In Lafayette’s nearly two-hundred years of existence, many notable alumni have walked the Quad: Stephen Crane, Joe Maddon, Henry Kissinger, and Sofia Zotti. The last name of that list might not seem familiar at first, but you would certainly recognize her face from a popular TikTok that circulated the app two weeks ago:
https://www.tiktok.com/@sofeeeah/video/6793466740308217094
With 1.2 million views and 330,000 likes, my friend’s tone-deaf cover of Raini Rodriguez’s “Living Your Dreams” quickly became an overnight sensation. My roommate Gianna Colallio, seated beside her, received acclaim for her acting performance in the comments. I recently sat down with the pair to discuss their newfound TikTok fame.
What inspired your TikTok?
Gianna: When you’re bored in the Skillman study room, the creativity really starts flowing.
Sofia: It was a trend on TikTok and we thought it was so funny, so we wanted to add our own spice to it!
When did you first realize it was going viral?
Sofia: We were in Lower at 12 AM the next day. Gianna was telling me to stop freaking out, because it was only at 1,000 views and 100 likes, but I kept repeating that it was going viral. I guess I spoke it into existence.
Has anyone recognized you from the video?
Sofia: A few people actually have! I’ve had some people call me Raini Rodriguez.
What were your favorite comments you received?
Gianna: While scrolling through the comments, one comment caught my eye: “your sister (referring to me) looks like Jake T. Austen.”
Sofia: My favorite one is when the popular, verified creator Mitchell commented, “I want to be your guys’ friend.”
What can we expect in terms of new TikTok content?
Sofia: Honestly there isn’t anything in particular to expect. It’s super random, and we make our TikToks based off whatever we are feeling in the moment. Stick around, though, because you’re sure to see us online once again!
In short, there is no “exact method” to achieve TikTok fame. Most of the time, all you need is a little creativity, terrible Disney Channel song, a Skillman study room, and most importantly, friends!