Who says grandparents can’t be TikTok well-known? Meet Ian Thio, a 21-year-old Singaporean content material creator, and his 82-year-old grandmother, Ong Siew Hoon—a duo redefining household bonding, one viral dance video at a time. Whereas most grandkids would possibly drift aside from their elders as life will get busy, Ian and Mdm Ong have turned TikTok into their playground, strengthening their relationship whereas racking up 300,000 followers and views within the thousands and thousands. From dance battles that broke the web to touchdown collaborations for influencer advertising in Singapore with giants like Netflix and McDonald’s, right here’s why this pair is the last word #FamilyGoals—plus just a few surprises you didn’t see coming.
1. Intern by Day, Influencer by Evening
Let’s get one factor straight: Ian isn’t your common intern. Whereas juggling coursework and pupil life, he’s additionally mastering the artwork of content material creation alongside his grandma. Their TikTok movies—all 200+ of them—aren’t simply cute; they’re a facet hustle pulling in four-figure pay checks. Many well-known manufacturers have slid into their DMs for partnerships, however right here’s the twist: Mdm Ong refuses to take a single cent. “I don’t want the cash at this age,” she insists, calling high quality time with Ian her actual “cost.” Discuss priceless—until you rely the 22.5 million views on their faux dance battle as forex.
2. Thrift King (& Sustainable Hustler)
When Ian isn’t educating Grandma the newest TikTok shuffle, he’s co-running WEARE (pronounced “put on”), a Gen Z-approved thrift store he launched along with his brother Jachin and pal Ashley. Overlook stuffy second-hand shops—that is curated chaos. Assume Woodstock-era ponchos, Harley Davidson tees, and corsets comprised of upcycled classic materials, all priced underneath 30. Their first pop−up, WEAREHOUSE, blew up quicker than a TikTok development, because of savvy KOL advertising on their socials.
The trio needed thrifting to really feel accessible, not intimidating. Mission completed: Buyers now raid their bins for every part from Dickies trousers to trace jackets, proving sustainable trend doesn’t need to break the bank.
3. Pocket Activist for KFC’s Denim Revolution
Girls, ever tried stuffing a telephone into denims pockets that hardly match a bank card? Ian joined forces with KFC, denim label Pinheads, and R/GA to deal with this injustice in The Pocket Repair marketing campaign. Impressed by KFC’s Trio Pockett (13.5cm x 19cm of deep-fried perfection), they designed a denim pocket sufficiently big for…effectively, precise human wants. The twist? Ian and different influencers stitched these pockets onto pocketless pants, then roasted the style trade’s absurd designs utilizing #PocketFix. Spoiler: It went viral. As a result of who wouldn’t desire a pocket that matches a rooster wrap and your dignity?
4. Bloopers > Blockbusters
Plot twist: Ian’s grandma isn’t a TikTok pure, who admits that she fumbles the steps each time. However guess what? These blunders are why followers adore them. Whereas filming takes as much as three hours (for a 60-second clip!), Ian’s persistence by no means wavers. “She nonetheless doesn’t get that messing up is the very best half,” he laughs. For Mdm Ong, the camera-shy introvert, it’s all about bonding and high quality time along with her grandson. Their uncooked, unpolished vibe—paired with Grandma’s reluctant sass—is a masterclass in authenticity.
5. Sipping Brattea with Yeo’s
When Charli XCX’s Brat album dropped in 2024, Singapore caught “brat fever”—and Ian was front-row. Heritage drink model Yeo’s tapped him to steer their Brattea marketing campaign, slapping neon-green rebel onto their traditional inexperienced tea. Alongside Gen Z icons like Dewy Choo, Ian stormed hotspots like Haji Lane with shock unboxings, proving even legacy manufacturers could be cool. The lesson? Don’t underestimate grandmas—or grandsons—in terms of cultural clout.
Conclusion
From thrift flips to pocket protests, Ian Thio and Mdm Ong are redefining intergenerational cool. They’re not simply chasing developments—they’re crafting a blueprint for authenticity in a filtered world. Whether or not he’s acing exams or making the newest viral hit on TikTok, one factor’s clear: This gran-fluencer duo is right here to remain, proving that household ties + creativity = web gold.
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Picture Credit score: @ianthioo on TikTok
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