History was made on December 18 when TikTok threw its very first awards ceremony in the United States, and the Hollywood Palladium transformed into the ultimate celebration of viral culture, creator power and digital stardom. Keith Lee, the food critic who changed restaurant culture forever, walked away as Creator of the Year. Bretman Rock’s chicken video beat millions of contenders for Video of the Year. Paris Hilton proved she’s still the ultimate internet muse. And emotional speeches, surprise wins and Ciara’s electrifying performance made this a night nobody will forget. Hosted by La La Anthony and streamed live on TikTok and Tubi, the inaugural event honored everyone from rising stars to established icons who’ve shaped internet culture in 2025. From fashion and beauty to sports, storytelling and activism, every corner of TikTok’s diverse ecosystem got recognized. Ready to see who took home the trophies? Here’s your complete guide to every winner, surprise moment and why this awards show just changed the game for digital creators everywhere.
Creator Of The Year: Keith Lee Proved Food Criticism Is An Art Form
Credits: People
The biggest award of the night went to Keith Lee, and honestly, nobody was surprised. The Las Vegas based food critic transformed how people discover restaurants, support small businesses and think about honest reviews. His signature compassionate approach to critiquing food while highlighting struggling establishments made him TikTok royalty.
Keith’s impact extends far beyond views and likes. Restaurants he visits experience immediate surges in customers, sometimes overwhelming small businesses with demand. The Keith Lee Effect became a real economic phenomenon, with establishments reporting sales increases of 300 to 500 percent after his reviews. He’s helped countless family owned restaurants stay afloat and brought attention to hidden culinary gems across America.
What sets Keith apart is his authenticity. He pays for his meals, arrives unannounced, and gives genuinely constructive feedback without being mean or performative. His calm demeanor, thoughtful analysis and commitment to supporting rather than tearing down creators made him the perfect choice for Creator of the Year.
Accepting the trophy at the Hollywood Palladium, Keith’s emotional speech emphasized community, gratitude and using platforms for good. He thanked his family, his supporters and the restaurants that trusted him with their stories. The moment captured everything the TikTok Awards represented: celebrating creators who make real impacts beyond the screen.
Share this with your foodie friend who follows Keith religiously!
Video Of The Year: Bretman Rock And His Chickens Stole Everyone’s Hearts
Credits: YT
Bretman Rock won Video of the Year for a clip that perfectly encapsulates why TikTok works. The video features Bretman and his flock of chickens set to Anxiety by Doechii, and it’s garnered over 8.6 million likes. The combination of Bretman’s personality, the absurdity of chickens vibing to hip hop, and the pure chaotic energy created internet gold.
Interestingly, Bretman wasn’t in attendance to accept the honor, which somehow made the win even more on brand for someone who’s always doing his own thing. The award recognized not just popularity but cultural impact. That chicken video became a meme, inspired countless duets and remixes, and reminded everyone that sometimes the best content is just pure, unfiltered joy.
Bretman has been a TikTok fixture for years, known for his beauty content, comedy and unapologetic personality. This win validated his evolution from beauty guru to full spectrum creator who makes whatever content brings him happiness.
Rising Star Of The Year: Caleb Hearon’s Comedy Conquered The Platform
Credits: THR
Caleb Hearon took home Rising Star of the Year, cementing his place as one of comedy’s most exciting new voices. His observational humor, relatable takes on everyday situations and perfectly timed delivery made him a breakout sensation in 2025.
What makes Caleb special is his ability to make mundane experiences hilarious. Whether he’s talking about social anxiety, awkward encounters or navigating adulthood, his comedy feels universal while remaining distinctly his own voice. He taps into the collective millennial and Gen Z experience with sharp wit and zero pretension.
The Rising Star category recognized creators who exploded in 2025, and Caleb’s trajectory was meteoric. He went from posting occasional videos to becoming a must-follow account with millions hanging on his every upload. Brand deals, comedy tour opportunities and mainstream media attention followed, but he’s remained grounded and focused on the comedy that got him there.
Breakthrough Artist Of The Year: Alex Warren’s Music Career Took Flight
Credits: Sweden Herald
Alex Warren won Breakthrough Artist of the Year, validating his transition from general content creator to legitimate musician. His emotional songs, vulnerable lyrics and authentic storytelling resonated deeply with audiences looking for real connection through music.
Alex has been on TikTok for years, but 2025 marked his true breakthrough as he leaned fully into music. His songs chart on streaming platforms, his tours sell out, and critics who once dismissed TikTok musicians as gimmicks now respect his artistry. The award recognized that TikTok has become a legitimate launch pad for musical careers, not just viral one hit wonders.
His acceptance speech got emotional as he reflected on the journey from struggling creator to recognized artist. He thanked fans who supported him before the music took off and acknowledged that TikTok gave him opportunities traditional music industry gatekeepers would never have provided.
Don’t miss out on following Alex before his next album drops!
Storyteller Of The Year: Tineke Younger Mastered Narrative Content
Credits: People
Tineke Younger won Storyteller of the Year, and the category itself highlighted TikTok’s evolution beyond dance trends and comedy skits. Tineke’s multi-part narrative videos captivate audiences with compelling tales that unfold across multiple posts, keeping viewers coming back for updates.
Reality TV star and entrepreneur Bethenny Frankel presented this award, bringing star power to a category celebrating TikTok’s unique storytelling format. Long form storytelling on short form platforms sounds contradictory, but creators like Tineke proved it works brilliantly when executed well.
Her stories range from personal experiences to fictional narratives, all delivered with dramatic flair and cliffhanger endings that make scrolling past impossible. She understands pacing, character development and audience engagement in ways that rival traditional screenwriters. The win recognized storytelling as legitimate art regardless of the medium.
Muse Of The Year: Paris Hilton Continues Reigning Over Internet Culture
Credits: Page Six
Paris Hilton took home Muse of the Year, proving that the original influencer remains relevant decades into her career. Paris pioneered celebrity internet presence long before TikTok existed, and her ability to adapt to new platforms while maintaining her brand is genuinely impressive.
On TikTok, Paris leans into nostalgia while staying current. She references her early 2000s iconography, engages with memes about herself, collaborates with younger creators and promotes her various business ventures. She’s become a bridge between millennial nostalgia and Gen Z humor, making her the perfect muse for a platform spanning generations.
The award also recognized Paris’s business acumen. She’s built an empire that includes beauty lines, DJ residencies, podcasts and activism work. Her TikTok presence isn’t just vanity. It’s strategic brand building that happens to be entertaining. She embodies what it means to inspire content, conversations and cultural moments.
TikTok For Good Award: Zach And Pat Valentine Used Their Platform For Positive Change
Credits: YT
The TikTok for Good Award went to Zach and Pat Valentine, recognizing creators using their influence for charitable work and social impact. This category highlighted that TikTok isn’t just entertainment. It’s a powerful tool for raising awareness, mobilizing communities and creating real world change.
Zach and Pat’s content focuses on philanthropy, community support and uplifting marginalized voices. They’ve organized fundraisers, spotlighted important causes and used their reach to direct resources toward people and organizations making differences in their communities. Their authenticity prevents it from feeling performative, which is crucial when doing charity content.
The award sent an important message about platform responsibility and creator power. With millions of followers comes influence, and the TikTok for Good Award celebrated those wielding that influence thoughtfully and generously.
My Show Is On Award: Dayane Chrissel Dominated Film And TV Content
Credits: EXA FM
Dayane Chrissel won the My Show Is On Award for film and television content, beating out competitors like Reece Feldman, Just The Nobodys and Supes. This category recognized creators making entertainment content about movies, shows, behind-the-scenes Hollywood content and pop culture analysis.
Entertainment commentary on TikTok has exploded as streaming wars intensify and audiences crave insider perspectives on their favorite shows. Dayane carved out a niche providing insights, reactions and analysis that keeps entertainment fans engaged between episodes and seasons.
The award validated entertainment content as its own legitimate TikTok genre, separate from general commentary or news. It requires specific knowledge, production quality and personality to stand out in this crowded space, and Dayane delivered consistently throughout 2025.
MVP Of The Year: Mariah Rose Became Sports TikTok’s Queen
Credits: People
Mariah Rose won MVP of the Year in the sports category, beating out Brittany Wilson Isenhour, Daniel Buyeske, Matt Kiatipis and Mo Ali. Sports content on TikTok has grown exponentially as younger audiences shift away from traditional sports media toward creator-driven analysis and coverage.
Mariah’s sports content combines insider knowledge with accessibility. She breaks down complex plays, provides historical context and engages with fan theories and debates. Her personality shines through rather than delivering dry analysis, making sports content fun for casual fans while satisfying hardcore enthusiasts.
The MVP award recognized that sports media is transforming, and TikTok creators are leading that transformation. Traditional sports journalism is being disrupted by personalities who understand digital platforms and connect with audiences in ways legacy media struggles to match.
Share this with your sports-obsessed bestie who lives on TikTok!
Okay Slay Award: Katie Fang Slayed Fashion And Beauty Content
Credits: Glossy
Katie Fang won the Okay Slay Award for fashion and beauty, beating out Glamzilla, Meredith Duxbury, Miss Darcei and Wisdom Kaye. This category celebrated creators setting trends, providing makeup tutorials, styling advice and making fashion accessible and fun.
Fashion and beauty content built TikTok’s early success, and creators like Katie continue pushing boundaries. Her content ranges from high fashion analysis to drugstore makeup tutorials, proving that style doesn’t require unlimited budgets. She democratizes fashion in ways that resonate with regular people wanting to look good without breaking the bank.
The Okay Slay name perfectly captured the vibe of this category. It’s celebratory, affirming and hype, exactly how fashion and beauty content on TikTok should feel. Katie’s win recognized her consistency, creativity and ability to make viewers feel confident in their own style choices.
I Was Today Years Old Award: Law By Mike Made Learning Go Viral
Law By Mike won the I Was Today Years Old Award for educational content, proving that learning doesn’t have to be boring. Mike’s legal advice videos demystify complex laws, explain rights people didn’t know they had, and provide genuinely useful information in digestible formats.
Educational content thrives on TikTok when creators make information accessible without dumbing it down. Mike strikes that balance perfectly, using real scenarios, clear explanations and occasionally dramatic reenactments to illustrate legal concepts. His content has probably prevented countless legal issues for viewers who learned their rights through his videos.
The award category name itself references the viral phrase used when learning surprising facts, making it perfectly on brand for TikTok culture. Education content spans everything from history and science to personal finance and legal advice, and creators like Law By Mike prove that knowledge sharing is one of TikTok’s most valuable offerings.
Immediately Added To Cart Award: KlothesMinded Won Shopping Content
KlothesMinded took home the Immediately Added to Cart Award, recognizing creators who influence purchasing decisions through product reviews, hauls, unboxings and shopping recommendations. This category acknowledged TikTok’s massive impact on e-commerce and consumer behavior.
TikTok Made Me Buy It became a cultural phenomenon, with products selling out within hours of being featured in viral videos. KlothesMinded mastered the art of product content, providing honest reviews, styling tips and making viewers feel like they need items they didn’t know existed five minutes earlier.
The award also highlighted how TikTok Shop and creator commerce transformed the platform from entertainment to full ecosystem encompassing discovery, evaluation and purchase all in one app. Creators like KlothesMinded became trusted advisors whose recommendations carry more weight than traditional advertising.
Don’t miss out on following before they drop their next must-have product recommendation!
CapCut Creator Of The Year: Recider Mastered Editing Excellence
Recider won CapCut Creator of the Year, recognizing excellence in video editing using TikTok’s sister app. This award celebrated the technical skills behind great content, acknowledging that editing can elevate good ideas into exceptional videos.
CapCut democratized professional level video editing, putting powerful tools in everyone’s hands. Creators like Recider pushed those tools to their limits, creating visually stunning content with transitions, effects and pacing that rival traditionally produced media. The award recognized that technical skill matters and great editing distinguishes memorable content from forgettable posts.
TikTok LIVE Creator Of The Year: Elizabeth Esparza Dominated Live Streaming
Elizabeth Esparza won TikTok LIVE Creator of the Year, highlighting the platform’s growing live streaming ecosystem. Live content creates different intimacy and real time engagement that pre-recorded videos can’t match.
Elizabeth’s live streams build community, create authentic connections with followers and showcase personality in unfiltered ways. The live format requires different skills than edited content, including improvisation, audience interaction and maintaining energy for extended periods. Her win recognized live streaming as its own art form requiring unique talents.
The Night’s Atmosphere: Ciara, Red Carpet Glamour And Emotional Speeches
Beyond the awards themselves, the ceremony created memorable moments that will define TikTok culture going forward. Ciara delivered an electrifying performance that had the Hollywood Palladium on its feet. Her energy, vocals and stage presence proved that TikTok creators deserve the same production quality as traditional award shows.
The red carpet featured creators showcasing personal style ranging from high fashion glamour to distinctly TikTok aesthetics. Unlike traditional celebrity red carpets where everyone wears designer looks styled by professionals, TikTok creators brought authentic personal style reflecting their online brands.
Presenters included Jools Lebron, Jordan Chiles, Josh Richards, Micky Gordon, Patrick Starrr, REI AMI, Tan France, Tefi Pessoa and Trixie Mattel. The diverse group represented TikTok’s expansive creator community spanning every genre and demographic.
Acceptance speeches got emotional as winners reflected on journeys from bedrooms and garages to stage at a major awards ceremony. Many emphasized that TikTok gave them opportunities traditional gatekeepers would never have provided. The raw emotion contrasted with polished celebrity award show speeches, feeling more authentic and relatable.
What This All Means: TikTok Creators Are Legitimate Cultural Forces
The inaugural US TikTok Awards represented more than just handing out trophies. It legitimized digital creation as real career, artform and cultural force worthy of celebration alongside traditional entertainment.
For years, creators fought for recognition that their work matters. Mainstream media dismissed influencers and content creators as less than actors, musicians or traditional artists. This ceremony said definitively that those days are over. Keith Lee’s restaurant reviews impact local economies more than most food critics at legacy publications. Alex Warren sells out concert venues. Paris Hilton remains relevant by understanding digital platforms better than celebrities half her age.
The awards also showcased TikTok’s incredible diversity. From sports and fashion to education and activism, the platform contains multitudes. Every interest, passion and community finds representation and thrives when given space to grow.
Most importantly, the ceremony celebrated creators using platforms for good. The TikTok for Good Award, storytellers like Tineke Younger providing escape and joy, educators like Law By Mike sharing valuable knowledge for free, all represent the best of what social media can be when wielded thoughtfully.
The Future Looks Bright For Creator Culture
As the night wrapped and winners posed with their trophies, one thing became crystal clear. Creator culture isn’t going anywhere. If anything, it’s just getting started. The first US TikTok Awards established a tradition that will grow and evolve alongside the platform itself.
Next year will bring new categories, new winners and new debates about who deserves recognition. That’s healthy and exciting. The awards give creators something tangible to work toward beyond views and likes. They create community through shared celebration rather than competition. They remind everyone that content creation, when done with passion and authenticity, is legitimate work worthy of recognition and respect.
So there you have it. Every winner, every moment and every reason why the inaugural TikTok Awards mattered more than just one night of celebration. Which win surprised you most? Who got snubbed? Drop your hottest takes in the comments and let’s debate! Tag your creator friends who deserve recognition next year. Follow for more entertainment news, TikTok trends and all the digital culture moments shaping how we consume and create content. Because if 2025 proved anything, it’s that creators are the present and future of entertainment, and the TikTok Awards just gave them the stage they’ve always deserved!
