Mykolaiv-based blogger Max Klymenko wins "Author of the Year" at TikTok Awards

Max Klymenko, a British blogger from Mykolaiv, won Author of the Year at the TikTok Awards. His format helps to guess the professions of random people and talk about careers without stereotypes.

This was reported by the BBC.

The TikTok Awards ceremony took place in the UK, where British blogger Max Klymenko, originally from Mykolaiv, won the Creator of the Year category. He is known on TikTok for his show Career Ladder, in which he invites strangers to climb a ladder and guess their profession.

According to media reports, Max was born in Mykolaiv and later moved to the UK to study, while his family, including his grandmother, still lives in Ukraine. When he received the award, he thanked his family and recalled how his grandmother used to log in to his TikTok through different accounts to make his videos look more popular. With his current 8.5 million subscribers, he doesn't need to do that anymore, but the story has become a symbol of his path to success.

The blogger noted that this award has a special meaning for him as an immigrant, adding:"Nothing is impossible for your career. Glory to Ukraine!"

Other award winners include Goode Ol'Geb in the Books and Education category, Phil Carr in Travel, Fudi Fella in Food, Nikki Lilly in Fashion and Beauty, Morgan M-James as Storyteller of the Year, and Charlie Marlowe, Olivia Deen, Dose Of Joy, Tola and Kevin, and Lissy Mackintosh in their respective categories.

The blogger runs channels on TikTok and YouTube, making short videos about career, business and social topics. His Career Ladder format helps to talk about professions without prejudice to appearance, income, status, or place of residence.

According to the study "Ukrainian Media: News Consumption and Trust in 2025," Max is among the bloggers most watched and read by Ukrainians on social media.

In October, Kamila Boichenko, a filmmaker from Kilia in Odesa region, received a Special Award from the Association of Polish Filmmakers as part of the Warsaw Next program at the Industry Days section of the 41st Warsaw Film Festival. The award was given to her film Black Handkerchief, which tells the story of 45-year-old Lesia from Kherson, who, together with her daughter, ended up in a Polish camp for displaced persons.

Анна Бальчінос