DES MOINES, Iowa — Kristen Falatea found herself moving to Des Moines knowing no one. As challenging and lonely as that new reality was, she turned to TikTok and documented her new experiences getting to know Central Iowa. She launched a girls club and was flooded with responses from other women welcoming her to Iowa, recommending local gems to check out, and before she knew it, her TikToks went viral and she found herself surrounded by what many Iowans take pride in: Iowa nice.

Falatea moved to Des Moines with her husband Tamatoa in May. Originally from Hawaii, she also lived in Utah before relocating to Iowa. 

Like many who dread winter, she was less than thrilled. But she went all in embracing new experiences and realizing Iowa is a place she’s surprisingly excited to call home, all thanks to curiosity and documenting her experiences on social media. Now, she wants to be a source of sharing her growing list of favorite local spots and boosting exposure for local businesses in a budding city. 

You can follow her on Instagram and on TikTok.