We will never forget 2020. Our lives were turned upside down and many of us were inspired to pursue new passions in our free time, including Bella Poarch, who joined TikTok in April. Unlike most people who merely picked up a hobby or mastered a new recipe, Poarch is now the third most followed creator and has the most-liked video on the entire platform. “I still feel like I’m the same person,” Poarch says. “Sometimes I forget I’m famous because of Covid-19 and I don’t really go out much. I’m sure it’ll be interesting when the world opens up again.”
Although she’s acquired over a billion likes and counting on TikTok, Poarch wasn’t always the popular girl. She spent her earliest years growing up in the Philippines and then, as a teenager, she moved with her family to Texas, where she struggled to fit in with her peers. “I got made fun of for the way I looked and for the Filipino food my mom would pack me for lunch,” Poarch says. “Kids even called me ‘Ling Ling.’ It wasn’t the easiest time.”
After having so much trouble fitting in during high school, Poarch wanted to get as far away from home as possible once she graduated. She enlisted in the United States Navy, a decision that not only took her far away from Texas but gave her independence, a trait she would carry for the rest of her life. “During my first year in the Navy, I was stationed in Pensacola, Florida, and I went to a bar to hang out with some people I’d met,” Poarch says. “I remember standing at the bar and this huge Marine started staring at me. He was clearly drunk, picked me up by both arms and was yelling, ‘You’re so small!’ I told him to let me go and put me down, but he wouldn’t listen.
Denne historien er fra July 2021-utgaven av Inked.
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Denne historien er fra July 2021-utgaven av Inked.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Leaving Her Mark
Shina Novalinga discusses her entry into throat singing, going viral on TikTok and getting her face tattooed
A Phoenix Rising
Salice Rose turned to social media when she was at her lowest. In doing so, she found her true calling
A Flower Growing In Concrete
Creating art has helped Jose López navigate through the darkest periods of his life
Carolesdaughter
As tattooed people, we seldom consider how our body art will impact the people around us. But, it only takes a stranger seeing one tattoo, one time, to change their entire worldview.
Hit the Jackpot
Rapper Latto on breaking into hip-hop, representing Atlanta and making her next big move.
Tess Holliday – Bombshell
Model and body positivity activist Tess Holliday channels her inner Pamela Anderson for this sexy shoot.
Bhad Bhabie
Bhad Bhabie took her 15 minutes of viral fame and turned it into a viable career. The rapper dishes on her only fans and upcoming new music.
Building a Work of Art
To celebrate the release of the 2022 Indian Chief the legend-ary motorcycle company got together two of the world’s most sought after builders, Paul Cox and Keino Sasaki, to customize a bike for celebrated tattoo artist Nikko Hurtado.
Adam Weitsman
Social media forever altered our perception, in ways both large and small. Not only has it changed the way we look at other people, it changed the way we present ourselves to the world. With every post he makes on Instagram, Adam Weitsman is fully aware of the latter.
Problem – All The Answers
Problem has the perseverance and drive to make his dreams come true. We spoke with the rapper about his latest mixtape, entrepreneurship and how his tattoos remind him of what’s important in life.
