Recently, a TikToker unexpectedly took Busan, South Korea, by storm. Many have flocked to the selfie stick-wielding content creator as though she were an idol.
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So, who is she, and why is this viral star garnering so much attention in South Korea?
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Devin Halbal (also known as Hal Baddie) has been a viral content creator and travel influencer on the video-sharing app TikTok for years. Originally, she was famous for her “doll check-ins,” in which she would check in with her followers, whom she affectionately refers to as “dolls.” She is known for additional catchphrases, such as “Met Gala Behavior,” “Elevate, activate, appreciate,” and now “Kudasai.”
Though she doesn’t have an immense following by TikTok standards, the phrases she’s popularized have been shared far beyond her fans. One of her favorite words, ‘doll,’ she uses as a noun, an adjective, and a verb. Halbal says that ‘doll’ is an energy — she feels people who identify as a doll are very feminine, but anyone can be a doll if they want to be. ‘Doll activities’ — another term she coined — means any sort of fun, positive, bright, and joyful experience a doll may partake in. A ‘doll check-in’ is when Halbal whips out the selfie stick (‘I feel like it brings out like an inner supermodel,’ she says), usually while traveling in a new destination. It’s a call to her fans that she’s about to drop new wisdom or share a personal tidbit about her life.
— Rolling Stone
