Over 200 UMass Boston students flooded the Campus Center Ballroom Friday, Feb. 21 to sit in on a conversation with internet personality Brittany Broski. The event was held by The Mass Media and the Student Arts and Events Council, with local writer and speaker Amma Marfo returning to interview.
Broski started posting on TikTok in 2019 and gained attention after a video of her trying kombucha for the first time went viral. Since then, her fan base has grown rapidly, and she has accumulated over 7 million followers on the app.
While the internet labeled her “kombucha girl” after her viral video, Broski has made a name for herself posting funny, relatable content. In addition to posting regularly on TikTok, Broski keeps herself busy with other projects like her podcast, “The Broski Report,” and her internet show, “Royal Court.”
Despite being surrounded by high-profile figures on all the time on “Royal Court,” she admitted that “it was definitely weird going from worshipper to the object of worship.” The show was originally planned as an advice column that would have each celebrity guest respond to different prompts, but Broski and her right-hand man, Stanley, decided to ditch the idea and turn it into what it is now — a talk show where celebrities compete to join her royal council.
Her platform has given her the opportunity to interview and connect with celebrities — an experience she never imagined possible. “I am so lucky that these pathways have opened up to meet people who saved me,” she said.
Her show has featured guest stars like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Sophie Thatcher, Charli XCX, Colman Domingo, and one of her recent favorites, Josh Gad. Some of the dream guests she hopes to have in the future include Stanley Tucci, Viola Davis and Jack Harlow. She joked, “I feel like I want to have Will Ferrell on, but he would take the bit too far and I’d get lost in it.”
Broski shared her feelings about her rapid rise to fame and expressed how, as an internet personality, she feels beholden to past versions of herself captured online. “I don’t wanna be known as kombucha girl — that’s like being known as Alex from Target,” she said. “As a woman, it’s such a common thing to be pigeonholed into one thing, and I didn’t want this one moment to define the rest of my life.”
Despite her successful career built on social media, Broski emphasized the importance of having a backup profession in case the industry ever collapses. Acknowledging its unpredictability, she cautioned against dropping out of school to pursue social media full-time.
“Just please graduate,” she said. “We need more Neil deGrasse Tysons, not Mr. Beast.”
Reflecting on her college days, she recalled being surrounded by peers who largely shared her political views. According to her, college breeds activism, providing a space for young people to come together, express their opinions and drive change. “Hold onto this now, because it doesn’t stay that way after you graduate,” she advised.
Broski applied the skills she gained in college to advance her social media career, where interviewing and engaging with other celebrities plays a major role in her work. As the host of an interview-based show like “Royal Court,” Broski’s primary responsibility is creating a comfortable environment where guests can be themselves. Whether she’s hosting her show or interviewing celebrities at events and on the red carpet, she emphasized the importance of matching their energy.
“You really need to come in with joy and excitement for their work, and doing research is such an important part,” she explained. Improvising and bouncing off her interviewees’ energy is key to a successful conversation — and is what makes the process so enjoyable for her.
Broski opened up about setting boundaries with fans and adapting to being recognized in public. Since her platform is built on authenticity and relatability, fans often feel comfortable engaging with her in ways they might not with others.
“The familiarity is nice when meeting fans of my stuff, but sometimes, people need to know there’s a line that has to be drawn,” she said.
She also expressed her gratitude for everything her platform has given her, including the experiences she can have with fans. “You guys are my friends,” Broski said. “It’s like knowing someone in every city.”
As she continues to navigate her ever-evolving career, Broski’s message remains clear: stay true to yourself, embrace every opportunity and never underestimate the power of passion and hard work.
