Kiwi woman Kat goes viral on TikTok after bravely sharing that she's in search of a friend

Loneliness is a universal experience that we all face at some point in our lives. 

Recently, one Kiwi woman's story of loneliness went viral on TikTok, proving how the power of vulnerability can be life-changing. 

Christchurch local, Kat shared an emotional and heartfelt video on the social media platform about her loneliness and lack of friends. In the video, Kat expressed her frustration and sadness, explaining how she had no one to hug or turn to for support in real life.  

Since posting the video, which now has more than 56k views and thousands of comments, Kat has received an outpouring of love and support from people all over the world. 

She caught up with Brad and Laura on The Hits and shared her thoughts and feelings about the "overwhelming" experience. She explained that when she first posted the video, she never expected it to go viral. She had less than 30 followers on TikTok and had only started using the app a few weeks prior. 

"I honestly thought maybe a handful of people might hear it," she said. "I was just trying, really. I was just so frustrated with my feelings, and I thought, if I just expressed it whichever way it came out and put it out to the universe, you know, some of that angst, it might just get rid of some of that." 

Kat's video struck a chord with people, many of whom shared similar feelings of loneliness and isolation. In fact, the response was so great that Kat had to set up a PO Box so people could get in touch and she’s even had her first hug. 

"I have had one hug," she told Brad and Laura. "I heard [a hug] has to be 10 seconds in order for it to be effective. So, I said to the person that I met ‘Yeah, come on, keep going’."

Kat's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of speaking out about our struggles and seeking support when we need it. 

We hope Kat is able to make some true real-life friends from this experience. If you think you’d like to be Kat’s friend, go check out her TikTok account, where she is continuing to share her journey.

All the best Kat, we’re rooting for you!