Jalaiah Harmon: TikTok’s Hidden Star Talks Viral Dance, Recovering From Cultural Appropriation And Her Dreams Of Becoming A Celebrity Choreographer

’Renegade’ dance creator Jalaiah Harmon talks fame after her viral dance, not having her work credited and what’s next for her career in a new interview with Teen Vogue.

It took off like wildfire; Harmon’s ”Renegade” dance choreography, which was created based on rapper K Camp’s song ”Lottery,” was soon the biggest trend on TikTok. But initially, Harmon wasn’t able to reap the benefits of the dance’s success because two other TikTokers, Global Jones and Charli D’Amelio, quickly became the face of the dance a month after Harmon posted her video last September.

“I was excited and frustrated because they weren’t tagging me or giving me credit,” she said to Teen Vogue. Harmon left comments on Instagram and TikTok users’ accounts in an attempt to get credit, but after several tries, she called it quits. And like many other Black creatives, she too became a victim of cultural appropriation.

It wasn’t until Barrie Segal, global head of content for Dubsmash, reached out and told her to contact a New York Times reporter. “There are tons of others who have also done things that were really big, and they never got this. People are tired of being underdogs and not being recognized,” said Jalaiah’s mom, Stefanie Harmon.

After the New York Times article, Harmon was contacted by K Camp himself to record a video with her performing the dance. “Everyone was seeing who was getting credit for it and who didn’t create the dance,” the rapper said. “I found out who really made it, and it was only right to bring her to the studio and do that video.” And just like that, Harmon finally began receiving acknowledgment for her craft, going from appearances on The Ellen Degeneres Show to performing at the NBA All-Star game. “The point of all of this is to give recognition to her,” Stefanie said.

The real issue is why Black creatives are not being publicized like non-Black creatives are. Teen Vogue reports that TikTok’s algorithm that selects videos for the app’s popular page “For You” shows biases of users. TikTok moderators say they are told to censor or cancel unattractive people or people who look like they are impoverished. The app claims that “most of” the guidelines reviewed by the publication were set up previously to combat bullying and “are either no longer in use, or in some cases appear to never have been in place.”

Nevertheless, since then, Harmon has capitalized on her skills in the form of new opportunities.  The 14-year-old Georgia native just signed with United Talent Agency and said she plans to be a choreographer. “I really just want to be a celebrity choreographer,” Jalaiah said. “It’s good that I influence other people, but I just like to dance.” In the meantime, Harmon continues her life as a normal, everyday student who also teaches dancing and competes in dance competitions on the side.