TikTok named three New York TikTokers as “creators to watch” for 2026.
Dr. Judith Joseph, M.D. (@drjudithjoseph), Henry Laporte (@salt_hank) and Taryn Delanie Smith (@taryndelaniesmith) were selected for TikTok’s 2026 Discover List. The list, according to TikTok, is a global showcase of 50 creators across five categories: educators, foodies, icons, innovators and originators.
In the announcement, TikTok stated that all the creators chosen for the 2026 list have forged new paths for creativity and are making lasting impacts on the app.
“At TikTok we are committed to celebrating our inspiring creator community,” said James Stafford, global head of content operations at TikTok. “From the educators who are inspiring their communities to learn something new, to the originators who share their businesses with global audiences on TikTok, we are proud to be a space where new talent can be discovered and authenticity and creativity can thrive.”
Here’s what to know about the three New York TikTokers on this year’s TikTok Discover List.
Dr. Judith Joseph, M.D.: educators
Dr. Judith Joseph, M.D., a board-certified psychiatrist, researcher and author in New York, was selected as one of the “creators to watch” in the educators category.
“Educators fuel our sense of discovery, energizing our community to learn, build new skills, and broaden horizons, one inspiring post at a time,” the TikTok announcement reads. “From making science fun and accessible to fostering a sense of wonder about the natural world, these creators inform, entertain, and invite us to join the conversation.”
Joseph chairs Columbia University’s Women in Medicine Initiative and is a clinical assistant professor at NYU School of Medicine, who has presented at the White Hous, Fortune 500 companies and the United Nations, according to the announcement. She is known for her mental health advocacy through media, research and education.
Joseph said she started educating her community on TikTok about the world’s first peer-reviewed study on high-functioning depression (HFD) that was published by her lab. Informing her community about HFD symptoms, she said, led to many people seeking out mental health resources, “so they could reclaim their joy based on the science of their own happiness.”
“As a health educator, I know how crucial it is for you to understand your unique mental and physical health,” Joseph said. “Understanding the science of your happiness helps you to reclaim your joy. TikTok has allowed my research and work to reach millions internationally and has led to opening doors to prestigious institutions.”
Henry Laporte: foodies
Henry Laporte, a New Yorker known as Salt Hank on TikTok, where he posts “over the top” cooking videos, was selected as one of the “creators to watch” in the foodies category.
“From acclaimed restaurateurs to passionate home chefs, Foodies share mouthwatering dishes and crave-worthy cuisine from every corner of the world, igniting new #FoodTok trends everywhere they go,” the TikTok announcement reads. “These creators transport us through taste, leading us to discover bold new flavours or time-honored recipes – all brought to life with distinctive culinary vision.”
Besides his popular TikTok cooking videos, Laporte is known for his New York Times bestselling cookbook called “Salt Hank: A Five Napkin Situation.”
“I love that TikTok and the internet have created a launchpad for chefs to pursue tangible dreams they have in the physical world that might not have been possible before,” Laporte said. “I quit my day job basically right after I started posting TikToks, and since then, it has absolutely catapulted me into my lifelong dream career of working in food media.”
Recently, Laporte opened his first restaurant, Salt Hank’s, on Bleecker Street in New York’s West Village, where he sells his favorite food, French Dips, he told TikTok.
Taryn Delanie Smith: icons
Taryn Delanie Smith, a popular comedian and creator in New York, best known for her funny viral character, Denise or “Heaven’s Receptionist,” was chosen as one of the “creators to watch” in the icons category.
“These creators need no introduction – they set the trends, build expansive communities, and redefine what it means to be a modern creative,” the announcement reads. “Synonymous with TikTok culture and beyond, they highlight the power of connection and inspiration.”
Along with digital comedy, Smith is also known for her advocacy, especially for the unhoused community. She is currently serving on the board of the Trinity Place Shelter, she became the first ambassador for the Coalition for the Homeless in New York City and she founded the organization, Supporting our Shelters, which works to mobilize resources and expand access for the unhoused community.
Smith said that her success on TikTok has opened doors for her to also work as a writer and actor in the television and film space.
“I think my story is really representative of what makes this app a revolutionary tool,” Smith said. “You can step into a career you never thought possible as an artist on this platform.”
Smith currently has 1.6 million followers on TikTok, but her digital comedy has reached over 3 million people, the announcement says.
— Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who covers breaking and trending news for the Finger Lakes Region. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn’t help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Three New York TikTokers named ‘creators to watch’ for 2026
Reporting by Madison Scott, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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