Her husband’s been gambling on something, and I’m utterly obsessed. TikTok account CanYouBelieveIt is one of my current favourites to scroll through endlessly. There’s good reason, as the face of the angel hosting the videos, Donna, is captivating.
@donnademarcocooking US Open Honey Deuce Cocktail #drink #cocktails #tennis #canyoubelieveit #fyp ♬ original sound – CanYouBelieveIt
It’s difficult to gauge what TikTok wants me to see these days. There are a lot of deep-cut references that require me to dig through its polluted search function. Online drama that eggs on engagement, rage-bait and occasionally, something I actually want to see.
In an era where I’m mostly served videos of Joshua Block (WorldofTShirts) abusing alcohol or worse, CanYouBelieveIt is a glorious shining diamond in the sand.
A cross between the classic UK show, Come Outside and an episode of Julia Childs’ cooking shows, CanYouBelieveIt sees Donna exploring culinary and local delights. One of my favourites features a visit to The Lobster Roll Restaurant, Lunch. Lunch, for dinner!
@donnademarcocooking Lunch for Dinner #Montauk #TheHamptons #FoodVlog #Buffalo #Calamari #Lobster #Sliders #Lunch #CanYouBelieveIt ♬ original sound – CanYouBelieveIt
In it they share their favourite dishes, highlighting the buffalo fried calamari. Donna is a crass delight, refusing to call the restaurant by its Christian name. If she won’t call her husband King George in bed, why would she not call the restaurant by the much cooler name, Lunch?
Donna DeMarco is incredibly fun, with the warped filtered face of whoever is underneath not the point at all. I don’t need to know anything about who is underneath Donna – it’s definitely not her gambling husband, heyo! – but I totally love that.
TikTok’s biggest issue with its largest stars is the same as anything in the social media era. Sometimes we know way too much. Donna is closer to a VTuber like Gwar Gura or IronMouse. As long as the videos are fun, informative or a bit of both – as they usually are – then who cares?
The harsh voice, clear and confident hosting style just outshines a lot of creatives on TikTok right now. There’s this constant need to replicate each other, chase the algorithm for a very particular type of thing. However, Donna’s CanYouBelieveIt just skirts that in favour of doing what they want.
It’s how you end up with a two part video of crab fishing, or making a jerking motion in Seattle and riding a giant hog. A lot of TikTok is junk, it’s throwaway content that you actively scroll through like channel surfing. Donna is like tuning into Channel 496 at 2am, hazy after an eye opening smoke session, only to end up watching the entire account out of fascination.
@donnademarcocooking Fresh Crab pt. 2 #cooking #seafood #crabbing #canyoubelieveit #fyp ♬ original sound – CanYouBelieveIt
It’s rare for a TikTok account to stick in my brain. So much of it is fleeting, that seeing video that is actively trying on the platform is just fantastic.
In a sea of reaction videos or reference and research heavy topics, having that total disconnect from a creator like Donna is a breath of fresh air. Turns out, making the effort actually means something. Can you believe it?
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