Whether watching from the stadium or via the For You Feed, prepare to catch all the feels as Australian homegrown pop sensation, Wafia, takes centre stage on the TikTok float at the 2022 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.
Returning from Los Angeles for the first time since the pandemic began, Wafia joins a line-up of trailblazing LGBTQ+ TikTok creators as they unite in the name of PRIDE for Sydney’s night of nights.
A singer-songwriter of Iraqi-Syrian origin, Wafia (Wafia Al-Rikabi), who herself identifies as queer, will lead the crowd with a live performance of her hit song ‘I’m Good‘.
The joyful track has been streamed over 36.8 million times on Spotify and soundtracked over 44K videos on TikTok – often featuring as a Pride anthem. ‘I’m Good’ is also the sound for TikTok’s 2022 #MardiGras Hashtag Challenge.
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Floating alongside Wafia will be members TikTok’s brave and brilliant LGBTQ+ creator community, including @nat.alise, a single mum who came out as bisexual on TikTok last year; @rainbowhistoryclass (aka Rudy and Hannah) who educate the TikTok community with queer and trans history lessons; and @carlafrombankstown, TikTok’s comedy queen from the South Western suburbs of Sydney.
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Wafia said “I couldn’t be more excited to be heading home to Australia to join the TikTok float at this year’s Mardi Gras parade. It feels amazing for my song ‘I’m Good’ to have been embraced by the queer community, especially at home, and it’s such an honour and a privilege to be able to perform as part of such a special night. This will be my first Mardi Gras, and what a way to kick things off. I can’t wait!”
In true TikTok fashion, the party won’t stop there. For the second year, TikTok is giving Aussies – and people all around the world – the opportunity to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community during the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Join in the festivities via an in-app #MardiGras Hub, a special LIVE from the parade, and #MardiGras Hashtag Challenge, which will see the creators of the best, most creative videos win double passes to the parade in Sydney on March 5.
Lee Hunter, general manager, TikTok Australia and New Zealand said: “TikTok champions our diverse and inclusive community every day, it’s at the heart of what we do.
“We’re proud to once again be partnering with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, showcasing our ongoing commitment to elevating LGBTQ+ voices and providing an open, inclusive platform where people can proudly show up as their authentic selves every day.
“We’re excited for our community to be marching in the official event in the name of inclusiveness and eagerly look forward to spreading that joy across Australia and the globe for those tuning in on TikTok to watch from afar. To our LGBTQ+ community – this is your moment to shine and feel the warmth of the world on you all!”
