Why I Made Purple My Colour On TikTok -Purple Speedy

The rise of social media and the attendant culture around it has given way to a range of talents and showcases that we get to witness on a daily basis across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. No platform quite captures this individuality of thought as TikTok does.

Exploding to national popularity in Nigeria during the thick of the 2020 COVID-19-mandated lockdown in the country, it has become a haven for positive expression by young Nigerians across music, film, dance, and literature.

One of the most ubiquitous names on the platform is the TikTok creator known as Purple Speedy, who has caught attention over the last three years thanks to her joie de vivre and masterful handling of TikTok.

It’s not a career pathway that she envisaged getting into growing up in Gboko, Benue State.

“The first time I heard of TikTok was in 2019, and what I basically loved from TikTok was the acting,” she revealed.

“In fact, if you check my first video on TikTok, it was me mimicking a particular person. So, I wanted to do acting. But then, I saw trends on TikTok that I really loved and they were mostly dance-related. Tapping into her adolescent love for dancing, Purple Speedy was able to connect to an audience that was impressed by her innovative interpretation of these dance routines and energetic displays.
Another thing that has helped the TikTok influencer get noticed is her attachment to the colour purple. A key highlight of any Purple Speedy video is her putting her unique spin on her outfit and general aesthetic which is skewered towards the purple colour. She says it’s a decision she made because she loves the colour. “Purple has always been my favorite colour for as long as I can remember,” she said.

“Somebody told me that when I was much younger, they never saw me with purple, and I told the person, ‘When I was much younger, I didn’t have the resources to actually get everything I wanted in purple.’
“I’ve actually loved the colour for a very long time. It’s the same way ladies always do things with pink. I actually wanted to do something for myself with that colour, but I couldn’t get everything I wanted. Purple is not as rampant as other colours. So, I basically just loved the colour and I wanted my stuff to be purple. It’s not there’s a particular reason.”

“These days beyond being known for her purple outfits, Purple Speedy is enjoying being known for her work beyond the screens of TikTok. “ I’ve actually enjoyed the fact that people appreciate my work.

“It’s actually beautiful to see that you put stuff out there and people actually appreciate and love what you do. The second thing, I’m not even going to lie, is fame. It’s beautiful to go out there and see that people recognise you. ‘Oh. I know you from the app.’ It’s really nice. Another thing is that I could put my content out there and prominent people in the society are able to recognise me. ‘Oh, I know you. The girl that dances with purple.”

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