From Unemployed Factory Worker to the Face of (Hugo) Boss

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Khaby Lame was born in Senegal in 2000 and moved to Italy with his parents when he was a year old. He has spent most of his life in public housing.

Two years ago, Khaby lost his job as a factory worker.

Today he is one of the faces of a major rebranding by luxury retailer Hugo Boss and allegedly worth $5 million.

So how did he accomplish all of this in less than two years?

By posting videos to TikTok.

At first, like a lot of TikTokers, Khaby created clips of himself dancing, watching video games, or doing comedy stunts. He then began making fun of the life-hack videos that flood social media platforms — reacting to them with a wordless shrug or a look of exasperation — and he struck a chord.

He now has more than 130 million followers on TikTok, the second most of any TikTokers.

Apparently, the videos caught the eye of someone at Hugo Boss. Soon after, Khaby made his runway debut during Milan Fashion Week, with the outing translating to 4 billion impressions across a variety of social media platforms within four days. He then signed a multi-year partnership deal with Boss that will also include a co-designed capsule collection.

While he’s not yet an Italian citizen, he speaks fluent Italian and said he considers the country home. He’s applied for citizenship and as he awaits the process to go through, he said it’s been hard for him to travel to events in the United States and other countries on his Senegalese passport.

Here is a small sampling of his TikTok videos (most are less than 30 seconds each):

@khaby.lame

Don’t complicate your life 🤲🏾🤷🏾‍♂️#learnfromkhaby #learnwithtiktok #imparacontiktok

♬ suono originale – Khabane lame

@khaby.lame

Next? 😂 🐟 #leanfromkhaby #learnontiktok #imparacontiktok #learnwithtiktok

♬ suono originale – Khabane lame

@khaby.lame

#foryoupage #comic

♬ suono originale – Khabane lame

@khaby.lame

Ig:@khaby00

♬ suono originale – Khabane lame

@khaby.lame

Bro why you ruined a T-shirt ?👕😔It was so easy…. – Fratello perché hai rovinato una T-Shirt?👕😔#learnfromkhaby #LearnWithTikTok #ImparaConTikTok

♬ suono originale – Khabane lame

@khaby.lame

Sorry Queen. I had to do it. 🤣🤲🏾I will come to visit you soon,if I will be welcome 😆 #learnfromkhaby #learnwithtiktok #queenelizabeth #stitch

♬ suono originale – Khabane lame

Sources:

LinkedIn

The Hollywood Reporter

Vogue Business

Wikipedia

CNN

TubeFilter

*image from D1SoftballNews

Published by Jim Borden

A 60-something guy trying to figure out the world, and his place in it. Happily married for 40-plus years, three wonderful sons. Accounting teacher, fitness enthusiast, blogger, reader.

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61 thoughts on “From Unemployed Factory Worker to the Face of (Hugo) Boss”

      1. Poor Brad. I have the same experience with my wife, who has shrunk down in size to 4’11”. If I adjust the seat to accommodate me, then forget to adjust it back, she gets mad at me. So sometimes I just scrunch in there.

        Liked by 1 person

      10. If I have to drive my wife’s car, I don’t adjust it, even thought it is a little tight. She will adjust my car so that she can reach everything, but it is easy enough to get it back where it belongs…

        Liked by 1 person

  4. I’d say the car one is his best. Pretty hysterical that he has become a multi-millionaire from this. It’s funny and sad at the same time, considering the critical jobs people do for far less money. I suppose the same can is true for professional athletes. At the same time, I can’t begrudge the guy for his creativity.

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    1. he’s found his niche…

      I just don’t know if he has other people make the first part of the video, and then he comes in and pokes fun at them, or if those are other people’s videos that he makes fun of.

      I know the Queen one was not one of his, but I’m curious about many of the others…

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. When my grandchildren (10 and 12) were over yesterday, they each had a banana for morning tea. I mentioned the banana video to them. They knew exactly who and what I was talking about and then proceeded to show me many more – not as funny as the ones you selected though. Thanks for curating them.

        Liked by 1 person

  11. What a great story and inspiration, Jim. I watched on YouTube of a small group of guys playing fireworks in the desert. They made each bigger and bigger and concluded the video with the fireworks worths millions dollars with a total of $300 M. Hubby said YouTube pay them from views.

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