Kempton Park matric’s ‘Mean Girls’-style campaign goes viral, catches Missy Elliott’s attention

A group of matric students at Hoërskool Jeugland, located in Kempton Park, South Africa, turned a school leadership race into a viral sensation and even caught the attention of Grammy-winning artist Missy Elliott. The campaign video for Koketso "Koki" Bogashu, posted on TikTok by user Lelo (@l4ylow_), borrowed its structure from the famous Mean Girls (2004) introduction featuring Regina George.

Instead of Koki listing her own achievements, her classmates and some staff take turns explaining how she's influenced them - from taking up physics to joining the rugby team. The original TikTok reportedly garnered around 1.3 million views, but it exploded on September 6, 2026, when X user @hlovo_ reposted the clip with the caption praising Koki's campaign.

This post quickly garnered over a million additional views and led to numerous comparisons between Koki and a seasoned political candidate. Grammy-winning artist Missy Elliott herself shared her support for Koki on X, stating simply, "I don't know Koki, but she got the people rooting for her."

The campaign quickly gained traction beyond local TikTok circles, with South African media figures and singer Langa Mavuso publicly endorsing Koki. Online reactions ranged from genuine admiration to humorous memes, with some even calling for "Koki for President." Commenters likened Koki to Hoërskool Jeugland's own Regina George, but in a complimentary manner.

Unlike traditional head girl and head boy races, Koki's campaign stood out for its creativity, allowing her peers to make the case for her through imitation rather than a carefully crafted resume.