The life of a college student in New York City is chaotic and demanding as it is, but for Davis Burleson, an undergraduate student at Eugene Lang College at The New School, it comes with the intense pressure of trying to live in a mixed reality of embracing student life and navigating a virtual world that rapidly changing.
Burleson is not your average 19-year-old; he is one of the most recognized New York City-based TikTokers, whose fame has risen in meteoric fashion ever since he began to post a series of impressions of the infamous beauty YouTuber Jeffree Star. Now Burleson’s content ranges from lifestyle videos of a day in his life and entertaining opinions on his personal account to being the host of his own TikTok show, “What’s Poppin With Davis”
With 1.7 million followers in total–he runs two TikTok accounts- the Houston Texas native is living the dream of many teenagers: social media fame, living in the most culturally combustible city that is New York, and gaining entree to some of the most exclusive events. But how does he balance his double life?
New School Free Press News Editor Danielle Hoppenheim managed to get Burleson to sit still for a moment on a bitterly cold afternoon recently in the Lang courtyard. Holding a can of Coca-Cola in one hand and his iPhone protected with a sponsored neon Casetify case in the other, he discussed what adventures and crazy turns the past year has brought him.
Hoppenheim: Davis! Thank you so much for taking the time out of your schedule to sit down with me today. So let’s get right into it, you’re currently attending Lang, how’s that going so far?
Burleson: I love it. It’s fun because I’m studying things I actually want to do for my job. I am taking a Public Radio class, and I’m learning about broadcasting, etc. In one class I learned what it was like to live host for an hour and the day before I did a whole TikTok live for one hour and I had to completely improvise. So I felt like in class I knew exactly what to do.
Hoppenheim: It’s remarkable that what you’re learning in class is what you’re really doing for your job. Normally as students, you do not get to practice what you’re learning until after college. Now, you’re from Texas, how was the transition moving here to attend college?
Burleson: When I first got [to New York City] it was August 2020, so it was still considered peak COVID times. It was nothing like I expected when I arrived. I had nothing to do, I didn’t have many friends. I actually started at Parsons and not Lang, which ended up being too much. Not many people know this but I moved home in November of 2020 [I] was maybe going to transfer colleges. I got a feeling a few months later that I needed to go back to New York and the offer of What’s Poppin came up from Fallen Media so I moved back to the city.
Hoppenheim: I find it surprising how people don’t always realize how overwhelming it is to first move to NYC. And thank god you came back, look where it led you to! Just to clarify, when did you start your personal TikTok account?
Burleson: I started my personal TikTok at the beginning of quarantine [March 2020] like everyone else. I had really nothing else to do so it became my full-time job. I’ve always wanted to be famous and I always wanted to be a YouTuber. So I said to myself that once I graduate college I’ll start a YouTube account. But since I was so bored in quarantine and started to see people blow up on that platform I decided not to care what anyone thought and I just started. But I didn’t start to get followers until August [2020].
Hoppenheim: I think the fear of embarrassment holds a lot of people back from putting themselves out there so it’s great to hear that you overcame that worry. Well, you’ve gained a lot of success over the past few months. Was there a specific video you posted that drove a lot of traffic to your profile?
Burleson: My Jeffree Star impressions were kind of what got the ball rolling, so I kept on just doing that and it kind of became my brand. I ended up getting about 150,000 followers just from doing that. People would even recognize me on the street as the “Jeffree Star Guy”.
Hoppenheim: That’s incredible. Such a clearly effective niche that gained your popularity. I’m sure your move to New York increased your views as well. What is it like living in the city now? On your account, it looks like you live the dream life. Do you ever struggle with anything living in such a fast-paced city?
Burleson: There is constant pressure to feel like you always need to do something. The FOMO is real. College kids in New York I think [are] growing up a lot faster than those at schools in other states.
Hoppenheim: I totally agree. Living in New York is a chaotic and wonderful place to go to college. But I need to know, how do you balance it all? TikTok, school, a social life, relationships? You have to keep up a public persona while also having a personal life.
Burleson: I prioritize. I made my schedule to only have morning classes so that I will be done by 12 pm. Most of the time in the morning is prioritized towards school. In the afternoon I live my TikTok life. It’s kind of like a double life, like Hannah Montana.
Hoppenheim: Ok, now we must address your most popular venture so far which is your TikTok show, What’s Poppin. How did it begin? Who came up with the idea for the show?
Burleson: So Fallen Media [the company that produces “What’s Poppin”] approached me about the idea through an Instagram DM. They told me about this idea which was kind of a game show vibe, truth or dare questions, or would you rather.I thought this would be amazing. So we filmed the first episode in February [2021]. We eventually changed the content to asking [the interviewees] more open-ended questions.
Hoppenheim: This is all so exciting. How do you come up with all the questions? Such as what’s your opinion on public proposals? If you were canceled, what would you be canceled for? They’re so creative.
Burleson: A lot of times it depends on the vibe of the person and I will look up random BuzzFeed questions to get inspiration. In the beginning, I had someone help me write questions but not really anymore. We would have meetings together and bounce off each other to come up with questions. Sometimes I would be so busy so I would have my writer write all of it for me. But then it was weird because these questions I have to feel personally attached to.I have to talk to somebody for one minute about the said question. I find that if I write my own now it’s just a lot more successful.
Hoppenheim: There are over 220 episodes of “What’s Poppin” right now. What is one of your most memorable moments thus far?
Burleson: Probably when I first interviewed Michael. He’s the old man who I interviewed, he’s been on several times. He was my first viral video. I don’t have his number but I find him in the park and I’ve interviewed him like 5 times.
Hoppenheim: That’s amazing, he’s such a character. Do you prioritize What’s Poppin or your personal TikTok more?
Burleson: Definitely What’s Poppin. I think it’s hard not to because I see the growth and see how successful the videos are. Once I started What’s Poppin I kind of lost my creative juices for my personal account. So now it’s just lifestyle, and I’m just sassy.
Hoppenheim: So Davis, where do you see yourself in 5 years? What are your short-term goals?
Burleson: I really want to host in general. I enjoy hosting and speaking to people so I want to progress into a modern-day Ryan Seacrest or Andy Cohen. But the difference between them and me is that I don’t just want to be a host but have my own personal brand as well.
Hoppenheim: Kind of like a cross between Billy on the Street and Andy Cohen. I love it. So tell me, do you have any advice for someone who may want to begin a TikTok career?
Burleson: Just start. Make content that you want to personally watch. Whatever you think you are good at or speak about, that’s the content you should make.
