Quincy woman and her husband have 2.2 million followers on TikTok. Watch how it happened

Matt and Abby Howard are high school sweethearts who got married in July 2019 during their sophomore year at Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. Abby (Biswell), who graduated from Quincy (IL) High School in 2017, was traveling to the Muny in St. Louis to perform in summer theater programs when she met Matt, a native of Ballwin, Mo., for the first time in the eighth grade.

Abby, 22, planned to become a teacher. Matt, 23, hoped to work in the financial industry.

Then TikTok happened. Now the Howards are social media influencers. 

(NOTE TO READERS: Many of you will see the words “social media influencers” and “TikTok” ask, “What the heck is he talking about?” By definition, a social media Influencer is a user on social media who has established credibility in a specific industry. This person has access to a large audience and often persuades others by virtue of their authenticity and reach. TikTok is a social media app — like Twitter or Facebook — that was available worldwide for the first time in August 2018. Users create short form videos, typically lasting about 15 seconds. Many TikTok users lip-synch or dance along with popular songs, though some are expanding their creativity.)

Statista, a German company specializing in market and consumer data, shows TikTok was the second most popular social media app among teenagers in the United States in the fall of 2020, trailing only Snapchat. 

More than 2.2 million people are following the Howards’ TikTok account, and their videos have received more than 121 million likes. Their YouTube channel has more than 508,000 subscribers watching longer-form videos. 

The video below was conducted June 24 through Zoom. The Howards, now living in Hawaii, discuss how they got involved with TikTok, their favorite videos, and future plans. They also explain why they were invited to interview Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Top 10 TikTok accounts with the most followers worldwide

Charli D’Amelio, age 16 @charlidamelio – 117.8 million
The former competitive dancer first began posting on TikTok in 2019, and became popular by performing dance routines to trending songs.

Addison Rae, age 20 @addisonre – 81.2 million
One of the most popular dancers on TikTok, she has handed a role on the upcoming remark of “She’s All That.”

Khaby Lame, age 21 @khaby.lame – 75.0 million
A Senegalese-Italian video host whose popular videos sarcastically points out people who complicate simple tasks for no reason at all.

Bella Poarch, age 24 @bellapoarch – 73.3 million
This Filipino-American singer first gained fame with lip-synching. Her lip-synch of “Soph Aspin Send” by Millie B is the most popular TikTok video of all time.

Zach King, age 31 @zachking – 60.3 million
This illusionist’s “magic vines” are sleight of hand six-second videos which have made him hugely popular on TikTok.

Will Smith, age 52 @willsmith – 55.2 million
The Hollywood star and rapper, called the “most powerful actor in Hollywood” by Newsweek, is the most followed traditional celebrity on TikTok.

Spencer Polanco Knight, age 29 @spencerx – 52.6 million
This beatboxer and YouTube star, also known as Spencer X, is recognized for his fast-paced and smooth beatboxing and music tracks.

Loren Gray, age 19 @lorengray – 52.5 million
She was previously No. 1 on TikTok before Charli D’Amelio came along. She is an American model and singer.

Dixie D’Amelio, age 19 @dixiedamelio – 52.2 million
She followed her little sister onto TikTok. She is a singer and also hosts a talk show on YouTube called “The Early Late Night Show.”

Michael Le, age 21 @justmaiko – 48.6 million
This dancer and choreographer has become famous for his dancing tutorials which he posts several times a day.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Abby grew up with David’s daughter, Jamie and my daughter, Michelle. Abby and Michelle were classmates at QHS and both were involved in QHS Show Choir and the music department. Before that though, Abby, Jamie and Michelle were soccer prodigies (maybe) for the Pink Monkeys of the Quinsippi Soccer League, coached by David. This picture of Abby, Jamie, Mackenzie Foley, Kaylee Murphy and Michelle back in the day is too cute not to use. JRG.