IN CONVERSATION WITH JESS VAL ORTIZ

interview by JANA LETONJA
photography RYAN SIDES

Digital It-Girl and Broadway aficionado Jess Val Ortiz is redefining what it means to be a modern performer. With over 10 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, her viral sketches, musical parodies, and razor-sharp observations resonate with a generation navigating identity, family, and the chaos of daily life. Now, blending her theatrical roots with digital creativity, Jess is carving a new path for Latinx voices in both theatre and online culture, proving that comedy, heart, and authenticity can thrive everywhere.

Your content feels both hilarious and cathartic. What’s the secret sauce behind a Jess Val Ortiz sketch? 

My sketches are basically me laughing through my own chaos. A lot of my humor comes from reimagining moments with my mom or teachers, like things that felt traumatic at the time but are hilarious, and super relatable, in hindsight. I’m also a huge pop culture junkie, so I’ve always been just as much a content consumer as a creator, staying plugged into what’s trending online, on Broadway, etc. That mix of personal storytelling and cultural commentary is what keeps my work both cathartic and current.

Many of your videos draw on cultural identity and family dynamics. How much of that is inspired by your own life?

So much of my content comes straight from my own life. If something happens with my family or in day to day life and I can instantly see it playing out as a skit in my head, it goes right into my Notes app. I love taking those tiny, universal moments, especially with moms or teachers, and turning them into these little one minute TV shows that people can watch on social media. It’s cathartic for me to relive, fun for me to perform, and relatable for people watching because we’ve all lived some version of it.

With 10 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, how do you balance creating content that feels authentic versus catering to the algorithm? 

When I first started on TikTok, I definitely fell into chasing trends. I was posting thirst traps and trying to fit into that “hot girl dancing” aesthetic that was becoming super popular on TikTok. But it never felt authentic, and honestly, it made me insecure. I had to redirect and lean into what I’ve always done best, comedy, self deprecation, and finding the humor in everyday life. Now, I try to make sure every piece of content has my voice and my humor at its core, whether it’s funny or occasionally more serious. At the end of the day, my goal is to entertain people when they come to my page, laugh, and escape whatever stress they’re carrying.

You’ve carved out a unique niche as both a comedian and beauty/fashion creator. Was that balance intentional or something that developed naturally?

First of all, I think it’s very generous to call me a beauty or fashion creator, but I’ll happily take the compliment. Fashion and beauty have always been a huge passion of mine. In college, I even ran a little Instagram account called Glam Gal Jess Val, where I begged my friends to let me do their makeup and nails just so I could post it. Even though making humorous content became my main lane, I still love sprinkling in fashion and beauty content, and getting to attend New York Fashion Week the past few years has been surreal. At the end of the day, I never want to box myself into one thing. I think it’s important to show all the sides of who I am, because people are multi layered, and I want my audience to see that reflected in me.

You trained in musical theatre at Penn State and have performed in productions like ‘Sister Act’ and ‘Kinky Boots’. How has that background shaped your online persona?

It’s definitely no surprise that I’m theatrical and dramatic, that’s just who I’ve been since I was five years old and first stepped on stage in the musical ‘Oliver’ as a little workhouse boy. Theater has always been my greatest love, and that passion for being bold, indulgent, and creative naturally bleeds into everything I do online. When I graduated with my musical theatre degree in 2020, the world shut down, and I found myself back in my childhood bedroom in Pittsburgh, hostessing at Applebee’s while making TikToks as a creative escape. What started as a lifeline, quickly became a career, and I feel so lucky that I get to merge my lifelong training in theater with the digital world I’ve built today.

In ‘Spamilton: An American Parody’, you played every female role, which is a huge challenge. What did you take away from that experience?

Performing in ‘Spamilton’ was one of the greatest theatrical experiences I’ve ever had till this day. I’m a massive fan of Hamilton, and getting to sing along to the score, with parody lyrics, was some of the most fun I’ve ever had on stage. It would be a dream for this little Puerto Rican girl to perform in Hamilton some day. Also, last month I had the honor of meeting Lin Manuel Miranda at the ‘Hamilton’ movie premiere in Central Park. I’ve posted multiple ‘Hamilton’ videos on my platforms, dressing up as a founding father and creating just the most wicked content parodying Alexander Hamilton, so the Disney team had invited me to their incredible event where the whole original ‘Hamilton’ cast attended. Out of nowhere, I feel a hand placed on my shoulder, I look to my left, and Lin screams in my face “You crazy lady!” That was officially my life’s greatest accomplishment. 

How does performing live on stage compare to the immediacy of connecting with audiences online?

There are massive differences between the two. Performing live is such a terrifying yet thrilling experience because you have 1 chance to do the thing. When filming, you can take as many shots as you want until you get the exact frame you need. I love both performing styles so much, but nothing ever compares to finishing a show or finishing performing a song on a stage, and getting that applause from the audience that just fills up your soul in the best way. I will always be so grateful for getting to perform live because it’s just so magical and present, and getting to connect with real people in front of you is the greatest gift anyone could ever give me.

As a Latina performer, how do you navigate representation in both the theatre world and the digital space?

Something that still baffles me till this day is that a lot of people don’t know that I am Latina. A lot of people assume that I am fully Caucasian, which I understand, but the name Ortiz is a very common Hispanic name. Growing up, I never learned Spanish, and that is my biggest regret in life because I truly wish that I could connect more to my Latina roots and be bilingual and have that connection to the Latin community, especially here in New York City. Learning Spanish and diving more into my culture is something that I really want to embark on more as I grow older. 

You’re paving a path for digital creators to enter traditional theatre. Do you think Broadway is ready to embrace this shift fully?

I don’t think Broadway has fully embraced digital creators yet. Casting Charli D’Amelio in ‘& Juliet’ felt like a first step, but overall, I don’t think producers and casting teams see the value that online creators can bring to the stage. Personally, I’ve been auditioning in New York for two years and have been honored to get callbacks for powerhouse roles like Satine in ‘Moulin Rouge’, Elphaba in ‘Wicked’, and Roxie Hart in ‘Chicago’. Those experiences have only fueled my drive. Broadway has always been my life’s dream, and I won’t stop working until I’m on that stage. You could give me 500 million more TikTok followers, but nothing would make me happier than performing live eight shows a week on a Broadway stage. I know I have both the platform and the talent, and I believe the right role, at the right time, will come. Until then, I’ll keep showing up, keep working, and keep proving that digital creators can hold their own on Broadway.