A Conversation With Chloe Hechter

TikTok’s favorite Jewish American princess

By Bella tabak ★ February 16th, 2024

You may remember Chloe Hechter from her days as University Girl’s editor-in-chief,  throwing copies of print editions into every building on campus. Or, you may recognize her Jewish camp alter ego from her sketch comedy moments on TikTok. I sat down with Hechter over coffee and bagels to see how social media success is treating her. 

picture credit: Maria Tabak

With over 95k followers on TikTok and 12 million likes, you're quickly rising to internet fame. How would you describe the content that you create?

I do sketch comedy about essentially reformed Jewish culture, as well as Northeast traditional culture, like in teens and early 20s. I always knew that through my writing and my comedy, I wanted to be able to kind of reclaim some of those, like, Jewish American princess stereotypes. That was kind of always my goal with my writing and my comedy. TikTok and Instagram have sort of provided this avenue to do so, and it's really awesome to be the person to create that representation.

Yeah, that kind of gets into the next question I had about you creating this Jewish space online. Do you feel like you're achieving that with what you're doing right now?

I really do, and it's interesting, because I think a lot of the Jewish representation in the media is either very religious and rooted in these crazy traditions.The Jewish characters are such side characters and irrelevant, and it's like a throwaway line that they even are Jewish. Being able to have that idea, and the ability to create a Jewish female lead character, is so awesome and important. I think I've created this space for Jewish teenagers where they feel seen and heard. I get messages all the time from Jewish high school students being, like, I feel so seen with your content, and I wish I had that. I really didn't growing up. The only Jewish character I had was Rachel from Glee, which is, like, also a very over-exaggerated type of character. So, it's really been great to be able to do that. And, now I go speak at like BBYO and JCC conventions and these kids want to hear what I have to say, which is so great. I do feel like I've created sort of a Jewish space. Obviously, I have followers who are not Jewish and just follow me for my other content, or because they think I'm funny, or whatever it is, but it's cool.

Are there any new goals that you're trying to set for yourself in the social sphere?

Yes. So, I really want to start a podcast this year. That’s a big thing for me, and I want to drop a line of merch that is a kind of revamped version of… Do you remember butter and sugar lifts? They were like classic jappy brands growing up, and they both were discontinued, and they're not like a thing anymore, but I want to make my own version of them. Sell them to boutiques in Westchester and Long Island, which I feel like would be really awesome. I also want to do more live shows and more comedy. Another thing is I'm going to meet with some literary agents and discuss my book and my screenplay which have always been my end goal vibes.

So many people remember you as UGirl royalty. Is there anything that you miss about being a UGirl?

I literally miss it every day. I'm not exaggerating when I say I wouldn't be who I am without UGirl. It kind of gave me the inspiration to become an influence for younger girls on social media. I also just loved putting together a magazine. It was such a fun creative process, and I met so many amazing women that, like, I am still close with to this day. I feel like being able to kind of like revamp it post-Covid with Ainsley and Layla Harrison, if you remember those people, and Sammy Foss, we all really worked our butts off to make it what it is, and I love seeing it come to fruition. I'm so proud of you guys every time I see the new issue drop. It just makes me so happy.

picture credit: Maria Tabak

I feel like I always bring you up when I'm talking to the people who are in the organization now. I'm like, you may not remember Chloe, but she is literally the reason why UGirl is the way it is.

Oh my god. No, I'm so honored. You're making me cry! I feel like I trained you from your freshman year, also. I was like, “You're going to be editor-in-chief one day.”

Literally. It was so funny because I remember when I was listening to you talk over Zoom. I knew I wanted to do what you were doing, and now I am! Anyways, are there any fashion trends right now that you're obsessed with?

If you haven't noticed, I love my fur coat. My friends know I'm coming when they spot the, like, 4 foot 11 ball of burgundy fur. Okay. Nobody be mad at me. I do love a low-rise jean because I'm short. They elongate my torso, and I understand disliking them, but I personally do love them.

I agree. I'm going to be jealous of a girl who's like 5 foot 7 who can rock a high waisted mom jean, but that's not me. I need my low rise.

Yeah, we're both short girls. Those high-rise jeans hit my ribs. Like, I can't wear them. I'm also into looking at vintage designer purses. When I hit 100k, I'm going to get myself a vintage Fendi baguette. I get myself a gift for major accomplishments. I try not to be like, “okay time to get myself a gift, I woke up this morning!” I try to be more cognizant, but, yeah. I also do love Aritzia for good basics. It's a bit more expensive, but I have a lot of nice stuff from there that I wear often. I feel like I get good use out of it, and it is very high quality for sure. Then, I'll tell you about my favorite makeup brand as well. I am obsessed with Saie. Like every piece of makeup I wear is Saie. They sent me a PR package and I've used everything in it. It's the most amazing brand, and it's cruelty free, good for your skin and it's like nice. I love it.

Back to all of your goals you're trying to hit. What's your vision for your podcast?

I definitely want it to be centered around, you know, just advice for my audience and stuff. I’ll tell stories, and I'll have guests on. I have a lot of other influencer friends, but I also definitely want to speak to actors because I was a child actor and, like, there's a lot to be discussed. I love talking about my theater camp and drama class like trauma. It's a light trauma, so it's okay; you can laugh kind of vibes.

Do you have any stories you want to tell here?

Well, the reason I became editor-in-chief of University Girl —this is a true story. If you look in the Spring 2021 issue (this is almost four years ago), in the Hookups From Hell section, I submitted my hookup from hell, which was my virginity loss.

Oh, I know this story.

He was a musical theater major, and he ended things with me right on the spot right after. But, the reason I put it in Hookups From Hell was not because he was a musical theater major who ended things with me. It was because his roommate decided it would be funny to play Baby Shark and Friday by Rebecca Black and Defying Gravity outside the room, so I lost my virginity to Baby Shark. And, that really gave me my personality, because you can't, like, have that happen to you and not be funny, crazy and quirky. So, anyways, I put that article in Hookups From Hell and at the time, I was a copy editor. The girl Ainsley, who was editor-in-chief at the time, was like, “Girl you put that story in the magazine with zero shame? You have got what it takes to be editor-in-chief.” It was so funny to me because she was like I had a few people in my mind but when you published that story, I knew it was going to be you.

I think about that a lot, sometimes I wish I had had like a more normal experience with that. But, it got me to where I am today and I have no regrets. I've never had any shame. I would do what I wanted to do and I think that's why people engage with my content. I'm really not afraid to be cringe. You kind of have to like be that way. You have to be so open about your life and overshare to be able to become famous on the internet, but I love it.

picture credit: Maria Tabak

I think it's awesome. Do you think that internet content is what you're going to try and pursue long-term?

I mean… long-term I want to be a comedy writer, author and, like, [my] dream would be SNL.

If you were pitching something to SNL, what would you pitch?

I did a skit where it was like the camp mean girl goes on the weekend update and she's like flirting with Colin Jost. I think that could be really funny. I do my bit about Barron Trump at NYU. I want to do something about, like, Barron Trump and my character having a secret romance. You know, “Just because I hate your dad doesn't mean you can't take me out to dinner!” Like, I just think it's so funny because couldn't you see a vapid NYU girl being like, “Yeah, he's red. Sure I'm a Democrat, but I don't care where your money comes from. I want to spend Thanksgiving in the White House!”

If anybody is looking at your content and is like: Oh my god. I would love to do this. What advice would you give them?

I would say my main advice is be consistent. You just have to be consistent with your posting. Don't give up because your views are lower, or because your videos aren't hitting. Eventually, they will if you're putting out quality content. The other thing is that you need to have a hook, because anyone can do a get-ready with me; Anyone can show you their haul or their makeup. You have to find something that makes you, you.