GULF SHORES — The Alabama Gulf Coast sandcastle sculptors at Sand Castle University received an early Christmas present of reaching 1 million followers on TikTok after seven years of business.
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GULF SHORES — The Alabama Gulf Coast sandcastle sculptors at Sand Castle University received an early Christmas present of reaching 1 million followers on TikTok after seven years of business.
"Reaching 1 million followers on TikTok is a huge milestone, and it is very exciting, satisfying and humbling for me as a content creator," said Hawkins, owner of Sand Castle University and professional sculptor with the team.
Hawkins said after she realized how important social media can be in online marketing, she made it a mission to be "active on a regular basis." She said she uses "a unique enough artistic medium" that grabs viewers' attention and helps to maintain "a widespread audience."
"Sand Castle U has a dedicated audience who actively engages with our content, which allows us to connect with people and build relationships all over the world," Hawkins said. "I've been in the business since 2017, and reaching a following of this magnitude is something I never even knew was possible."
Hawkins started Sand Castle University after working as a professional sculptor in Florida for three years. In 2017, Hawkins "was a broke college student" at the age of 22 and one day saw an ad for a sand sculptor apprentice, and she "immediately replied."
After the apprenticeship, Hawkins returned to Gulf Shores, where she grew up, and decided to "bring sand sculptures to Alabama" with her new business. Sand Castle University holds group classes and does commissioned sculptures.
Hawkins said she was excited for the 1 million followers as she said, "bring it on!" to the growth on TikTok.
"It has taken a lot of hard work to get to this point, and this achievement celebrates our strong presence on the platform," Hawkins said.
When asked what the next goal for Sand Castle University is, Hawkins said "2 million" followers. She also said that the team will continue to "create content that aligns" with their audience's interests.
"Looking forward, we will experiment with new trends, formats and creative ideas just as we have always done to keep things relevant and interesting," Hawkins said. "Now that we have experienced this sort of growth, we will be more deliberate in manifesting what comes next."
Hawkins said she would like to thank the Sand Castle University TikTok and other social media followers "for fostering a connection and actively engaging" with the account. She also mentioned how the followers' support encourages the team to strive to make entertaining content online.