Campus Spotlight: Maggie Dailer

By: Cassidie Stevens

Maggie Dailer is a junior at The University of Maryland majoring in kinesiology. Outside of her studies at UMD, she is also a successful influencer on TikTok, and is a member of the TikTok Creator Fund. Dailer is a UMD student by day but once classes are over, she takes the TikTok world by storm. For Dailer, TikTok is a creative outlet to connect with others who share her lifestyle interests and humor.

Since joining TikTok a little over a year ago, Dailer has accumulated over 60,000 followers and has gained endorsements from a number of respectable brands. Dailer is now a staple among TikTok’s LGBTQ community and continues to spread positivity throughout the app. Maggie doesn’t just bring comedy to her followers, she also offers a safe space for users to openly communicate and be their most authentic selves. “I had no idea I was gonna blow up on TikTok, it just kind of happened,” Dailer says. Read more about her unexpected success below:

Photo courtesy of @maggie_dailer on Instagram

MM: What got you interested in TikTok?

MD: I was just bored during quarantine, and it was just for fun until it turned into something bigger.

MM: Describe your TikTok content in three words.

MD: Representation, inclusive, and positive.

MM: Do you see a large community from UMD on TikTok?

MD: I’ve seen a lot of creators from Maryland, or even just people commenting on my videos happen to be from here. I think it's really cool.

MM: Did you expect to get so popular from your videos?

MD: Absolutely not, it started as a joke and then I went viral. My first video that got a lot of attention was me showing myself before versus after I came out and how much happier I was.

MM: Who is your main form of inspiration?

MD: There are so many, but probably Shannon Beveridge, she is a huge advocate for the LGBT community.

MM: What is your favorite thing to do on campus?

MD: I like to study at ESJ or McKeldin, the atmosphere there is really calm.

MM: Is being a part of the LGBTQ community on TikTok important to you?

MD: It definitely is, it’s always nice to see other people who share the same experiences as you, I feel a part of something bigger than myself and I’m so glad to be a part of that. TikTok is now a huge part of my life and it makes me so happy!

MM: Has TikTok opened more doors for you?

MD: Actually yes, I have received a lot of offers for different brand deals or sponsorships, a recent one was for The Coldest water bottle, which I saw a lot of other creators using. I’ve also gained some new friends who are also content creators on the app.

MM: How do your friends and family feel about your new found fame?

MD: They all have been my support system, they will even be in my videos sometimes. At first everyone was really surprised that I went viral but they supported me.

MM: Do you have any advice for those who are thinking about a hobby or career in content creation?

MD: Honestly just go for it. I wasn’t looking for anything out of it but it kind of just found me, and it has been awesome.

Photo courtesy of @maggie_dailer on Instagram

In the future, Dailer hopes to continue creating content that is inclusive to all, and to become a role model for the LGBTQ youth so that they can see the representation in mainstream media that she didn't have growing up. Dailer’s success shows how anyone can be a voice for positivity and inclusiveness on any type of social media platform, and how they can have fun along the way.