From Engineering to Elegance: The Rise of Wisdom Kaye

By Lairam M. Romero Rivera

Wisdom Uduebor, better known as Wisdom Kaye, rose to prominence in 2020 through his cinematic fashion content on TikTok. The 24-year-old influencer, fashion editor, stylist, and content creator quickly mastered the platform’s algorithm, redefining men’s fashion through a distinctive blend of high fashion and humor. His creative approach set him apart, allowing him to present fashion through a comedic and highly visual lens.

Kaye, a Nigerian-American creator, developed an interest in fashion during high school and drew inspiration from designers such as Hedi Slimane and Rick Owens, who was formerly the creative director of Yves Saint Laurent and is now the creative director of Celine. Initially, Kaye enrolled at Texas State University to study electrical engineering, but later dropped out to pursue fashion full-time. Once he entered the fashion industry, he became known for styling outfits around specific themes, ranging from fictional characters to historical eras.

His breakthrough came in July 2020 when he participated in the “Vogue Challenge,” which helped him amass over two million followers. In 2021, he was featured on Teen Vogue’s “21 Under 21” list. The following year marked a major milestone when Kaye made his runway debut at Balmain’s Spring 2022 show—one of the most notable moments of his career. In 2023, he was named to Forbes’s “30 Under 30” list.

By August 2024, Kaye had reached six million followers on Instagram and over 12.2 million followers on TikTok. One of his most significant achievements that year was attending the Met Gala, where he wore a custom look by Robert Wun. Building on this success, Kaye was named to Time magazine’s inaugural “Time 100 Creators” list in the Leaders category in July 2025, recognizing his influence in fashion-focused TikTok content and his broader cultural impact across social media platforms.

One of his standout projects was created in honor of the 2024 Olympics, where he showcased 30 looks inspired by the flags of 30 different countries, including Ireland, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Italy, and Norway. The project left audiences eager for more of his creative storytelling through fashion. Kaye has also fronted major campaigns for Coach and Ami Paris, collaborating with photographers such as Juergen Teller and Tyler Mitchell, as well as creative figures like Same Rock.

However, not all of his collaborations have been met without controversy. His partnership with Miu Miu sparked online discussion when Kaye criticized the brand’s craftsmanship after spending $18,000 on a vest that broke immediately upon opening the package. He shared with his followers that a button fell off as soon as the garment was removed, drawing attention to concerns about quality in luxury fashion.

Despite it all, Kaye began securing major brand deals and sponsorships, which contributed significantly to his financial success. He has worked with luxury brands such as Dior, Fendi, Ralph Lauren, Coach New York, and Revlon. His presence in modern fashion has significantly impacted other creators, increasing competition and innovation within the digital fashion space.