{"id":224638,"date":"2026-04-09T10:38:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T10:38:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/224638\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T10:38:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T10:38:07","slug":"usf-students-flood-msc-ballroom-for-brittany-broski-speaker-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/224638\/","title":{"rendered":"USF students flood MSC Ballroom for Brittany Broski speaker series"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>Hundreds of USF students gathered inside and outside the Marshall Student Center to attend Brittany Broski\u2019s University Lecture Series event. ORACLE PHOTO\/RACHELL ROSS<\/p>\n

USF\u2019s University Lecture Series guest for USF Week, Brittany Broski<\/a>, had students flooding the Marshall Student Center on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Broski is an influencer, podcaster, singer and comedian who first rose to fame on TikTok in 2019 as the \u201cKombucha Girl<\/a>\u201d for tasting fermented tea for the first time.<\/p>\n

Since then, Broski has expanded her self-image into different creative outlets, including through her TikTok<\/a>, YouTube-based podcast\u00a0 \u201cThe Broski Report<\/a>\u201d and a medieval-themed YouTube talk show called \u201cRoyal Court<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fifty people were allowed into the MSC Ballroom at a time, waiting in a spiral line that spanned the building\u2019s top three floors. A total of 828<\/a> students registered for the event by the end of the night, with a maximum capacity of 900<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Doors opened at 6:30 p.m., and Broski made her stage appearance at 8 p.m. Broski was paid<\/a> $52,500 for her performance, compared to $65,000 for last year\u2019s USF Week lecturer, Lana Condor.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some USF students who attended the hour-long event said that although she discussed her rise to fame, Broski also reassured them that there is always more time to find the right career path.<\/p>\n

Related: USF\u2019s guest speaker series books Brittany Broski for USF Week<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Adjusting to a sudden influencer status through her \u201cKombucha Girl\u201d video has been a gradual process for Broski.<\/p>\n

Broski said that\u2019s partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic\u2019s contribution to a shift in internet culture, leading viewers to move from loving celebrities to holding them accountable.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe crave authentic, real, relatable people,\u201d she said. \u201cBut then that cycle is a bit, you know, it\u2019s a bit cannibalistic. A normal person becomes famous, and then they become so famous that they get out of touch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Broski added that this shift in internet culture can also make it difficult for audiences and creators to strike a balance between connection and career growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo watch someone reach their full potential who was just a normal person is one of the joys of the internet,\u201d she said. \u201cBut at the same time, you know, how do you remain relatable?\u201d<\/p>\n

Broski said that moving from being a fan to being the idol still stresses her out because she does not see herself at that level yet.<\/p>\n

Still, she said she appreciates students and her \u201cloyal following\u201d for coming out to see her on a school night.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just a person, the way you\u2019re just a person,\u201d Broski said. \u201cNo one\u2019s better than anyone else, and I think that that pedestal can get a little rocky sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: USF Bullstock opener MARIS talks backstory, songwriting<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Broski said she grew up as a theatre and liberal arts kid, which led<\/a> her to earn a communications degree from Texas A&M University in 2018.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Her advice to students entering college, she said, would be to take the time to decide what they want to do after graduation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re not happy with your major, go ahead, just change it,\u201d Broski said. \u201cLife\u2019s a mystery. Just change your major.\u201d<\/p>\n

Broski said she believes college prepares students to be functional adults.<\/p>\n

\u201cFigure out who you are, spend the time on that, and if you have to pivot and make a different decision, that\u2019s fine,\u201d Broski said. \u201cThat\u2019s what this time is for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond discussing college and her career, Broski answered audience questions on what she\u2019d do in a Saturday Night Live<\/a> skit.<\/p>\n

Broski said she would like to make her own SNL skit with co-host Melissa McCarthy and musical guest Adele \u2014 her \u201ctwin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: \u2018I have no hidden agenda\u2019: USF president addresses pay, HR issues at town halls<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Isabel Quirindongo, a junior language, speech and hearing science major, said she has been a fan of Broski since her \u201cKombucha Girl\u201d video.<\/p>\n

Since then, Quirindongo has been constantly watching Broski on TikTok and YouTube \u2014 both her podcast and her Royal Court series.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love how authentic she is to herself and her beliefs,\u201d she said. \u201cShe doesn\u2019t care if her viewers will disagree with her when she\u2019s telling the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quirindongo said her biggest takeaway from Broski\u2019s lecture was the reminder not to take education for granted, a belief she firmly holds.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving an education and access to all the resources we have here on campus is truly a blessing,\u201d Quirindongo said. \u201cI really feel as though people should take more advantage of all of the support there is on campus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quirindongo said she knew Broski was popular and expected lots of people to attend \u2014 meaning she chose to get to the MSC early, around 4:30 p.m., to get ahead of check-in.<\/p>\n

While waiting in line for so long felt disappointing, Quirindongo said the event was worth the wait.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was definitely one of the best ULS events USF has ever had,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Related: USF crowd gets behind-the-scenes stories from \u2018Stranger Things\u2019 star<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Daniel Nguyen, a senior nursing major, said he has also been a fan of Broski since her \u201cKombucha Girl\u201d video.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nguyen said he doesn\u2019t typically attend USF events, but said he cleared his schedule as soon as he found out about Broski\u2019s lecture.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s always been someone I can listen to and just relate and find myself and my friends in the way she acts and speaks,\u201d Nguyen said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He said his biggest takeaway from the lecture was Broski\u2019s comment that students have time to figure things out, which resonated with him as a student.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe feel pressured to graduate as soon as possible and enter the workforce,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are so many more paths that are available, not just the ones that are spoon-fed to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Nguyen spent about three-and-a-half hours in line, he said the chance to sit in on Broski\u2019s lecture made it worth it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s 100% my favorite internet celebrity [or] personality, and I am so happy to be in the same timeline as her,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Overall, Broski said she wants college students to stay grounded and true to themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is plenty of time for fun and friends and blacking out and being hungover in class,\u201d Broski said. \u201cHowever, make sure you\u2019re learning some things and walking away from this experience a changed, better person.\u201d<\/p>\n

Additional reporting by Isabella Oefelein.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t