In January, travel and fashion influencer Devin Halbal, known on TikTok as "Hal Baddie," decided to visit Kurashiki, a city in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. At 26, Halbal, who had previously traveled across Europe and gained recognition for her inspirational content, aimed to expand her horizons beyond fashion and affirmations.
Kurashiki, notable as the birthplace of jeans in Japan, provided a perfect backdrop for her experimental travel content. During her stay, Halbal became fascinated by the Japanese word "kudasai," meaning "may I please have." Integrating this phrase into a light-hearted video, where she said "Sushi, kudasai" and "Ocha, kudasai," she unexpectedly garnered over 13.5 million views.
The viral success of this video extended Halbal's planned two-week trip to Japan into a two-month adventure, during which she visited cities like Tokyo, Takamatsu, and Yamanashi, and created more content on local food, travel, and culture. Her presence led to spontaneous fan interactions and wide media coverage, dubbing her the “kudasai girl.”
Building on her newfound fame, Halbal's follower base expanded geographically, including audiences from Korea, Thailand, India, Nepal, and China. She continued her journey to South Korea, where her popularity surged, further engaging with fans via language and cultural exchanges. Inspired by the warm reception, Halbal expressed interest in possibly relocating to Japan or South Korea and even hinted at exploring a music career.
Devin Halbal's travels through Asia reflect her deep interest in cultural immersion and language learning, potentially marking the beginning of a new era in her social media career.