From friendship to followers: how two best friends are using TikTok to spread laughter and support mental health

In a world often overshadowed by stress, anxiety, and endless bad news, two lifelong best friends from the Tameside are bringing a burst of joy to thousands one TikTok at a time.

Meet Hayley and Billie, two 30-year-old mums and best friends of 20 years whose hilarious and heartfelt videos are helping people smile through their struggles. What started as goofy videos between childhood friends has grown into a rapidly expanding TikTok presence that’s reaching people far beyond their hometown.

“We used to do these kinds of videos when we were like 12,” Hayley laughs. “Just messing about, lip-syncing to songs, dressing up, and acting daft.”

Fast forward nearly two decades, and the pair found themselves revisiting that childhood joy this time with the aim of boosting their own mental health.

“When we’d get on there and just have a laugh, it would instantly lift us,” Billie adds. “It started off as a way to cheer ourselves up. Then we realized, wait we’re cheering other people up too.”

Hay and Bil decided to start TikTok after sharing their videos with friends and family on Facebook and the positive feedback started rolling in. Within just two weeks on the app, the duo had gained nearly 7,000 followers. People often comment telling them they needed their own show, that their content brightened their mornings and got them through tough times.

“We’ve had messages like, ‘I’ve had a rubbish few years and your account has pulled me out of a dark hole,’” says Hayley. “Or ‘I was sobbing and then your video snapped me right out of it.’ That’s why we keep going.”

Hayley and Billie’s TikTok’s often see then dressed in funny costumes doing nostalgic lip-syncs mainly to songs from N-Dubz, who they both share a love for.

Despite their growing popularity, their goal remains simple: to make people laugh and feel better, even for just a few minutes.

Hayley and Billie are clear that this isn’t just a social media stunt. Their journey is rooted in deep friendship and shared experience, including navigating personal grief and loss.

“My mum struggled with mental health, and she passed away,” Hayley shares. “Billie and her mum were like a safe place for me growing up. We’ve seen each other through everything: parents, relationships, heartbreak. We’ve always found a way to laugh through it.”

Even as their videos take off and they’re contacted by TikTok’s Creator Fund for monetisation opportunities, Haley and Billie remain grounded.

“We’re not doing this for the money,” Hayley explains. “We do it because we love it. And if it helps someone else smile? Even better.”

Now, they’ve set aside Mondays as their content day squeezing in more sessions when their busy lives as business running mums allow. Their kids are even getting in on the action sometimes poking fun, sometimes joining in.

“Mine says I’m cringe,” Billie laughs. “But then she shows the videos to her friends at school!”

Their ambitions don’t stop at TikTok. Hayley and Billie are currently working on launching a podcast where they plan to dive into deeper, more personal topics from motherhood and mental health to embarrassing stories and life lessons.

“We want the podcast to be more serious,” Hayley says. “Well, as serious as we can be.”

They’re also building a YouTube channel and hope to expand to Facebook and Instagram. But one thing remains constant: their desire to keep people laughing.

“We don’t know exactly where this will go,” Billie admits. “But we know we want to keep showing up for people, keep making them laugh, and be that bit of light in someone’s day.”

If you need a dose of humour, heart, and friendship goals, follow Hayley and Billie on TikTok at @keepingupwithhayandbill.

“We don’t always know what we’re doing,” Billie jokes, “but it’s working.”

And judging by the thousands of smiles they’ve sparked, it’s working wonderfully.

You can catch the full interview on The Hour programme on Tameside Radio 7pm Thursday 26th and Friday 27th June.