TikTok Awards: 'You’ll be amazed at how much good laughter can do’

‘I should’ve listened to my wife and wrote a speech.’

These were the first words of the joyous Tongan dad Ilai Matagi (@havea_676) in being named 2024 Comedy Creator of the Year.

As online talents walked the red carpet for the annual Australia/New Zealand TikTok Awards, Sydney was buzzing.

Matagi is a proud but cheeky Papa known for creating hilarious dad-life videos that often include valuable lessons for his four daughters.

His funny take on raising girls has earned him 1.5 million followers and 91.9 million likes on TikTok. Many of his fans are other fathers or daughters who relate to his content.

As the only Pacific creator in the comedy category, Matagi acknowledged his fellow nominees during his acceptance speech, saying that “it’s an honour” to receive the award.

“It’s hard work making people laugh. So I take my hat off to all of you.”

He praised God for the gifts and the platform he has to spread smiles.

“Praise God for blessing me with the ability and the opportunity to bring laughter and joy to many people around the world.”

Matagi’s early videos featured him pranking his girls, and their quick-witted responses and funny reactions helped him gain a huge following.

His portrayal of being a girl dad, husband, working man, casual gym-goer, and the family antagonist reveals a Pacific family home environment to a global audience.

Life, he says, is driven by his daughters.

“My kids carry my content. My daughters Kiara, Lini, Mele, Nunia, I love you girls. This is for you girls.”

In true island fashion, Matagi invited the audience to join him in a celebratory “cheehoo”, filling the room with joyful shouts of happiness.

Another big winner of the evening was Aotearoa’s own Lisa Perese-Cullen, a family-life content creator of Māori and Sāmoan heritage.

Based in Auckland, Perese-Cullen creates quick, unpolished, yet effortlessly funny clips about motherhood. These clips showcase the chaos of raising children and, occasionally, her husband.

Photo/Te Ao Māori News/Jack Bennet

Her relatable storytelling challenges the cleaner, more wholesome ‘Mumtok’ content creators who dominate the platform, earning her the 2024 NZ TikTok Creator of the Year title.

“Winning this award is an incredible honour, and I’m so proud to be representing New Zealand Aotearoa.

“TikTok has had such a positive impact on my life, allowing me to connect with an amazing global community I truly love.

“Thank you to everyone who voted for me!”

Perese-Cullen launched her TikTok platform and her underwear business, Harper James Co., in 2022.

This was a response to the “uncomfy undies” on the market that quickly wear out after use.

She has made videos discussing the poor quality of available intimate garments and aspires to create “long-lasting timeless staples for everybody”.

The oldest video on her TikTok feed is a quick vlog of a family trip to Queenstown. It features an honest voice-over about the headaches that family trips cause mothers.

Her content resonates with many busy parents, while non-parents use her experiences as cautionary tales.

Always on the go for her family and business, Perese-Cullen deserved to celebrate with KFC and even posted a “thank you” video to her 594.5k followers.

“I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who voted. I genuinely didn’t think I would win.”

Matagi shared some parting wisdom for everyone: “The world can be a brutal place at times, but you’ll be amazed at how much good laughter can do for you. Any time you get a chance to laugh, laugh.”