i was listening to Elizabeth Hunterton's story of finding her bio mom and got all emotional because family stuff is So Much. as a form these TikTok stories are very affecting because they involve creators shaping their own stories and using rhetorical motifs to maintain engagement - vastly contrasting the talk show curation of cable tv, the toxicity and exploitation of reality tv production, but still having a similar amount of rigour and presentation. given that Elizabeth won Miss Nevada she has experience with public speaking and self-presentation so it isn't too big of a leap.

anyway apparently she's going to meet her bio mom in nine days and i'm really excited for her. her story is very moving and i find the way she talks about herself and life resonant and helpful even when you don't really have the same plight or life experience. i also appreciate how she is open about her spirituality and sets explicit boundaries with her audience.