Growing up as a girl is difficult. Growing up as an “odd” girl is even harder.
It’s not right to say Sofiyat Ibrahim was an odd girl, because she still is an odd girl–and proud of it. Hard not to be proud when embracing herself as “The Odditty” has brought her an audience of nearly 2 million followers across platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Ibrahim first got on social media after moving from her home country, Nigeria, to the U.S. in 2014. Adjusting was difficult. She was both recovering from a traumatic experience and trying to deal with the major change in her social environment.
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She figured connecting with other people would help. So she launched her first blog, TheOdditty.com, to document her life.
“If you read my old blog posts, it’s very much about navigating life in America, making friends, and being that girl who’s always smiling,” she explains. “As I took photos for the blog, people started encouraging me to model, so I slowly transitioned into fashion content while still in school and navigating life as an immigrant.”
https://www.tiktok.com/@the_odditty/video/7476270305875430687
Text and photo content were working for her–but it was video that really sent her skyrocketing.
Like many creators, Ibrahim embraced short-form video during the first COVID lockdowns. But unlike many creators we’ve interviewed, her initial viral moment didn’t happen on TikTok. It happened on Twitter, where she now has over 200,000 followers.
“I posted a video of myself trying on jeans and joking about how I thought I looked, and people found it hilarious,” she says. “The internet collectively decided I was delusional. I gained about 100,000 followers within an hour.”
She wasn’t landlocked to Twitter, though; she says the momentum from that video “carried over to both Instagram and TikTok.” Now she has close to half a million followers on each platform, plus another 250,000 on YouTube, and her digital presence has earned her partnerships with major brands including Apple, Amazon, Delta, Savage x Fenty, Whole Foods, Lancôme, General Mills, Coachella, Steve Madden, Warby Parker, and Neutrogena.
For Ibrahim, this journey is about far more than follower count. Her audience encourages her to embrace her true personality–a significant difference from a few years ago, when she was “dealing with family telling me not to embarrass them and friends saying being online was shameful,” she says. (AM I TOO LOUD?!, the title of her podcast, puts a pretty fine point on how she felt.)
She’s also using her platform to advocate for girls like her: In 2024, she was a key voice in the United Nations’ Unstoppable Africa initiative, which brings together thousands of participants–including heads of state, Fortune 500 execs, entrepreneurs, creators, and more–to celebrate Africa’s advancements and arts, and discuss “trade and investment opportunities in Africa and the world.”
Looking forward, Ibrahim is in the midst of expanding to even bigger opportunities on bigger screens (as well as launching a new YouTube project). But no matter where she ends up, she’s determined to always be “the girl who smiles.”
Check out our chat with her below.
@the_odditty A new chapter in my life and I’m just getting started… #bucketlist #theodditty #greenscreen
The Odditty: Hi, my name is Sofi. Online, I go by The Odditty. I came to America from Nigeria in 2014 after a difficult experience—I was sexually assaulted by a professor. After that, I just wanted a safe space and the opportunity to chase my dreams. I actually stole some money from my mom to apply to schools in the U.S. [laughs]. It was a whole mess, but I ended up coming here.
I spent a year in West Virginia, then moved to Louisiana, where I completed my bachelor’s degree. Throughout that time, I always enjoyed social media in some capacity. I’ve always been interested in entertainment—modeling, fashion, and creative expression—so I started documenting my life on a blog. This was back when blogs were huge. Everyone wanted one.
In 2017, I launched a blog called TheOdditty.com, where I shared my life experiences. If you read my old blog posts, it’s very much about navigating life in America, making friends, and being that girl who’s always smiling. As I took photos for the blog, people started encouraging me to model, so I slowly transitioned into fashion content while still in school and navigating life as an immigrant.
At the time, social media was growing, but there was still a lot of stigma around it—especially from my community. I was dealing with family telling me not to embarrass them and friends saying being online was shameful. As an immigrant, that pressure was very real.
Fast forward to 2020: I went viral after posting a random comedy video. I love sketch comedy and making fun moments out of my life. I posted a video of myself trying on jeans and joking about how I thought I looked, and people found it hilarious. The internet collectively decided I was delusional [laughs]. I gained about 100,000 followers within an hour—this was on Twitter at the time—and that momentum carried over to Instagram and TikTok.
From there, I started consistently posting content about my life in a fun, comedic way. Late last year, I launched my podcast, AM I TOO LOUD?!, which follows the same premise. I’m a Muslim immigrant chasing my dreams in America—what my family might call an embarrassment—but to me, I’m just living my life and having fun.
The name The Odditty represents being unique and different. If you encounter my content, you’ll see something a little unexpected—something people might think but don’t say out loud. I like to say it out loud and talk about the mess.
That’s essentially what I do now.
Tubefilter: What did you get your degrees in?
The Odditty: I earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies.
Tubefilter: Wow—very high-level degrees.
The Odditty: [laughs] Yes, they were fun.
Tubefilter: And then you wanted to go into modeling?
The Odditty: Yes. That’s why “The Odditty” felt like the perfect name for me. Modeling, comedy, and acting didn’t make sense from an immigrant household perspective. Those paths are often seen as unstable or unintelligent choices. My mom was very firm about me needing a degree so I could “become something” in life.
It’s funny now—everyone is online, even doctors. Having an online presence is almost necessary for success today. But at the time, no one in my master’s program knew I had social media. At school, I was just The Odditty. Outside of school, I was posting funny, chaotic content online. It was like living two different lives.
Tubefilter: You first went viral in 2020. How have things changed since then?
The Odditty: Things have been great. I’ve had a healthy mix of viral moments and steady growth. A few times a year, I’ll have a video hit 10 million views, which brings in new audiences. But I’ve also maintained consistent growth.
I now have an agency, management, brand deals, and partnerships with companies like Delta and American Express. This has been my full-time job since I was 22. I’m currently in Los Angeles because I’m pursuing acting—taking classes and working toward film and TV opportunities.
Tubefilter: You’re balancing a lot. What does a typical week look like for you?
The Odditty: That’s a great question—and one my producer would love you for asking [laughs]. Creatively, I could make content nonstop if someone else handled posting, captions, and admin. But there’s scripting, pre-production, production, post-production—it all adds up.
I’m very Type A. I organize everything into buckets: personal content, podcast content, social media, and YouTube. I run three channels, including my podcast channel, and each day has a purpose. For example, today is a YouTube-longform day—editing vlogs and responding to brand emails. Mondays and Tuesdays are podcast recording and upload days. Everything is structured to maintain my sanity.
Tubefilter: Do you have help?
The Odditty: Absolutely. I have a podcast producer, a social media team for the podcast, a blog editor, plus my agent and manager. About five to six people total. I genuinely wouldn’t survive without them.
Tubefilter: When did you start working with Spotter, and how have they helped?
The Odditty: I joined around 2022 or 2023. At the time, YouTube felt overwhelming—especially as a Black woman. Spotter opened my eyes to structured ideation and strategy.
Before, I would vlog with no plan—just waking up and filming. It was authentic but didn’t grow. The team members at Spotter helped me understand ideation, scripting, and intentional growth. Through them, I attended VidCon and VidSummit, which completely changed how I viewed the creator economy.
That’s when I hired an editor, built a team, and launched my podcast. Spotter made me realize that this journey doesn’t have to be lonely.
Tubefilter: What’s your favorite part about being a creator?
The Odditty: The growth—both personal and professional. There’s no ceiling. There’s always something new to experience. I’m documenting life as a young Black Muslim woman traveling the world freely—doing things I never imagined, like helicopter tours or trying In-N-Out for the first time.
I love being able to create experiences for myself and show others that they can do the same.
Tubefilter: Speaking as a recent transplant to California, In-N-Out slaps. Best fast food burger. How has your relationship with your audience evolved?
The Odditty: I call my community The Odd Fam. They’ve grown with me—from immigration to careers to families. My audience is split across platforms, but they’re following my growth as a person.
My core audience used to be my age; now it’s mostly 24–34. Snapchat skews younger, TikTok slightly older, Instagram younger, and YouTube is fairly balanced. Many people tell me, “I wish I could do this at your age,” or “When I’m your age, I want to live like this.” That’s the beauty of documenting your journey.
Tubefilter: You’re successful in both short-form and long-form. How do you think about formats?
The Odditty: I’m a multipotentialite. I’ve tried niching down—it’s not for me. Long-form is great for depth, and short-form is perfect for accessibility. Some people want to listen to me talk for hours—so I made a podcast. Some people want a quick laugh—that’s where skits come in.
When you stop overthinking, creating becomes easier. I work a lot, and I’m proud of that. I want to build something meaningful across formats.
Tubefilter: What’s next for you?
The Odditty: I want to get into acting, writing, and publishing. I’m working on a book, exploring product launches, and pursuing sitcoms and TV roles. My podcast is approaching 10,000 YouTube subscribers, which still feels surreal.
I’m also developing a new YouTube channel inspired by challenge-style content—similar to the Try Guys—but from a Muslim perspective. That’s launching next year, and I’m really excited about it.
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