Gold Coast dad ‘humbled’ by TikTok’s No.1 award
Source: TikTok/Ilai Matangi/havea_676
A Gold Coast dad with more than 2.7 million followers on TikTok – and more than a million more on other social media – has been named the platform’s creator of the year at a glittering ceremony in Sydney.
Ilai Matangi, better known to his followers as @havea_676, is a Tongan dad who said he started making videos with his three daughters for fun.
“I never imagined it would turn into such a fulfilling career. To be here, winning this award voted by my TikTok fans is truly humbling,” he said at Wednesday night’s ceremony.
“This recognition isn’t just for me, it’s for my family, and the community that’s supported me from day one.”
Matangi’s win came after he took out the 2024 comedy creator title at TikTok’s biggest annual awards. He topped creators such as Latisha Clark, Tammy Hembrow, Jiny Maeng, and Ben Stubbs to be named the platform’s No.1.
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TikTok said Matangi won after a record-breaking 6.4 million votes were cast in the 2025 awards – up three million on last year.
He dedicated his title to his wife’s best friend, Tay, who died last week.
“May you rest in peace. She’s a hard-up 685,” he said, referring to the international phone dialling code for Samoa.
“If you guys watched last year, you know I’m a proud Pacifica person, and I celebrate the best way I can” – and followed up with asking his fans for a cheer.
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In other awards presented on Wednesday, Melbourne TikToker Leah Halton (aka @looooooooch) took out video of the year for the second year running for a behind-the-scenes grab that has topped an astonishing 150 million views.
Halton’s name may be unfamiliar to some, but the 24-year-old lifestyle and fitness influencer has more than 15 million followers on TikTok and about 4.5 million on Instagram. She posts beauty tutorials, lifestyle content, and lip-syncing videos.
Wildlife warrior Josh Neille won the “TikTok for good award”. Neille, who lives with his family in Gippsland, Victoria, has built his social media following with stories of his success and failures caring for everything from wombats to birds, snakes and turtles.
He regularly racks up millions of views across platforms, but has previously said he doesn’t feel famous.
“We’re just out on the farm,” he told the ABC.
“It’s just us, our little family, [daughter] Ashlee [and] the critters.”
The 5000-strong audience at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on Wednesday was also treated to an appearance by star of Wicked: For Good and People magazine’s “sexiest man alive”, Jonathan Bailey, who presented Neille’s award.
“Standing here tonight, I’m reminded that you don’t need magic to make a real difference. TikTok is known for creativity, humour, and entertainment but it’s also become a space where people take action, raise their voices, and lift up their communities. One video, one message, one spark of humanity can ripple outward and change lives,” Bailey said.
Keli Holiday – who was nominated in the music catergory – performed his hit Dancing2, while Jude York was joined by his mum for a rendition of ABBA’s Slipping Through My Fingers.
