This profile is part of our Culture Shifters series, which highlights people who are changing the way we think about the world around us. Read about film archivist Maya Cade , internet star Keyon Elkins , rapper Latash , music historian Katelina Eccleston , artist Kay Rufai , filmmaker Alika Tengan , and actors Rhoyle Ivy King and Nicco Annan .

Heeeeeey, Drew Afualo opens her TikTok videos. We gotta talk about something hilarious, followed by her trademark giggle-laugh that strikes fear into every internet misogynist.

The 26-year-old TikTok creator has made a name for herself by posting reactionary content on the app. She pulls no punches when responding to misogyny and bigotry online often against men hiding behind obscure usernames and nondescript profile pictures and subverts the idea that taking the high road is the best and only route. (Its not.)

I just make fun of terrible dudes on the internet, which is a real short synopsis of it. The longer-form version would be that I essentially just stick up for women and many other marginalized groups, she said. And turn the tables when it comes to bigotry thats so casually consumed online. Its just turned into a crusade, if you will.

Dubbed the defender of women by her fans she has 7.7 million followers on TikTok Afualos crusade has developed into a cult following and her own podcast aptly titled The Comment Section With Drew Afualo.

Women are expected to be quiet and calm in the face of any kind of disrespect whatsoever. They are expected to take the high road every single time. You should be the bigger person. Why dont you be classy? That type of mentality is rooted in misogyny, she said.

For me, Ive always found it odd when people are extremely misogynistic, because thats not how I was raised.

Afualo said she has always been outspoken against bullies. She detests when people pick on others who would never swing.

I have an older sister and a younger brother. Me being a middle child makes sense to a lot of people too, because middle children tend to be the most confrontational children, she said. I always feel like its an attention thing, too. We gotta show out or no ones gonna see me.

Raised in a Samoan family from Southern California, Afualo grew up around sports her entire life, and her initial goal upon graduating college was to be an on-air sports talent. She hustled as the sports editor for the University of Hawaii at Mnoas student newspaper and worked for the schools athletic department, making appearances at March Madness, Pac-12 Conference games and other big sports events.

Despite sending reels, rsums and decks with her clips to countless employers, her first job after undergrad was in public relations for a construction company. A few years later, she landed a corporate role as a digital content creator for the NFL.

When I finally got my job there, I was like, This is it for me. My lifes gonna take off. This is what Ive always wanted, said Afualo, who was 23 at the time. My experience working there was less than favorable. It was honestly kind of a nightmare. I was so disheartened, disillusioned because I was like, This is supposed to be my dream job. Why am I so sad all the time?