cautious Approach to Further Interest Rate Cuts as Persistent Wage Growth and Inflation Pressures Remain
Transport for London Unveils Expanded Zero-Emission Bus Fleet to Meet Capital Air Quality Targets
Higher Education Institutions Face Deepening Financial Strain Amid Declining International Student Enrolment
Automotive Industry Leaders Criticize Government Tax Policies and Urge Action on Retail Consumer Confidence
Environment Agency Issues Flood Alerts Across Scottish and English Waterways Following Heavy Rainfall
Independent Audit Highlights Persistent Security Vulnerabilities Across Legacy Government Digital Portals
Northern Ireland Political Leaders Clash Over Westminster Funding Allocations Ahead of Autumn Budget
Ethnic Minorities in England Face Significant Disparities in Routine Breast Cancer Diagnosis Rates
National Police Chiefs Report Alarming Surge in Domestic Abuse Cases Fuelled by Expanding Illegal Cocaine Market
Government Announces Two Hundred and Twenty Million Pound Pothole Funding Boost for Local Highway Authorities
China Issues Formal Warning Over Potential United Kingdom Restrictions on Chinese Electric Vehicles
British Defence Ministers Sign E5 Pact to Enhance European Military Capabilities and Industrial Cooperation Within NATO
United Kingdom Business Activity Expands at Fastest Pace in Eight Months According to S&P Global Flash Survey
Chancellor John Healey Prepares Major Devolution Package and Bank Profit Surcharge Ahead of Upcoming Autumn Budget
National Health Service Consultants in England Announce Two-Day Strike Action Scheduled for November
Major Clean-Up Under Way Across Britain Following Destruction Caused by Consecutive Storms Austen and Boelo
KEY TRENDS TO WATCH
Declassified Intelligence Files Reveal British Security Services Monitored National Health Service Founder
British Government Launches Sweeping Regulatory Crackdown on High-Risk Cosmetic Procedures
Scottish National Party Demands Ban on Using Scottish Revenues to Fund English Nuclear Energy Projects
Mayor of London Initiates Landmark Pedestrianisation of Oxford Street to Revitalise Global Retail Hub
British Judges Granted Expanded Legal Powers to Punish Convicted Killers Who Refuse to Attend Sentencing
United Kingdom Poised to Miss Reduced International Aid Spending Targets Ahead of Fiscal Review
Surging Cocaine Consumption Drives Record Drug Fatalities and Rising Crime Rates Across Britain
Department of Health and Social Care Announces One Hundred and Forty Million Pound Boost for Urgent Care
British Services Sector Records Strongest Growth in Eight Months Despite Broader Economic Uncertainty
United Kingdom Retail Sales Suffer Unexpected Decline as Consumer Confidence Plummets
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham Urges National Debate on Restoring European Union Free Movement
Deep Cabinet Divisions Emerge Over Controversial Approval of North Sea Fossil Fuel Projects
United Kingdom Government Urges Citizens to Stockpile Essential Supplies in National Resilience Pivot
Storm Boelo Kills Two People and Cuts Power to Tens of Thousands Across Great Britain
Critical Software Flaw Forces Dozens of United Kingdom Government Services Offline Amid Mass Security Warnings
UK Consumer Confidence Tumbles Amid Rising Energy Costs and Global Commodity Price Pressures
North Sea Transition Authority Approves Production from Jackdaw Gas Field to Bolster Domestic Energy Security
Storm Boelo Leaves Tens of Thousands of Households Without Power Across Scotland and Northern Ireland
UK Government Launches National Be Ready Campaign Urging Households to Prepare Three Days of Emergency Supplies
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Implements Stricter Water Quality Regulations for British Rivers
Welsh Government Launches Major Renewable Energy Initiative to Expand Offshore Wind Capacity Along the Coast
Northern Ireland Executive Reaches Final Agreement on Comprehensive Regional Infrastructure Modernization Plan
Office for National Statistics Reports Moderate Increase in British Retail Sales Driven by Autumn Discounts
×