A sneak peek into the largest IRL gathering of digital influencers worldwide in Anaheim this weekend.
The queens of TikTok Charli D’Amelio and her sister Dixie will descend upon Orange County this week, bringing their squealing Gen Z fans to Anaheim for a four-day digital media extravaganza.
Drawing about 55,000 visitors every year, VidCon 2024 will also feature O.C. local Liv Swearingen. The 25-year old singer auditioned for American Idol and had quite a strong following on social media before joining Amp World @ampwrld, a YouTube content studio started by Brent Rivera.
Based in Huntington Beach, Amp World, the self-proclaimed Disney Channel for the digital generation, also includes Pierson Wodzynski, an O.C. native who has 20 million followers and gained 9 million of them on TikTok in just one year. Wodzynzki is also a featured creator during VidCon. Brent’s sister Lexi Rivera, Ben Azelart, Andrew Davila, Jeremy Hutchins and Dominic Brack round out Amp World. (Lately, Ashton Hero and Ashten Rea have been showing up in Amp World videos as well.)
Azelart and Lexi have dated in the past, and there are some rumors Azelart has left Amp. However, despite the alleged departure, Amp continues to be a tight-knit crew, as Wodzynski can attest. Her virtual Friday dance-offs soon led to small acting gigs, and she ended up meeting the Rivera siblings on the set of a dating game show, according to The Teen Magazine.
“We all hit it off, started hanging out, and filming together, and the rest was history!” Wodzynski said.
A recent video posted by Amp World. (Posted on June 21, 2024)
The 25-year-old content creator recently landed a small role in the most recent “Mean Girls” (2024) film, but she spends the majority of her time crafting content for her adoring fans, whom she will get to see at VidCon this week.
“Life is busy and stressful,” she said to The Teen Mag. “I want my videos to be eight to 10 minutes where you’re able to relax, enjoy and laugh!”
VidCon gives digital creators and fans the opportunity to connect IRL (in real life). The international convention was started in 2010 by brothers Hank and John Green, creators of the nerdy educational YouTube channel @VlogBrothers. Paramount took over the event in 2018 and there are now multiple VidCons in Baltimore and Mexico City later this year, but the Anaheim Convention Center location is the flagship event. The event took a three-year-hiatus during the pandemic between 2020-22, but is now back in full force.
There will be over 200 featured influencers attending, with opportunities for meet and greets with fans, industry panels, creator workshops and much more. YouTube is the title sponsor this year, but all social media platforms will be housed under one roof including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, among others.
According to Forbes, consumer insights show 8-year-olds were more trusting of influencers than traditional celebrities, the president and even their teachers; which makes VidCon a unique opportunity for brands to group monetized content in one location.
After meeting influencers, attendees can also sample the numerous food trucks, daytime and nighttime concerts and a techno prom. Fun events like Live Unboxings and VidCon’s new “Crown the Creators” tournament will pit creators from different genres to compete game-show style for the ultimate crown. Trending brands and products will be on display at the Expo Hall, while the Festival Stage sponsored by Disney’s ”Descendants: The Rise of Red” will feature a Taylor Swift cover band performance and other themed dance parties all weekend long.
Current and aspiring digital creators can attend workshops and panels on topics like how to use AI responsibly in content, how to deal with burnout, monetizing your knowledge and leveraging the sale of “merch” (merchandise) in a digital landscape.
For those who can’t make it in person, or just want more of VidCon, attendees can watch the event virtually and/or subscribe to ongoing content for the whole year.
KEY INFLUENCERS: CHARLI and DIXIE D’AMELIO
The D’Amelio sisters are the most anticipated guests this year. Charli, a Hollywood Hills resident, is a returning featured influencer, while her older sister Dixie will be attending for the first time.
Charli was crowned “the reigning queen of TikTok” by the New York Times in January 2020, was the first person to hit 100 million followers on the platform, and is the current leading female TikTok creator. Her family’s docuseries, “The D’Amelio Show,” streams on Hulu, while they started a footwear brand last year.
The celebrity sisters launched their own clothing brand Social Tourist in 2021, and then Charli introduced her fragrance Born Dreamer the following year while starring in Prada’s global ad campaign.
D’Amelio won the 31st edition of the “Dancing With the Stars” competition in 2022, alongside veteran dancer Mark Ballas. She was featured on Forbes 30 Under 30 and Fortune’s 40 under 40 lists.
While Charli slays on the dance floor, her sister Dixie is a musician with over 100 million followers. She is one of the top 10 followed creators on TikTok and has had multiple brand partnerships with fashion labels and even had her own shoe collection with Puma. She launched her music career in 2020 and has since performed on the road with her hit “Be Happy” garnering over 300 million streams to date
The powerhouse influencers have also been featured on Forbes' 30 under 30.
VidCon Anaheim 2024
When: June 26-29
Where: Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim
Tickets: vidcon.com/anaheim/tickets/
IMPORTANT: Bring your credit card. If you are planning on purchasing a ticket on site during the event, spending money at the food trucks, or buying merchandise in the Expo Hall, please be aware that the Anaheim Convention Center is a cashless venue and only credit/debit cards will be accepted.
Featured Events
INDUSTRY TRACK - CREATORS and FANS: HOW PASSION PAYS OFF ON YOUTUBE
When: 3-4 p.m. June 27
Where: Ballroom AB
Featuring: Amjad Hanif and Kevin Allocca of Youtube, Pierson Wodzynski, KreekCraft
Join Kevin Allocca, Global Director of Culture and Trends, and Amjad Hanif, VP of Product Management for YouTube Creators, for the YouTube keynote.
Hear about the incredible products, trends, and fan communities that are transforming the creator economy to bring new opportunities for creation, connection, and career building on YouTube.
D'AMELIO FAMILY HOUR
When: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. June 28
Where: Trending Stage
Featuring: Charli and Dixie D'Amelio; their mother Heidi and their father Marc – hosted by Gadi Schwartz of NBC
How do the D’Amelios stay connected as a family with so many eyes on them? How do they find work-life balance as both coworkers and kin? Get the answers to these questions and more as the D’Amelios recount their journey to stardom over the past few years!
CROWN THE CREATORS: GIRL MATH, Sponsored by Disney's "Descendants: The Rise of Red"
When: 1:30-2:10 p.m. June 28
Where: Festival Stage
Featuring: Liv Swearingen, Pierson Wodzynski, Alicia Mccarvell, Ash, Nihachu and more
Not buying something while it’s on sale is basically flushing cash down the drain, right?! That’s the vibe of this challenge, where each team will take items of equal value and employ some creative Girl Math to prove each item is practically free. Whether it’s adding more items to your order to avoid shipping fees or buying concert tickets so far in advance that it feels like you didn’t buy them at all, it's all about whose Girl Math rationale is the most convincing!
