If you’ve had TikTok since August 2019, you’ve probably seen the video of a blonde woman trying Kombucha for the first time, to which she has a hilarious reaction. From just one viral video, Brittany Broski arose as an internet sensation, gathering over one million YouTube subscribers and seven million TikTok followers who are willing to tune into her thoughts and opinions about a variety of topics, ranging from TikTok fan fiction to reconciling with religious trauma. No matter if she makes you laugh or cry through her videos, Brittany Broski’s corner of the internet is one of the most profound platforms for an audience of young women as she discusses any and all aspects of womanhood.
“Broski Nation” territory consists of a YouTube channel, several TikTok pages, and a podcast, featuring Brittany’s content of mostly silly, lighthearted videos that make her listeners (aka me) belly laugh from her electric personality and unhinged intrusive thoughts. I first started to consistently consume her content over the summer once The Broski Report was first released, and from the first episode, I was instantly hooked on anything this woman had to say. It takes a lot for me to consistently listen to a podcast, but every Tuesday my hands are off the wheel and my eyes are closed carefully tuning into the Supreme Leader’s wise words. The fifty-minute episodes are truly just Brittany talking about anything on her mind, but the humor she ties in is accompanied by sudden seriousness of topics like “Why I Left the Christian Church” and looming over mortality sparked by the release of Hozier’s latest album keep the episodes dynamic. This gives listeners something to relate to as she speaks eloquently about current topics relating to her experience as a woman. Broski’s vulnerability on such a large platform is a new concept since most celebrity gossip is never revealed to the public, but Brittany keeps it real and these details are why viewers return every week for an insightful new episode.
Broski is able to harbor such a large platform due to how open and relatable she is, especially when she talks about fan culture. She embraces her celebrity crushes and favorite characters on such an intense level, which I personally love as an active fan of many TV shows and movies; it’s fun to have someone to relate to who understands loving a piece of media so much like Brittany does. While she’s thirsting over Kylo Ren or Ghost from Call of Duty, she gives all the “delusional” girls out there a laugh by expressing her thoughts and being the voice of the people. She unapologetically talks about fanfiction she reads and lets us in on her high school obsessions, allowing listeners to relate if they ever had similar experiences with consuming media this way. Brittany may spend a lot of her content giggling over what she jokingly refers to as her “white boy of the month,” but at the same time is able to flip the switch and conduct intelligent discussions. Many of the episodes also feature Brittany talking about a piece of art or historical topic she is passionate about, where she gives profound analysis and insightful interpretations of whatever is on her mind. This is such a special aspect of womanhood to be able to do both, be silly and gush about whatever you’re loving, and also take topics more seriously and give your unique opinions on them. Brittany Broski provides a space for that on the internet where women’s insights are nothing but valued.
Never before have I seen anyone balance humor and sincerity as Brittany Broski does on her podcast, to which she jokes “Give me 45 minutes and a microphone and I can connect any two topics.” While she often opens each episode with a funny anecdote or a new man to thirst over, as more serious topics arise Brittany reflects intimately on her life experiences so viewers connect with her, a talent that has significantly contributed to her success. Broski’s openness allows people to empathize with her and feel compassion in a way that I have not seen any other creator match, through a combination of Broski’s humor, humility, and honesty. Not only does this allow her to stand out, but as a consumer she seems more to me like a real person who is dealing with other issues in life, and not just some celebrity that I can put up on a pedestal. Hearing her vulnerable inner thoughts, which she so graciously is willing to share, allows her viewers to feel like her equals. She makes women feel seen in a society that was built to oppose us, and that effort does not go unnoticed or ungratified.
Brittany displaying her dynamic personality gives a reminder to women that we can do the same. I grew up in an environment where girls weren’t supposed to be funny, and if you were, you weren’t taken seriously. It’s so often taught to us that women with big and loud personalities need to shrink that part of themselves in order to fit in and be accepted by others, namely by men. But Brittany is a slap in the face to anyone who believes that by showing and telling her audience that you can have it all. In her most recent podcast episode “Chernobyl and Wattpad Lore” she goes on a rant about this exact topic, exclaiming “I am very proud of… who I am, I love who I am, and I, in what f*cking universe, would I ever dull what that is… for the sake of a man.” Brittany makes a space for herself where she can fully embrace who she is and therefore displays to her viewers that they can do the same. You can be funny, you can be smart, and you should be taken seriously because of these parts of yourself, even if people tell you otherwise. She speaks loud and proud of topics women in their every day lives might be too afraid to voice themselves, reflecting on womanhood in such intelligent words. Millions of people have followed her and have access to her hilarious and intelligent words, and I hope Broski Nation continues to grow and inspire women to be exactly as they are, giving them a space on the Internet to embrace confidence in themselves and implement that into their lives.