The story of 22-year-old Kenyan Truphena Muthooni is a remarkable example of creativity, dedication, and the earning potential of social media. Truphena captured global attention by hugging a tree for 72 hours live on TikTok, combining an environmental message with an impressive display of perseverance. What made her story even more extraordinary was the staggering amount of money she earned through virtual gifts sent by thousands of viewers worldwide.
During her 72-hour live session, Truphena attracted over 50,000 viewers. Her audience was captivated not only by her commitment to the stunt but also by the opportunity to interact and support her directly through TikTok’s gifting system. Among the various gifts, the lion gift stood out as the most expensive and coveted. Valued at $403 (approximately Ksh.52,000), Truphena received over 1,100 lion gifts from fans, amounting to about Ksh.57 million before TikTok’s 50% commission. After deductions, her net earnings from these gifts alone totaled around Ksh.28 million.
In addition to lion gifts, she received other virtual tokens of appreciation, including money guns and smaller gifts, further boosting her total income. Truphena’s achievement demonstrates how digital platforms can transform creativity and dedication into financial success. Her 72-hour tree hug sparked environmental discussions while also proving that content creators can monetize their passions in innovative ways.
Truphena Muthooni’s journey serves as an inspiring example for young people in Kenya and across the world. By leveraging social media effectively, she turned a bold idea into both a platform for advocacy and a lucrative venture. Her story highlights a new era of digital entrepreneurship, encouraging others to explore creative ways to achieve financial independence while making an impact.