UK hosts first TikTok awards celebrating diverse creators and their journeys

The UK and Ireland's first TikTok awards took place in London, honoring creators across 12 categories. Winners included Maddi Neye-Swift for food creator of the year and Kyra-Mae Turner as creator of the year, highlighting diverse content from cooking to travel. The event featured 72 shortlisted creators with over 101 million followers. Many shared their journeys to success, with some expressing initial nervousness about posting videos. The awards recognized the hard work behind content creation, countering perceptions of low-quality online material. Hosted by Michelle Visage, the awards celebrated the impact of TikTok creators. Over 2.9 million votes were cast by users to select the winners, showcasing the platform's growing influence in entertainment and education.