Octogenarian Annie Korzen never expected to become a TikTok sensation. The actor, writer and humorist has more than 400,000 followers on TikTok and more than 2 million likes.

“I thought my target audience was people like me: urban, Jewish … intellectual, educated women over 50,” Korzen says.

She was wrong.

“My audience is young people of all colors and all religions,” said Korzen, who discovered that “young people are looking for someone who’s honest and authentic and has some wisdom to share.”

Korzen, who turns 85 in November, is the author of The Book of Annie: Humor, Heart, and Chutzpah from an Accidental Influencer.  Her decades-long career in TV, film and theater include a recurring role on “Seinfeld,” a center-stage spot touring with The Moth and years as an essayist.

“For my life and my career, I’ve been told that I’m too Jewish-looking, and, as a woman, that I’m too opinionated and I’m too outspoken,” she said. “And now I have a whole new audience who tells me that I’m beautiful, which I’ve never heard before, and that my opinions are meaningful and inspiring.”

She adds, “Everything I’ve been criticized for … is bringing me to a whole new audience and a whole new kind of success.”

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On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, I speak with humorist Annie Korzen, author of The Book of Annie: Humor, Heart, and Chutzpah from an Accidental Influencer, about how she found an unexpected audience on TikTok, her advice for living life, and so much more. She also shares some of her favorite foods, as well as her go-to simple recipes (hint: a few of them use salsa as the main ingredient).

Read the full article about June Hersh, listen to the podcast, and get the short-cut recipes.