From English Teacher to TikTok Sensation: The Rise of the Whole Sweet Potato
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In just seven months, Courtney Cook Bales has amassed over a million followers on TikTok, captivating audiences wiht her eager embrace of unique food combinations adn a genuinely joyful online presence. The 36-year-old high school English teacher from Fayetteville, Georgia, never anticipated becoming a viral sensation, admitting to TODAY.com, “I do not feel interesting enough for all that. I don’t know how this is happening.”
Cook Bales’ journey began with a simple desire to share a glimpse into her daily life. “I’m a nosy person,and I like to know what people have for lunch,” she explains. “As a teacher, sometimes we all eat together, and I’m always like, ‘What are you having for lunch?’ It’s like an insight into someone’s day and someone’s personality, someone’s preferences.” In mid-May, she began posting videos of her meals on TikTok, initially focusing on her fondness for british cuisine.
Her interest in british food stems from her work teaching British literature to 12th graders. “I kind of just read British novels,” she says, citing Jane Austen as an inspiration, “and there would be some sort of, like, banquet scene, and I would read the descriptions of the lavish foods,” sparking a desire to recreate them. It started with a can of heinz beans in tomato sauce, but quickly expanded into a full exploration of british culinary traditions.
The Ploughman’s Lunch and TikTok Fame
Cook Bales began sharing her weekly British roast dinners – always complete with a Yorkshire pudding – on TikTok.Though, it was a suggestion from a follower to try a ploughman’s lunch that truly launched her account into the stratosphere. For those unfamiliar, a ploughman’s lunch is a conventional British cold meal consisting of bread, cheese, and onions, often enjoyed with a beer. Originally a staple for English rural laborers,the dish was popularized in the 1960s as a marketing campaign by the Milk Marketing Board to boost cheese sales.
“It’s honestly one of my favorite lunches,” Cook Bales says. “It hits all the categories: crunchy, sour, sweet, creamy. It’s just perfect.” She notes the dish’s similarity to the “girl dinner” trend, explaining why it resonated so strongly with TikTok audiences. Her enthusiastic use of British condiments – including Branston Pickle (“Branny P”), Piccalilli, and Heinz Salad Cream – has become a signature element of her content, captivating viewers.
The “Ms. Rachel for Adults”
Cook Bales’ positive and engaging personality has become a key ingredient in her success. She describes her favorite food as a whole sweet potato, “It’s comforting, it’s salty, it’s sweet, it’s hot.You can have it with cold kimchi and daikon radish pickles and onion cups.” She hopes to return to both Japan and South Korea to create vlogging content.
Despite her growing online presence, Cook Bales remains committed to her career as a high school english teacher. “It really fills my cup,” she says. And, as a “comfort creator” on TikTok, she continues to fill the cups of countless others. As one viewer commented,”Girlfriend,I just love your videos. Simple, cute, homey, cozyyyyy. Does it get better?” Cook Bales, with a twinkle in her eye, sums up her aspirations perfectly: “I want to be the cute, happy bunny that’s eating good. Maybe in an onion field, living her best life.”