Ten-year-old Tess Marie Mata was hoping to go viral on TikTok someday, even though she was too young to have an account.
Last Tuesday, Tess was one of 21 victims killed in a shooting at a school in Uvalde, Texas.
Her family is now doing everything they can to fulfill their dreams.
Tess Marie Mata, 10, dreamed of going viral on TikTok. Now, after his death in the massacre in Uvalde, his family is trying to make those wishes come true. (Family photo) Tess’s uncle, Robert Hill, said he had dreamed of one of his dance videos going viral on the social media app, TikTok.
Because users must be at least 13 years old to create an account, Hill said Tess would make videos and save them to her mother’s account, Veronica.
“He had over 150 videos written,” Hill said.
“We were going through all of them and talking about how he always wanted one of his dances to go viral.”
The family decided to try to make this dream come true to honor Tess.
They chose one of their favorites: a video of Tess doing a popular dance routine with the song “No Idea” by Don Toliver – to share.
The video was posted on Veronica’s account last week with the caption: “My sweet little girl. We were fired for a senseless act in a mass shooting. “But today I want to celebrate her by trying to fulfill her wish by becoming famous on TikTok. #uvaldestrong.” AP)
Hill also shared and re-released the video, hoping that its follow-up would help it gain more attention.
Two of these comments come from the verified accounts of Lance Bass, a member of the American pop band NSYNC, and Paris Hilton.
Bass commented on Saturday that “it breaks my heart.”
“We were excited because after that, we knew this was going to happen to him,” Hill said.
“Unfortunately, she can’t wait to see him.”
Uvalde residents gather for prayer vigil after Texas mass shooting (Getty / Jordan Vonderhaar)
Hilton left a comment saying, “I’m so sorry for your loss … I send a lot of love to you and your family.”
Kourtney Kardashian and Kylie Jenner also re-posted TikTok on their Instagram stories, according to Hill, although they have disappeared after the 24-hour posting limit.
One of Tess’s favorite bands was BTS, Hill said, adding that she expects the video to reach them.
“It’s something we definitely want to happen to her,” she said.
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“It’s hard to still wrap my head around this,” Hill continued.
“I wish I was close to seeing this,”
Tess will be buried on June 13 in Uvalde Hillcrest Cemetery.