Ilai Matangi named Creator of the Year at TikTok Awards

Ilai Matangi, known on TikTok as @havea_676, has been named Creator of the Year at the 2025 TikTok Awards, staged for the first time at the new TikTok Entertainment Centre in Sydney and billed as the platform’s biggest awards event globally. More than 6.4 million public votes were cast for this year’s awards, up three million on 2024.

The Gold Coast-based creator, a proud Tongan and last year’s Comedy Creator of the Year, topped a field that included Latisha Clark, Tammy Hembrow, Jiny Maeng and Ben Stubbs, with support from his 2.7 million-plus followers. “I’m so grateful for TikTok – it lets me showcase my family, comedy, and culture… This recognition isn't just for me, it's for my family, and the community that's supported me from day one,” Matangi said.

The sold-out event drew more than 5,000 people into the venue, with millions more watching live on TikTok and Stan as performances from Keli Holiday, with his track Dancing2, and Jude York, performing ABBA’s Slipping Through My Fingers alongside his mother, anchored the broadcast. TikTok says this year’s winners collectively command more than 38 million followers on the platform.

Jonathan Bailey spotlights TikTok For Good

In one of the night’s biggest surprise moments, Jonathan Bailey, star of Wicked: For Good and recently named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, appeared on stage to present the TikTok For Good award to Australian wildlife conservationist Josh Neille. “Standing here tonight, I’m reminded that you don’t need magic to make a real difference… One video, one message, one spark of humanity can ripple outward and change lives,” Bailey told the crowd.

The audience included a roll-call of local creators, athletes and TV personalities, among them Cody Simpson, Karl Stefanovic, Sarah Abo, Dylan Alcott, Nagi Maehashi, Courtney Act, Harry Garside, Midnight Til Morning, The Inspired Unemployed, Kat Clark and Indy Clinton – underscoring the event’s positioning as a key industry night for the creator economy.

Kiwi creators and category standouts

New Zealand talent was also in the spotlight, with Louis Davis taking out New Zealand Creator of the Year, actor and filmmaker Theo Shakes named the inaugural Entertainment Creator of the Year, chef Andy Hearnden winning Food Creator of the Year and multi-hyphenate performer Lance Savali awarded Music Artist of the Year.

Elsewhere, Leah Halton (@looooooooch) claimed Video of the Year for the second consecutive year for a behind-the-scenes clip that has amassed more than 150 million views. Business of the Year went to fashion label All For Mimi, owned by TikTok creator Sophia Begg, while Sydney women’s health physiotherapist Heidi Barlow was recognised with the Learn on TikTok award.

Additional category winners included Sports and Fitness Creator of the Year Hannah Pearson, Beauty and Fashion Creator of the Year Ellen Malone, Comedy Creator of the Year duo Liam Dowling and Ben Christopher, LIVE Creator of the Year Ūla, and High Quality Content Creator Anthony Randello-Jahn.

Biggest TikTok Awards event yet

Simon Bates, head of content for TikTok Australia and New Zealand, said the scale of the 2025 event highlighted the platform’s maturing role in Australia’s media landscape. “What an incredible, sold-out celebration at the TikTok Entertainment Centre, broadcast live on Stan, and officially the biggest TikTok Awards in the world! This year's winners have more than 38 million followers on TikTok combined and it's a privilege to showcase our local creators to Australia and the world,” Bates said.

For broadcasters and advertisers, the event further cemented TikTok’s collaboration with Stan and free-to-air partner 9Go!, where a replay will air on 4 December, alongside on-demand coverage via @tiktok_australia. The format, combining live audience, social streaming and traditional TV, positions the TikTok Awards as a hybrid tentpole for both the platform and its partners.

Top image: Jonathan Bailey & Sophie Monk

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