NEXT STOP, THE NICKELODEONS

Her fan base just keeps growing and now TikTok influencer Chané is heading for America

- GABISILE NGCOBO

THE reaction of the young fan in a shopping mall suggests there’s a serious A-lister in the area. She can barely contain herself, fighting back tears as her idol gives her attention.

“What are you doing here?” she asks incredulously before requesting a hug and a selfie.

“I love everything about her,” the 12-year-old gushes.

Next is a 20-something shopper who wastes no time getting a receipt out of her bag so she can get an autograph for her little brother, who’s a big fan.

“I find her inspiring,” she tells us. The “her” is 19-year-old Chané Grobler, a lip-sync content creator who’s become a huge star with young people worldwide.

These days, the young woman from Pretoria can’t go anywhere without being recognised – thanks to her vast following on Chinese video-sharing social network TikTok.

More than 1,8 million people follow Chané on the world’s most downloaded app, which has 1,5 billion users across the globe. She’s the most-followed female influencer in South Africa and has no plans to slow down anytime soon.

Chané rose to stardom after producing videos of her dancing while lip-syncing to backup tracks from the comfort of her bedroom.

And now her newfound fame has landed her a nomination for the prestigious 2020 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in the category favourite African social star.

The awards – which celebrate kids’ entertainment in film, TV, music, pop culture and animation – will be hosted by Grammy award-winning superstar Chance the Rapper on 22 March at The Forum in Inglewood, California.