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Montana Tucker (31), Jewish-American social media star with about 14 million followers across various platforms, has become one of the most prominent influencers on TikTok, mainly thanks to her viral dance routines with unexpected guests. But beyond the social media persona, Tucker is also an actress, a singer, and prolific content creator. Since the tragic events of October 7, she has turned her digital platform into a space for pro-Israel advocacy, raising awareness especially about the plight of those kidnapped and held captive in Gaza. Her appearance on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards was particularly memorable, as she arrived wearing a dress adorned with a massive yellow ribbon and the words “Bring them home“ written on it. Last September, Tucker was in Israel to make a documentary called “The Children of October 7“ (production: Kastina Communications), which documents the stories of children from the communities of the Gaza border who survived the massacre (see insert). She made the film pro bono and even requested all profits Screenshots from her Instagram @montanatucker

What was the most significant moment for you during your visits to Israel? “I believe every single trip to Israel has been significant and impactful. Throughout all the heartache and all the sadness, there’s also still so much pride in Israel. That pride is something I think people who’ve never been to Israel or have never met an Israeli won’t understand. I met with injured soldiers at the Sheba Medical Center, who were ready to go back and fight for their country and its people”. How do you deal with the negativity and criticism you get online because of your stance on the subject? “Posting about my stance for Israel and just being Jewish in general comes with a lot of hate, death threats, criticism on social media, and in real life. It’s something I grew up with, having two Holocaust survivor grandparents. I heard their stories my whole life and couldn’t understand how human beings could really do that. But then, you cut to today, and it’s all happening again all these years later. Social media is a whole 19 ATMOSPHERE NOVEMBER 2024

be donated to the associations involved in caring for the victims of the attacks. In a special interview from her home in Florida, Tucker told us about the work she does advocating for Israel and about her feelings after making the documentary, which is set to be broadcast on TV networks across the world. What drove you to come to Israel so quickly after the events of October 7? “After the events of October 7 (2023), I felt like my entire world stopped. I couldn’t do anything. I built my social platforms on dancing, on singing, on making people happy. But after October 7, I felt that I had to switch everything around and do everything that I could to share what was really going on in Israel. I knew there was so much denial going around, that I had to also physically go to Israel and be on the ground, do everything I could to show my followers from around the world that THIS is real and THIS is really happening. I felt the need to make sure that the world NEVER FORGETS and that they know that this is REAL”.