Lele Pons is making the jump from six-second videos to a two-hour awards show.
The Venezuelan-American comedian and singer, who rose to fame with humorous videos on the now-defunct Vine app, has seen her profile shoot higher lately, culminating with the July 16 news that she will co-host the Teen Choice Awards for the first time. The gig comes on the heels of Televisa’s spring announcement that Pons, 22, will host Mexico’s version of The Voice this fall.
“I’ve been going to the Teen Choice Awards for like five years,” the Caracas-born Pons tells THR by phone from Italy, where she is vacationing with her family. “I haven’t ever presented an award [at the show], so skipping being a presenter to host is crazy.”
Although the show has recognized online talent before — Pons won an award for “Choice Viner” in 2016, though she missed the event because of her family’s annual summer trip — this is the first year that a digital-native star has hosted. It helps that Pons is a huge draw for the young viewers broadcaster Fox is hoping to grab. Her Instagram account boasts 26.1 million followers and her first single, “Dicen” with Matt Hunter, has 100 million views on YouTube since its May release.
It might seem like a disjointed mix of projects, but it’s all part of her plan to reach fans in every medium: “You need to evolve,” says Pons of her efforts to reach fans in more mediums, “and this is the next step.”
This story first appeared in the Aug. 8 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
