Who Is Kylan Darnell? Inside the Viral ‘Bama Rush’ Star’s TikTok Takeover and Pageant Rise

Kylan Darnell, the University of Alabama student who became TikTok’s unofficial “Queen of #RushTok,” says she is temporarily stepping away from the viral sorority-recruitment scene after three whirlwind years of online fame — and intense scrutiny. The 22-year-old Zeta Tau Alpha member first rocketed to prominence during 2022’s “Bama Rush” season, posting daily outfit-of-the-day clips and pageant-polished pep talks that routinely topped a million views. Her signature sign-off, “Go Greek, and Roll Tide,” turned her into the most recognizable face of a trend that has now amassed more than 4 billion views on TikTok. Yet the nonstop attention has come at a cost. In a candid new interview, Darnell says constant camera phones, comment-section speculation and what one recruitment coach recently dubbed “psychological warfare” finally pushed her to hit pause. “It used to be fun,” she explains, “but the pressure to be perfect every single rush week was overwhelming.” Darnell’s break coincides with a broader backlash against the commodification of collegiate Greek life. Critics argue that “RushTok” glamorizes a process often fraught with exclusivity and high financial stakes. Supporters counter that Darnell’s transparency about dues, dress codes and mental health opened doors for first-generation students who might otherwise feel lost. The social-media star is no stranger to public pressure. Before college, she held the Miss Ohio Teen USA 2022 crown and placed Top 16 at Miss Teen USA, experiences she says prepared her for viral fame. Still, the current spotlight feels different. “Pageants last a weekend,” she notes. “RushTok lasts all year.” For now, Darnell plans to focus on finishing her journalism degree and interning with a regional news station. She hasn’t ruled out a return to TikTok but promises it will be on her own terms. Meanwhile, hashtags like #WhereIsKylan and #BamaRush2025 continue to trend, proving that the audience she built is still hungry for updates. SEO keywords: Kylan Darnell, Bama Rush, RushTok, TikTok sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, Miss Teen USA, University of Alabama, sorority recruitment 2025.