Elle James originally joined many other millennials in creating videos out of boredom during the pandemic lockdown in 2020. What started out as an outlet for James to escape the monotony of cabin fever, has brought her success and the attention of many A-list celebrities, including the attention of Shaquille O’Neal who elevated her “cool mom status” after sending her children MacBooks for a video she made with him. James is well known for her duets but also uses her platform to share stories, including embarrassing ones, about her life in a comical fashion that people relate to. From tales as a working professional, mother, or as a single navigating the dating world, her stories bring laughter to many while inspiring others. “The weirder I was, the more people seemed to like it,” said Elle James. “Perhaps people found me relatable, maybe I just brought them a laugh, but whatever the reason may be, it enabled me to let go of any insecurities I felt and allowed me to be my most shameless self.” Growing up James was a very shy child with low self-esteem, but the last three years has brought a confidence and shamelessness she may have never achieved without TikTok. She adds “I realized ‘perfect’ was the opposite of what people on social media loved about me. And so here I am, three years later, messy, unfiltered and the happiest I’ve ever been.”