Khabane Lame

The most-followed TikTok creator in the world

Born on March 9, 2000

Age: 26

Profession: Social Media Influencer

Place of Birth: Dakar, Senegal

Birth Place: Dakar, Senegal Birth Date: March 9, 2000 Profession: Social Media Personality, Influencer, Digital Content Creator Descriptor: The most-followed TikTok creator in the world

Khabane Lame, widely known as Khaby Lame, is a Senegalese-Italian social media phenomenon who became globally recognized for his silent reaction videos on TikTok. Through expressive facial gestures and minimalist humor, he built an unprecedented digital presence, becoming the most-followed user on TikTok in June 2022.

Early Life and Background

Khabane Lame was born on March 9, 2000, in Dakar, Senegal. His full name is Khabane Serigne “Khaby” Lame. At the age of one, he moved with his family to Italy and grew up in a public housing complex in Chivasso, near Turin. He has three siblings.

Lame attended Italian schools until the age of fourteen. At his family’s decision, he temporarily returned to Senegal, where he studied at a madrasa near Dakar. This period reinforced his religious and cultural identity. A practicing Muslim, Lame has often referenced his faith as an important element of his life.

Before TikTok: Factory Work and Financial Struggles

During his teenage years, Khabane Lame showed interest in football and basketball, playing in lower-tier basketball leagues during high school. Before achieving online fame, he worked as a CNC machine operator at a factory near Turin. Like many young workers, he faced financial instability and job insecurity.

His life changed dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, he lost his factory job due to lockdown measures. Confined at home during quarantine, he began experimenting with content creation on TikTok.

The Rise to Global Fame

Initially posting dance clips and gaming-related content, Khabane Lame found his breakthrough by reacting to viral “life hack” videos that unnecessarily complicated simple tasks. Without speaking a word, he would demonstrate a straightforward solution and conclude with his now-iconic open-palmed gesture and deadpan facial expression—communicating “it’s that simple.”

His decision to remain silent proved crucial. The absence of language barriers allowed his content to resonate universally, crossing cultural and linguistic divides. His relatability, simplicity, and irony quickly propelled him to global prominence.

On April 26, 2021, he surpassed Gianluca Vacchi to become the most-followed Italian TikTok creator. On June 22, 2022, he overtook Charli D’Amelio to become the most-followed user on TikTok worldwide.

Recognition and Influence

Khabane Lame’s meteoric rise attracted international recognition. In 2022, he was included in Fortune’s 40 Under 40 and Forbes’ 30 Under 30 lists. In 2023, Forbes described him as the world’s most popular TikTok influencer. In less than three years, he amassed over 160 million followers, becoming one of the most recognizable digital personalities without uttering a single word in his signature videos.

He has collaborated with global brands including Hugo Boss and Binance, and served as a judge on the television program Italia’s Got Talent. He was also appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. In 2025, he was included in Time magazine’s TIME100 Creators list.

Citizenship Debate and Social Impact

Despite living in Italy for most of his life, Khabane Lame initially did not hold Italian citizenship. He publicly addressed the issue, stating, “I have been waiting 20 years to become Italian,” which reignited national debate over Italy’s citizenship laws. Following public attention, Italian authorities confirmed that his citizenship application had been approved.

Lame emphasized that the issue extended beyond his personal case, affecting approximately one million children born or raised in Italy under restrictive citizenship regulations. His statements positioned him not only as an entertainer but also as a symbolic figure within broader social discussions.

Film and Television Work

Khabane Lame has expanded his career beyond social media. In 2022, he provided voice work for the Italian dub of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In 2024, he made a brief, non-speaking cameo appearance in Bad Boys: Ride or Die.

That same year, the unscripted comedy series Khaby Is Coming to America premiered on the Tubi platform, featuring Lame as himself. From 2023 onward, he has served as a judge on Italia’s Got Talent.

Personal Life

Khabane Lame married Wendy Thembelihle Juel in November 2023; the marriage ended in May 2024. He speaks fluent Italian and maintains strong ties to both Senegalese and Italian cultural identities.

Public Perception and Cultural Analysis

Media analysts and academics have interpreted Lame’s success as a reflection of “everyday universal frustration.” Publications such as The New York Times have highlighted how his popularity stems not from high production value but from authenticity, simplicity, and silence. His digital persona represents a form of minimalist satire uniquely suited to the algorithm-driven era of social media.