Have you fallen down a hole watching Tabitha Brown’s
vegan cooking videos on TikTok? Because you really should take a tumble. The at-home foodie and vegan food
influencer has amassed a massive following on the short-video social media
platform since first posting on March 8, and it just keeps growing.
When you watch Brown’s videos, you instantly understand her
popularity. She not only makes vegan food seem easy and totally
doable, but she also makes it look downright delicious. Even though her videos on the TikTok platform are only 60 seconds long, she still manages to pack in a list of ingredients,
a short instruction on preparation and sometimes even a big bite.
In addition to her mouth-watering vegan burger and nachos
recipes, she imparts wisdom on her followers. They are minute-long musings,
just like her recipes, about believing in yourself or following your dreams.
But these don't feel like empty platitudes she’s spouting. When Brown says them, it feels
like your best friend is telling you a secret that she knows is true.
Another amazing part of Brown’s videos is her catchphrases. After just a couple, you’ll be saying, “Because that’s your BUSINESS!”
when she offers options for spices, and, “Like so like that” when she shows you
how to quickly sauté in the pan.
The self-professed "Internet’s mom” is not a professional
chef -- she’s just a vegan who loves food and really enjoys eating it. Part of her
allure is that she seems to throw together some basic ingredients she has
around her kitchen into a quick, satisfying meal that you can recreate at home
and tailor to your liking because “that’s your business.”
Brown’s social media presence is not just her cooking and advising, though -- her whole family is part of the experience. Her 18-year-old daughter, Choyce, 8-year-old son, Queston and husband Chance frequently appear on Brown’s Youtube channel, which features special, longer weekly segments like "Mondays with Tab &
Choyce" and "Fridays with Tab & Chance." Step-daughter Ty-Leah makes occasional appearances and don’t forget
“Donna,” her affectionately named hair that she sometimes hugs.
Brown seemed to appear out of nowhere, right when we needed her most. With the help of Choyce,
she posted her first TikTok in early March, before the collective sh-- hit the fan. She's since exploded throughout
quarantine into 4 million followers.
Her story isn’t as instant as a pack of
vegan ramen noodles, though. An actress and former Uber driver, Brown became a vegan to
help her deal with chronic pain (also at the suggestion of Choyce). In 2017,
a glowing Facebook video review of a Whole Foods vegan BLT went viral. Through this she
picked up some followers and became a brand ambassador for Whole Foods, traveling
the country as part of her work with the grocer.
Her Instagram account has celeb
followers like Alicia Silverstone, Hilary Swank and Jennifer Garner. The TikTok empire is
really just the icing on her vegan carrot cake.
Brown’s career is certainly on the rise now, so expect to see
a lot more of her on the internet and beyond. She will soon have a show on the Ellen Digital Network (aka EllenTube) called “All Love,” premiering sometime this year, and will focus on cooking, parenting and self-care.
Until then, get lost in her social media experience when you
need some comfort food (or just some comfort). As Brown has shown us, nourishing
our bodies and souls is only a minute away, honey.