May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada. As pretty much anyone who's spent time in Vancouver knows, Asian heritage is inextricably linked to B.C.'s history as a whole.
Today, Asian Canadians are showcasing and celebrating their cultures and identities in a wide variety of ways—one of which being through TikTok videos.
With the theme for Asian Heritage Month this year being "Recognition, Resilience, and Resolve," we've compiled a list of a few of the city's top content creators that are entertaining, informing, inspiring and just generally killing the TikTok game with their work—whether it's through comedy, recipes, art, offering a peek into their family life or taking followers along on restaurant tours of Vancouver.
Scroll through the list below to get to know them!
1. @yoleendadong
Yes, this hilarious digital creator you've probably seen on your FYP hundreds of times, often greeting viewers with a "Hello my friends!" is based right here in the Lower Mainland. Linda Dong's success story is that of another Vancouverite finding TikTok fame over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, she's amassed an impressive 14.7 million TikTok followers and 931,000 Instagram followers with her equally funny and wise parodies about dating, family, and life as a millennial.
It's not Dong's first brush with social media stardom. Dong started a YouTube channel, LeendaDProductions, in November 2011, that eventually grew to over 1 million subscribers and millions views.
@yoleendadong Tag a friend π Going undercover be like π₯Έ #undercover #golf #golfing #girlswhogolf #golfgirl #exesbelike
β¬ original sound - Brayden & Caden
@yoleendadong I always google and look at the ratings to get good boba βΊοΈπͺ what’s your go to boba order π§#boba #bubbletea #bubbleteasquad
β¬ original sound - LeendaDong
@yoleendadong LOLLLL my mom don’t like me wearing sweats, are your parents like this too π₯² #sweats #sweatpants #asianmomsbelike #moms
β¬ Garbarge Rhat - Owen
@yoleendadong Focus on yourself and boys come like milkshake brings all the boys to the yard β¨ ##fyu ##foryou ##girls ##dating ##lovedoctor
β¬ How to get a boys attention - LeendaDong
@yoleendadong What I had for lunch: Vietnamese Chicken Pho (chicken noodle soup)βΊοΈπ². What did you have for today? βΊοΈ #pho #vietnamesepho #chickenpho #phodacbiet
β¬ original sound - LeendaDong
2. @andreebonifacioo
Andree 'AC' Bonifacio has already performed on The Ellen Show (twice), and onstage with Ariana Grande. Now, the dancer taking over TikTok. To date, she's racked up 5 million followers who stay tuned to her— you guessed it— dance videos. It's also easy to take fashion inspiration from her always on-trend sense of style.
@andreebonifacioo yaaa girl representing the π΅π!! Your turn @aiki_kr @ruhatenizo π€© #GoingDumb
β¬ Going Dumb (with Stray Kids) - Alesso & CORSAK & Stray Kids
@andreebonifacioo napapa fullout ako dito @renzjanuz
β¬ Talkin' Bout (feat. Saweetie) - Loui
@andreebonifacioo Riverdale ep today!!! u might see a familiar face :))
β¬ Wale - Lotus Flower Bomb (feat. Miguel) - royceπ΄
@andreebonifacioo #duet with @jonny.perl currently 2:27am obsessed w this song
β¬ original sound - Jonny Perl
3. @theraymondsalgado
A Filipino Canadian singer whose TikTok bio cleverly states, "My teeth are straight, but I’m not," Raymond Salgado has grown an army of 490,100 followers since he joined the platform. His videos showcase his mind-blowing range that could give some of the world's top vocalists a run for their money, through both covers and original songs.
@theraymondsalgado Singing my sadness away ##voiceeffects ##singing ##trend ##sad
β¬ original sound - Raymond Salgado
@theraymondsalgado I’m a little late on this trend I know π #heartbreakanniversary #cover #singing #filipino
β¬ original sound - Raymond Salgado
@theraymondsalgado Casually singing for the @canucks π #hockey #nationalanthem #canada #vancouver
β¬ original sound - Raymond Salgado
@theraymondsalgado Day 4 in trying to get my song viral π€£ #viral #fyp #musician #family
β¬ Almost There - Raymond Salgado
4. @ongsquad
This mom of four hilarious kids has 3.5 million followers who keep scrolling for her relatable recounts about motherhood, as well as her tips for learning, cooking or dialling in the bedtime routine.
@ongsquad Thanks for 3 million! Together, let’s #StopAsianHate #AsianCanadian #momsoftiktok #kidconversations #stopAAPIhate
β¬ original sound - Ong Squad
@ongsquad Me when I’m trying to eat a snack #momsoftiktok #millennialmoms #momof4kids #momprobs #momlife H/T: @michaelandjill
β¬ .....Wiii - β‘ π΅ππππβ‘
@ongsquad Ong Squad goes camping #ad #ToyotaElectrified
β¬ original sound - Ong Squad
@ongsquad How to make musubi #learnontiktok #momsoftiktok #cookingwithkids #musubi #kidconversations
β¬ original sound - Ong Squad
5. @sopheats
Who doesn't need some restaurant inspiration every now and then? Or if cooking at home is more your style, some Costco finds that will motivate you to brave the big box store crowds? On her popular TikTok account, this Vancouverite Sophia Hu is providing fellow Lower Mainland-based TikTok users with both, along with other "latest and greatest" finds from across the city. So far, the digital creator has 32,300 followers who regularly make use of the resource.
@sopheats BEST HAWAIIAN LUNCH PLATES IN VANCOUVER!! #vancouverfoodie #vancouver #vancouverfood #hawaiianfood #hawaiianfoodie #kaluapork #locomoco #pokebowl #fyp
β¬ Summer - Instrumental - Devinney
@sopheats BEST TAKEOUT SUSHI ROLLS IN VANCOUVER β¨ #sushi#vancouver#vancouverfoodie#vancouverbc#sushibae#sushiroll#sashimi#sushilover#vancouverfood#takeout#fyp
β¬ Kiss Me More (feat. SZA) - Doja Cat
@sopheats Costco Canada finds part 5!! β¨ #costco#costcocanada#costofinds#costcofindscanada#costcobuys#costcotiktok#costcodealsandsteals#costcoguide#icecream#fyp
β¬ The Office - The Hyphenate
6. @tiffycooks
If you need some recipe inspiration, on the other hand, Tiffy is your girl. The food blogger was born in Taiwan before moving to Vancouver in high school. Today, she shares daily recipes on her blog and on Instagram, in addition to filming the 60-second video tutorials she posts for her 1.2 million TikTok followers. Typically, her recipes focus on Asian cuisine, from family recipes to recreated street food. Warning: even a quick scroll through her feed might just leave you feeling hungry.
@tiffycooks My most highly-requested recipe of my mom’s FLUFFY, SOFT, Fail-ProofMilk Bread is FINALLY here! Link in bio. #ad
β¬ original sound - TIFFY COOKS π₯
@tiffycooks 20 minutes ONLY, have you tried rice cakes?
β¬ original sound - TIFFY COOKS π₯
@tiffycooks 5 ingredients only - Egg filled pancakes
β¬ original sound - TIFFY COOKS π₯
@tiffycooks That jiggle!! So CREAMY, is it better than mama? π
β¬ original sound - TIFFY COOKS π₯
