Nikki Lilly on Gateway 97.8

YouTube star and charity campaigner Nikki Lily is not your average 15 year old. Diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation (AMV) when she was only six years old, she has since undergone more than 40 operations but still experiences life-threatening symptoms on a regular basis. Despite her disability, Nikki has become an avid content creator, celebrity interviewer, fundraiser and teenage role model. With more than one million subscribers on YouTube, thousands tune in weekly to watch her make-up tutorials, Q&As, baking videos (she was winner of Junior Bake Off in 2016) and music covers.

She has twice been the subject of My Life documentaries, in 2016 with the BAFTA-nominated and International Emmy Kids award-winning ‘Born to Vlog’, and in 2018 with ‘I Will Survive’. She has also helped establish a charity dedicated to raising awareness of arteriovenous malformation, Butterfly AMV, which seeks to raise awareness and fund raise for research into the condition which affects three in every million people.

On 1^st December her achievements will be recognised with the highest possible honour as she will be awarded the Special Award at the BAFTA Children’s Awards for her outstanding bravery and example to young people across the world in the face of extraordinary personal challenges. Nikki will join an esteemed line of previous Special Award recipients including the likes of Jacqueline Wilson, The Chuckle Brothers and Clive Juster.

Aston spoke to Nikki Lilly, YouTuber, charity campaigner and up and coming TV presenter to celebrate winning the Special Award and share why she dedicates her life to raising awareness on social issues and being an inspiration to young people.