{{Short description|American TikToker and podcaster (born 1995)}} {{Infobox social media personality | name = Drew Afualo | birth_name = Drew Tyson Afualo | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|09|18}} | birth_place = Inland Empire, California, U.S.| | alma_mater = University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa | occupation = TikTok creator, influencer, podcaster, author | known_for = TikTok videos | relatives = Deison Afualo (sister) | tiktok_handle = drewafualo | tiktok_display_name = | tiktok_years_active = | tiktok_genre = | tiktok_followers = 8.2 million | stats_update = May 17, 2025 }}
'''Drew Tyson Afualo''' (born September 18, 1995)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Afualo |first=Drew |date=Sep 18, 2022 |title=YA GIRL IS 27 TODAY BABYYYY 🤪 & all these gifts/flowers are just from... |url=https://www.tiktok.com/@drewafualo/video/7144785755565493547?lang=en |access-date=March 29, 2023 |website=TikTok}}</ref> is an American influencer, podcaster, and author. She is known on TikTok for her videos responding to and roasting men with perceived misogynistic and fatphobic viewpoints, often punctuated by her distinctive high-pitched laugh; she had over eight million followers on the platform as of March 2023.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=2023-03-16 |title=Drew Afualo Defends Her Place On The Oscars Champagne Carpet |url=https://centennialbeauty.com/drew-afualo-defends-her-place-on-the-oscars-red-carpet/ |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=Centennial Beauty |language=en-US}}</ref> Afualo also hosts the podcasts ''The Comment Section'', produced by Brat TV, and ''Two Idiot Girls'' with her sister Deison. As an influencer, she has provided red carpet coverage for events like the ''Black Adam'' premiere and the 95th Academy Awards.
== Early life == Afualo was born to Tait and Noelle Afualo and raised in Corona, California located in Southern California's Inland Empire area.<ref name=":20">{{Cite web |last=White |first=Lexy |date=May 11, 2022 |title=TikToker Drew Afualo On The One Time She Wanted To Quit |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2022/05/10959441/drew-afualo-tiktok-nfl-interview |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=Refinery29 |language=en}}</ref> She graduated from Centennial High School in 2012. She grew up in a Samoan family, the middle child between an older sister, Deison, and a younger brother, Donovan.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Issawi |first=Danya |date=2022-05-31 |title=Drew Afualo, TikTok Star, Goes On a New York Breakfast Crawl |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/31/style/drew-afualo-tiktok.html |access-date=2023-03-19 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Samuel |first=Ruth Etiesit |date=2022-09-06 |title=TikToker Drew Afualo Is Silencing Misogynistic Bullies, One Clapback At A Time |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tiktoker-drew-afualo-knows-exactly-how-to-silence-misogynistic-bullies_n_63124ad7e4b0902717944f84 |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Merlo |first=Anna |date=2022-03-16 |title=If You Grew Up Without Sisters, 'Two Idiot Girls' is the Podcast For You |url=https://studybreaks.com/thoughts/two-idiot-girls-is-the-podcast-for-you/ |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=Study Breaks |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Fraser |first=Honestine |date=2022-05-18 |title=Drew Afualo Will Roast You — But Only If You Deserve It |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/drew-afualo-on-samoan-representation-misogyny-and-taking-a-joke |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Teen Vogue |language=en-US}}</ref> Her father, Tait, grew up in Samoa<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Sloss |first=Morgan |date=Jan 31, 2023 |title=Drew Afualo Shut Down A Social Media Troll Who Called Her "Basically White," And I'm Cackling |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/morgansloss1/drew-afualo-shut-down-troll |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=BuzzFeed |language=en}}</ref> and played football professionally, as did her grandfather, uncle, and many other men in her family.<ref name=":2" /> She has described her child self as "strong-willed", "bossy", and a "know-it-all",<ref name=":1" /> and credits her family and Samoan heritage for instilling her self-confidence, sense of humor, and feminist viewpoint.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Inks |first=Lexi |date=May 13, 2022 |title=TikToker Has Genius Advice For Boosting Your Dating Confidence |url=https://www.bustle.com/wellness/dating-confidence-drew-afualo-tiktok |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=Bustle |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
Initially seeking a career in sports journalism as "the next Bob Costas",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kam |first=Erica |date=2021-08-20 |title=Drew Afualo Is The Perfect Answer To TikTok Misogynists |url=https://www.hercampus.com/culture/drew-afualo-tiktok-interview/ |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=Her Campus |language=en-US}}</ref> Afualo attended the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she was the sports editor of the student newspaper ''Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi'', worked for the school's athletics department, and appeared regularly at March Madness and Pac-12 Conference sporting events.<ref name=":2" /> She graduated with a communications degree in sports and journalism.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |last=Garrity |first=Caitlyn |date=2021-12-18 |title=Drew Afualo: Showing Misogynists How To Be Funny |url=http://www.valleymagazinepsu.com/drew-afualo-showing-misogynists-how-to-be-funny/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=VALLEY Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> Her first job as an undergrad was doing public relations for a construction company.<ref name=":2" /> At 23, she was hired as a digital media coordinator and content creator for the NFL, something she had seen as a "dream job", but she became disillusioned with the work and was laid off after ten months, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=LaFond |first=Hannah |date=2022-04-28 |title=Drew Afualo Says Making TikTok Videos Is What She Was Meant To Do - Exclusive |url=https://www.thelist.com/846633/drew-afualo-says-making-tiktok-videos-is-what-she-was-meant-to-do-exclusive/ |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=The List |publisher=Static Media |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":14" />
== Career ==
=== TikTok === Afualo joined TikTok in March 2020 at the encouragement of her boyfriend, who had seen her rants about college life she had posted to Snapchat.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Hedy |date=2022-05-17 |title=Drew Afualo Interview |url=https://www.euphoriazine.com/blog/2022/05/interviews-drew-afualo/ |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=EUPHORIA. |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Andria |date=Jan 14, 2022 |title=This TikToker Is Blowing Up For Obliterating Toxic Masculinity Online And Forcing Misogynists To Eat Their Words |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/andriamoore/drew-afualo-tiktok-takes-down-men |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=BuzzFeed |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":20" /> She initially ran the account casually, posting a handful of personal dating stories for a smaller audience, before going viral in early 2021 with a video in which she listed "very specific red flags" in men. The video attracted a large volume of hate comments from male viewers, and Afualo's series of humorously insulting response videos to those comments gained her a newfound audience.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Farmilo |first=Kathleen |date=2022-03-30 |title=We Spoke To TikTok Queen Drew Afualo About How She Shuts Down Fkn Gross, Sexist Men Online |url=https://www.pedestrian.tv/online/drew-afualo-tiktok/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Pedestrian |language=en-US}}</ref> Her follower count subsequently expanded from 1.5 million to 4 million in the span of two months,<ref name=":12" /> and would ultimately surpass 8 million as of March 2023.<ref name=":6" /> Additionally, she has over 90,000 followers on Twitter and over 530,000 on Instagram.<ref name=":3" />
Afualo's TikTok videos typically consist of her responding to, mocking, and roasting men who express misogynistic, fatphobic, racist, transphobic, and otherwise bigoted views,<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Sandra |date=June 8, 2022 |title=TikTok's Drew Afualo Makes Grown Men Cry |url=https://www.papermag.com/drew-afualo-tiktok-2657470726.html |access-date=March 19, 2023 |website=Paper}}</ref> earning her nicknames such as "crusader for women",<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8" /> "defender of women",<ref name=":2" /> and "Queen of the Roasts".<ref name=":11" /> Her videos often feature her signature high-pitched giggle-laugh,<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":13" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> which ''Bloomberg News'' describes as "a staccato, full-chested explosion of high-pitched emotion and outrage"<ref name=":14">{{Cite news |last=Barinka |first=Alex |date=2022-08-01 |title=One of TikTok's Biggest Stars Roasts Dudes for Their Misogyny, Racism, and Fatphobia |language=en |work=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-01/drew-afualo-s-tiktok-roasts-dudes-over-misogyny-racism |access-date=2023-03-23}}</ref> and ''HuffPost'' says "strikes fear into every internet misogynist".<ref name=":2" /> Afualo herself characterizes it as a natural Polynesian laugh,<ref name=":14" /> calling it "unmistakably Islander".<ref name=":10" /> Since mid-2022 she has been a full-time content creator, earning a living from views, advertisements, and brand sponsorships.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":14" />
Afualo was one of several online influencers spotlighted in ''eTalk Daily'''s "Influenced" television special, including Alex Cooper, Jaboukie Young-White, Megan Stalter, and Donté Colley.<ref name=":17">{{Cite web |last=Weir |first=Owen |date=2022-12-28 |title=8 internet celebs who blew up beyond the internet in 2022 |url=https://www.etalk.ca/celebrity/etalk-influenced-stars-of-2022.html |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=etalk |language=en-US}}</ref> She was also included in TikTok's International Women's Day creator spotlight alongside Molly Burke and Dylan Mulvaney,<ref name=":18">{{Cite web |last=Gutelle |first=Same |date=2023-03-08 |title=On International Women's Day, TikTok celebrates creators who "forge change" |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2023/03/08/womens-history-month-international-day-tiktok-female-stars/ |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=Tubefilter |language=en-US}}</ref> in the app's 2022 Discover List, and in Meta's "Creators of Tomorrow" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gutelle |first=Sam |date=2022-11-15 |title=TikTok is once again inviting you to "Discover" its most influential voices |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2022/11/15/tiktok-2022-discover-list-creators-drew-afualo-bayashi-younes-zarou/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Tubefilter |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Podcasting === Afualo hosts the podcast ''The Comment Section with Drew Afualo'', originally created in 2021 for Brat TV's Past Your Bedtime YouTube channel.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":9" /> The podcast consists of Afualo interviewing fellow online creators and media figures about feminist issues, misogyny, relationships, and empowerment.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":14" /> Notable guests have included Brittany Broski, Kamie Crawford, Jackie Aina, Chappell Roan, Melissa Ong, Manny MUA, Pokimane, Trixie Mattel, Johnny Sibilly, and ''InStyle'' social media host Tefi Pessoa.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1oCyEv2saY |title=OFF THE RAILS {{!}} Drew Afualo ft. Melissa Ong {{!}} THE COMMENT SECTION EP 14 |date=May 18, 2022 |type=Podcast |publisher=Past Your Bedtime by Brat TV |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40ArdTIKCss&ab_channel=PastYourBedtime |title="PICK ME GIRL?" MORE LIKE...DON'T PICK ME {{!}} Drew Afualo ft. Pokimane {{!}} THE COMMENT SECTION EP 40 |date=Nov 16, 2022 |type=Podcast |publisher=Past Your Bedtime by Brat TV |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i82u42EzT_8 |title=THIS B*TCH CAME BALD {{!}} Drew Afualo ft. Trixie Mattel {{!}} THE COMMENT SECTION EP 27 |date=Aug 17, 2022 |type=Podcast |publisher=Past Your Bedtime by Brat TV |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=837kcg_CCVM&ab_channel=PastYourBedtime |title=WE NEVER SAID WE WERE NICE {{!}} Drew Afualo ft. Johnny Sibilly {{!}} THE COMMENT SECTION EP 37 |date=Oct 26, 2022 |type=Podcast |publisher=Past Your Bedtime by Brat TV |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jokic |first=Natasha |date=2024-07-18 |title=Chappell Roan Said She's "Pumped The Brakes" On Anything That Will Bring Her More Fame |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/natashajokic1/chappell-roan-fame |access-date=2024-08-13 |website=BuzzFeed |language=en}}</ref> On March 8, 2023, ''Tubefilter'' reported that Spotify had signed a deal with Afualo for ''The Comment Section'' to become a Spotify exclusive starting April 5.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hale |first=James |date=2023-03-08 |title=Spotify doubles up on video podcasts with Markiplier, Drew Afualo deals (Exclusive) |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2023/03/08/spotify-markiplier-distractible-go-my-favorite-sports-team-video-podcasts/ |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=Tubefilter |language=en-US}}</ref> The show's first season on Spotify saw guests including Bretman Rock, Meghan Trainor, Shea Couleé, Monét X Change, and Tess Holliday.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Fraser |first=Honestine |date=2023-04-04 |title=Drew Afualo Dreams of Going Through Taylor Swift's Comments Section |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/drew-afualo-spotify-podcast-exclusive-interview |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Teen Vogue |language=en-US}}</ref>
Additionally, Afualo and her sister Deison co-host the podcast ''Two Idiot Girls'', where they discuss topics such as media representation of minorities, racism, internalized misogyny, and mental health in both serious and light-hearted ways.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5" /> Drew mentioned in a May 2022 interview that the podcast had been signed to a "major company".<ref name=":10" /> In January 2023, a ''Two Idiot Girls'' live show was held at the House of Blues in San Diego.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Things to do: Two Idiot Girls: On Tour featuring Drew and Deison Afualo |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/things-to-do/things-to-do |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=28 July 2007 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Two Idiot Girls: On Tour featuring Drew and Deison Afualo |url=http://www.houseofblues.comeventdetail/?tmeventid=vvG1IZ9fmo5-FM&offerid=0 |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=House of Blues |language=en-US}}</ref>
Both ''The Comment Section'' and ''Two Idiot Girls'' were nominated for the 15th annual Shorty Awards in the Comedy Podcast category.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Comment Section - The Shorty Awards |url=http://shortyawards.com/15th/the-comment-section |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=shortyawards.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Two Idiot Girls - The Shorty Awards |url=http://shortyawards.com/15th/two-idiot-girls |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=shortyawards.com}}</ref>
Outside of her own shows, Afualo has been a guest on podcasts including Kamie Crawford's ''Relationshit'',<ref>{{Citation |last=Crawford |first=Kamie |title=Navigating F*ckboys with Drew Afualo |date=2021-09-17 |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/26ZAOZtqfPirvQZ0vmsd2B |work=Relationshit with Kamie Crawford |type=Podcast |access-date=2023-03-24 |publisher=Spotify |language=en |author-link=Kamie Crawford}}</ref> Emily Ratajkowski's ''High Low: Talk Back'',<ref>{{Citation |title=Drew Afualo (Ad-Free) |date=2022-12-13 |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/5zCsIfnFBFzD9IidHvdfmA |access-date=2023-03-24 |language=en}}</ref> DeuxMoi's ''Deux U'',<ref>{{Citation |title=Hairlinegate, Cheating Comedian, Exclusive Blind Items w/ Drew Afualo |date=2022-06-02 |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Vh8BTqPxcRAbc6KPi7aXo |access-date=2023-03-24 |language=en}}</ref> triple j's ''The Hook Up'',<ref>{{Citation |title=BONUS: Blasting TikTok bigots with Drew Afualo |date=2022-03-03 |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/4UltfNe6TbZSGArhZX5sqW |access-date=2023-03-24 |language=en}}</ref> Spencewuah's ''I'm Literally Screaming'',<ref>{{Citation |title=WE FINISH EACH OTHER'S.... SANDWICHES {{!}} Spencewuah ft. Drew Afualo {{!}} I'm Literally Screaming EP 1 |date=2022-10-13 |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/3S7CqEkYaUPIn9TK0rvxEx |access-date=2023-03-24 |language=en}}</ref> Morgan Absher's ''Two Hot Takes'',<ref>{{Citation |title=42: Unhinged 2.0 w/ Drew Afualo |date=2021-11-11 |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/6MXUn310zmazguRGVgchEp |access-date=2023-03-24 |language=en}}</ref> and Christy Carlson Romano's ''Vulnerable.''<ref>{{Citation |title=TikTok Icon Drew Afualo Gets Vulnerable |date=2022-11-08 |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/5UPvPWNc2tLE9Vv07Vb5R2 |access-date=2023-03-24 |language=en}}</ref>
=== Other work === Afualo made her first VidCon appearance in June 2022,<ref name=":10" /> hosting the panel "Hot Gurlz Only" with fellow TikTokers Chrissy Chlapecka and Sarah Schauer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mendez II |first=Moises |date=2022-06-28 |title=VidCon: TikTok 'Hot Gurlz' discuss dating red flags and what fans get wrong about them |url=https://passionfru.it/hot-gurlz-dating-red-flags-1632/ |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=Passionfruit |language=en-US}}</ref> In October 2022, she published an op-ed in the ''Los Angeles Times'' entitled "How to confront bigots on social media — and win".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Afualo |first=Drew |date=2022-10-06 |title=Op-Ed: How to confront bigots on social media — and win |url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-10-06/tiktok-drew-afualo-misogynists-trolls-social-media-sexism |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Later that month, Afualo attended the New York City premiere of the film ''Black Adam'' as a red carpet host, where she interviewed the film's star, Dwayne Johnson.<ref name=":16">{{Cite web |last=Sloss |first=Morgan |date=Oct 13, 2022 |title=Drew Afualo Just Repped Samoa From Head To Toe On The Red Carpet, And I Feel So Seen |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/morgansloss1/my-polynesian-heart-is-bursting-with-pride-after-seeing |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=BuzzFeed |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":21">{{Cite web |date=2022-11-17 |title=Representing Polynesian style: Nancy Elizabeth |url=https://www.shiftlondon.org/fashion/representation-fashion/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Shift London |language=en-GB}}</ref> She also appeared in Meghan Trainor's "Made You Look" music video alongside Scott Hoying, Chris Olsen, and JoJo Siwa.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Paul |first=Larisha |date=2022-10-21 |title=Meghan Trainor Reclaims Her Power with Boundless Confidence in 'Made You Look' Video |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/meghan-trainor-debuts-made-you-look-music-video-from-takin-it-back-1234615784/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> Known for her roasts on TikTok, Afualo was the subject of her own roast by the members of Smosh in a YouTube video entitled "Drew Afualo is Dead - The Funeral Roast".<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-bZWj6k-jA&ab_channel=Smosh |title=Drew Afualo Is Dead {{!}} The Funeral Roast |date=Nov 14, 2022 |last=Smosh |author-link=Smosh |via=YouTube}}</ref>
She and four other TikTokers were interviewed by Trevi Moran for SmashBox Cosmetics' ''Prime Time TV: 5 Seconds to Great Skin!'', a TikTok series on skin care.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Denton |first=Elizabeth |date=2023-03-16 |title=TikTok Superstars Drew Afualo, Chris Olsen & More Star Talk Skincare Routines & Dealing With Haters |url=https://stylecaster.com/beauty/smashbox-tiktok-campaign/ |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=StyleCaster |publisher=SHE Media |language=en-US}}</ref>
In March 2023, Afualo and fellow TikTokers Reece Feldman and Khaby Lame were invited to cover the 95th Academy Awards pre-show red carpet alongside YouTuber Lilly Singh;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Teotia |first=Ryan |date=March 13, 2023 |title=Oscar awards 2023: Lilly Singh arrives at Oscars 2023 with Vanessa Hudgens & Drew Afaulo as co-hosts |url=https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-oscar-awards-2023-lilly-singh-arrives-at-oscars-2023-with-vanessa-hudgens--drew-afaulo-as-co-hosts-571259 |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=WION |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":19">{{Cite web |last=Munck |first=Victoria |date=March 18, 2023 |title=Second Take: Diverse influencers make it to the red carpet; Hollywood should take them farther |url=https://dailybruin.com/2023/03/18/second-take-diverse-influencers-make-it-to-the-red-carpet-hollywood-should-take-them-farther/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Daily Bruin}}</ref> Afualo interviewed Jamie Lee Curtis and once again encountered Dwayne Johnson.<ref name=":19" /><ref name=":6" />
Afualo told ''Teen Vogue'' in April 2023 that she was writing a book, in partnership with Questlove's publishing imprint.<ref name=":0" /> thumb|A copy of a soft-cover printed version of Drew Afualo's book ''Loud: Accepting Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve'' Afualo published a book, entitled ''Loud: Accept Nothing Less than the Life You Deserve'' on July 30th, 2024<ref>{{Cite web |title=Drew Afualo |url=https://goldhouse.org/people/drew-afualo/ |access-date=2026-03-09 |website=Gold House |language=en}}</ref>. She became a New York Times Best-Seller shortly after. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Best-selling Booklist |url=https://www.usatoday.com/booklist/booklist |access-date=2026-03-09 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> thumb|Drew Afualo in the Golden Torch Lecture Series at Florida State University on March 4th, 2026 On March 4th, 2026, Afualo was the guest speaker at Florida State University's Golden Torch Lecture Series. She discussed how her childhood, experience, and career shaped her perspective on intersectional feminism. She also spoke about her start on TikTok and how it progressed. Afterwards, there was a Q&A session with college students in attendance. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Golden Torch Lecture Series Presents: An Evening with Drew Afualo |url=https://calendar.fsu.edu/event/golden-torch-lecture-series-presents-an-evening-with-drew-afualo |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=Florida State University Calendar |language=en}}</ref>
She has often expressed interest in hosting a talk show.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":14" />
== Personal life == Afualo lives in Southern California.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Dodgson |first=Lindsay |date=Jan 6, 2022 |title=Drew Afualo, TikTok's 'crusader of women,' says she's 'constantly shoveling' misogyny out of the app with her viral takedown videos |url=https://www.insider.com/misogynists-delete-their-tiktoks-after-drew-afualo-comes-for-them-2021-12 |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> She and her fiancé, Pili Tanuvasa, have been dating since 2017.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":15" /><ref name=":14" /><ref name=":11" /> She has two pet French bulldogs named Squid and Tuna.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh7z-w6Uvws | title=A Sonic Boom Personified with Drew Afualo and Trixie | the Bald and the Beautiful Podcast | website=YouTube | date=9 July 2024 }}</ref>
Afualo is outspoken about her Samoan heritage, crediting it for her headstrong nature and desire to uplift women.<ref name=":2" /> While covering the ''Black Adam'' premiere, she wore a custom dress by Samoan designer Nancy Elizabeth that incorporated a tapa cloth corset<ref name=":16" /><ref name=":21" /> and spoke Samoan to actor Dwayne Johnson.<ref name=":6" /> She has a ''malu'', a tattoo traditionally reserved for Samoan women of royal blood, on the back of her left hand.<ref name=":1" /> In addition to Johnson, she has cited Parris Goebel as an important Samoan inspiration, having seen the choreographer wear a ''puletasi'' to the MTV Video Music Awards growing up.<ref name=":0" />
Often the subject of online criticism and backlash, Afualo uses daily affirmations to help maintain her self-confidence.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8" /> She is a fan of rapper Megan Thee Stallion,<ref name=":8" /> of Disney films like ''Monsters, Inc.'' and ''Ratatouille'',<ref name=":2" /> and of the video game ''Ghost of Tsushima''.<ref name=":14" /> She has noted that she is "a lot more laid back" than her online persona.<ref name=":1" />
Afualo is a supporter of intersectional feminism.<ref name=":20" /><ref name=":2" /> She has said that, while she supports body positivity, she leans "more towards body neutrality, which in essence just means your body just is what it is. It just exists. It has no bearing or reflection on you as a person, your character, your worth — nothing. It's just keeping you alive".<ref name=":8" /> During a May 2022 ''New York Times'' interview, Afualo condemned the potential overturning of ''Roe v. Wade'', calling it "terrible" and "horrifying".<ref name=":1" /> In an October 2022 TikTok video, she described her past experiences of sexual harassment, saying that she had "made a promise to herself" to "never [...] waste time being nice to a man who doesn't deserve it— especially when I'm alone, and especially when I'm in public. Because you know what the stories I have all have in common? There were hundreds of men standing around, watching it happen".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lisitza |first=Alexa |date=October 21, 2022 |title="Everything I Say To Them Is Meant To Be Mean": Drew Afualo Says She Refuses To Be Nice To Men Who Don't Deserve It |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexalisitza/drew-afualo-tiktok-mean-on-purpose |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=BuzzFeed |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{TikTok|id=drewafualo}} * {{Instagram|id=drewafualo}} * {{IMDb name|id=nm13397957}} * {{YouTube|channel=UCbTAxBINCidtsqVTO1qygvw}} * [https://open.spotify.com/user/dafualo3?si=NQ607d25R5ODzHRj8XyazQ&nd=1 Drew Afualo] on Spotify * [https://www.snapchat.com/add/drewtyson Drew Afualo] on Snapchat
{{DEFAULTSORT:Afualo, Drew}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American women writers Category:American feminists Category:American people of Samoan descent Category:TikTokers from California Category:American women podcasters Category:American comedy podcasters Category:Activists from California Category:University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa alumni Category:Mass media people from California Category:Writers from California Category:Writers from Hawaii Category:Mass media people from Hawaii Category:American interview podcasters Category:People from Corona, California