Certified Fattie, Behind the Scenes - Samantha Lin

As a teenager, TikTok feels like the birthplace of all things funny, ridiculous, and trending. As a certified fattie, my For You page is constantly flooded with mukbangs. One thing that really stood out to me was the viral strawberry Dubai chocolate. I thought, if I can’t eat it, why not draw it instead?

This piece is layered—literally and figuratively. It captures the sweetness and excess of internet trends while offering a glimpse behind the scenes. As an influencer on Instagram, I hope this artwork gives off that unfiltered energy that contrasts with the polished content we usually see.  — Samantha Lin, age 16