About

The Hot Seat Challenge is a trend and internet challenge that became popularized on TikTok under the hashtag #hotseatin to show off eccentric or traditional clothes set to the song "Hotseat" by Mia Moore. Videos with the hashtag mostly set the stage for TikTokers using video montage to make it look like they instantaneously change their clothes. This effect is created by recording two videos where the filmed person accomplishes the same action, but while wearing different outfits, and then joining the first part to the second in one continuous shot. The background sound systematically transitions to "Hotseat," and the clothing transition is associated with the subject sitting on a chair so as to further justify the appellation of "Hotseat" and make the clothing change more dramatic. The challenge was prevalent on the platform throughout mid-2020, and as of November 2020, the sound has more than 511,900 total videos on TikTok^[2] using the song.

Origin

On June 20th, 2020, TikTok^[1] user Atikhun Kanjanakaset (who's made several videos featuring the sudden clothes change visual effect) uploaded the earliest known version of the challenge. In the video, Kanjanakaset swaps clothes on a whim by sitting on a chair where a second outfit is placed while the background music shifts to a remix of "Hotseat" by Mia Moore. The clip received more than 1.1 million likes, 24,000 shares and almost 9,000 comments in five months (shown below).

Spread

Many TikTokers were inspired by this video and took it upon themselves to use it as a model for their own creations. On July 7th, 2020, Lizzo posted another example of the trend to her TikTok^[3] account, receiving over 3.7 million views, 162,500 shares and 66,300 comments in roughly five months (seen below, left). On July 10th, TikToker^[4] shivanishama posted a version dropping their dog into a chair, which then becomes a throw blanket, receiving over 2.7 million views, 91,500 shares and 71,300 comments in roughly five months (seen below, right).

Traditional Costume Displays

As a part of her will to spread awareness of the Indian culture, Indo-American TikToker^[5] Milan Mathew uploaded her own take on the Hot Seat Challenge on June 29th, 2020, swapping her casual outfit for a traditional Indian dress: a pink lehenga, complete with piercings. Her video was seen 14.4 million times, liked by 2.6 million users and commented on 25,500 times in five months (seen below, left). Following her example, more and more people used the Hot Seat Challenge to display traditional outfits and dresses from their cultural heritage. On July 10th, TikToker^[6] bera_nanuka uploaded a Georgian version of the trend, accumulating over 6.2 million views, 36,900 shares and 32,100 comments in roughly five months (seen below, right).

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References