During 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, “Doubting Thomas” became very popular on TikTok, a character who satirized divorced parents who did not take responsibility for their children. Behind that characterization (or that filter) was Herly, who started making content to have fun and make jokes with his family.
Today Herly has more than 3 million followers on TikTok, and this platform has helped her jump from the smartphone screen to the big screen, since this year she made her debut as an actress in film, and also in theater.
“I think one day at home, while I had my cell phone in my hand, I started making jokes towards my family, putting on filters and I don’t think I ever felt sorry for it because since I was very little I have liked to sing, I have liked to dance, I have liked to act. So, the canonical moment was when I uploaded my first TikTok, that’s where it all started,” says Herly, who believes that her audience gave her that ‘superpower’ as a content creator.
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Five years after his first video, Herly knows that the creator ecosystem is larger and many more creators make similar comedy content, but he is confident that his personality is his hallmark.
“My strategy to build a solid community has been my authenticity. From day one I have shown myself as I am. I think people have seen me angry, they have seen me happy, they have seen me sad and that makes you more human in the eyes of society,” he says.
Recognize that social networks and sponsors are an essential part of the world of content creation. “In some way, brands also give you status within social networks, and I think that was one of the things that happened to me when I started,” he remembers, but he also clarifies that not all the content that is made is to be sponsored by a brand.
“They should also know that there are many things that are not done just for money, but also for how you want your image to be displayed in the world of the internet,” he points out, and TikTok has been key in that positioning, but it does not remain pigeonholed in a single platform, it has been the springboard to also stand out in cinema or theater.
Like many creators, Herly also considers authenticity vital for anyone who wants to make content. “Remember that your only competition is you, because when we get to the internet and see so many profiles and see so many talented people, we become self-conscious and feel that we will never be able to get to where maybe someone else has already gotten to. And that is the worst mistake someone can make because you don’t have the same skills as the other person.”
Although there is an increasing supply and demand for content, Herly is clear that today’s work will speak of tomorrow’s you. She started creating content for fun, and this journey opened doors that were previously unimaginable.
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