Flor de Cuba Wins Breakout Creator of the Year at TikTok Shop Event

Cuban content creator Flor Danay Hernández, known as Flor de Cuba, has made history by winning the Breakthrough Creator of the Year award at the TikTok Shop Summit, the official annual event dedicated to e-commerce on the platform.

The award recognizes her achievements in the Short Video category, where she was honored for her success as a seller on TikTok Shop. Flor took the stage with the trophy in hand and shared her reaction on social media, saying, “I WON! Breakthrough Creator of the Year on TikTok Shop… I still can’t believe it.”

Her name and username were projected on the screen during the ceremony, marking a moment that began with her appearance on the red carpet of the Summit, where she arrived nominated and already considered a victory simply for being present.

The story behind her success has resonated with thousands of followers. Less than a year ago, Flor faced criticism for selling products through social media, with detractors telling her it “wasn’t serious.” She recalled this in an Instagram post that received over 83,600 views, 27,090 likes, and 2,040 comments within hours.

Since then, her perseverance has led to significant personal milestones: she purchased a home for her mother in Cuba, acquired her first property in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and is in the process of finalizing the purchase of her first house in the United States, valued at over one million dollars in Miami.

Flor emphasized that her journey began with almost nothing. She arrived in the U.S. With only $200 and initially slept on mattresses on the floor.

Her performance on TikTok Shop supports the recognition: she ranks in the top 1% of sellers with the highest earnings worldwide on the platform. In November 2025 alone, she generated $192,000 in net income over 30 days, following $1.8 million in sales that month. She also surpassed $1 million in sales in October, December, and January of the same period.

Flor expressed gratitude to her support system, particularly her husband, Alex, whom she credited for working tirelessly behind the scenes—editing, publishing, and managing logistics—so she could focus on creating content and growing her business.

She also framed her achievement as a collective victory, stating that she represents Cuban women, Latina women, and all those who have overcome adversity to succeed in digital commerce: “I am representing all the Cuban women who are doing TikTok Shop. I am representing all the Latina women who are doing TikTok Shop… all the women who have been in the deepest hole and rose up.”

The TikTok Shop Summit serves as the platform’s official annual gathering focused on e-commerce innovation, bringing together top creators, sellers, and industry leaders to celebrate achievements and share insights on growing businesses through short-form video and social commerce.