Embracing Her Digital Doppelgänger
Since her elementary school days in Woodbridge, Va., people have told Wilkerson that she resembles Hero Girl, known as Holly, from “The Polar Express.” She humorously described it as “heartbreaking.” But as time went on, she began to embrace her digital doppelgänger. Even though the resemblance is not exact, Wilkerson has come to appreciate it.
“It’s a seasonal gig,” she said, recounting an experience being swarmed by people dressed as Elmo in Times Square while filming another video. Accompanying her during the dance in Rockefeller Center were her unpaid film crew, some of her St. John’s classmates. As a show of gratitude, she treated them to food in the campus dining hall during the weeks of filming. Friendship, she jokingly added, was her payment.
Overcoming Social Anxiety Through TikTok
Wilkerson shared that her TikTok alter ego helped her overcome social anxiety. “No one in New York cares,” she confidently stated. As she studies television and film at St. John’s University, she has found ways to profit from her 15 minutes of seasonal fame. She participates in TikTok’s creator fund, earning approximately $250 per video.
While the majority of feedback has been positive, Wilkerson no longer reads the replies to her videos due to encountering numerous racist comments. After a productive afternoon of shooting, she and her friends discussed their upcoming final exams while waiting for an F train on a subway station platform. Wilkerson amusingly mentioned a previous subway video where she unintentionally kicked a passenger.
Once aboard a rush-hour train car, they quickly organized themselves to film another TikTok. Pointing at a sign that read, “Don’t be someone’s subway story,” one of Wilkerson’s friends, Amanda Gopie, jovially remarked, “That’s you,” leading the group to burst into laughter.
The best time of the year, when everyone comes home,” Wilkerson began. Her friends joined in, forming a shaky chorus, catching the attention of a few riders who recognized her.