A TikTok star from Darwen, who used to work in a local fish and chip shop, has been named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Europe, which highlights influential people under the age of 30.
Max Balegde was recognised by Forbes for his “earnest, sometimes frantic and often viral” content, which has attracted more than 3.7 million followers since he began posting on TikTok five years ago.
His videos include celebrity interviews from red carpets, comedy skits and cultural commentary.
In late 2025, he launched a YouTube interview series called Performance Review, where he describes himself as the “self‑appointed HR department for the entertainment industry”.
In the show, he speaks to celebrity guests about their careers.
Max, who hosts the Useless Hotline podcast alongside George Clarke, also took his online presence offline with a sold‑out UK tour.
He is a proud and vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
In 2023, he hosted a variety show that raised more than $50,000 in support of the trans community.
Max, 27, said: “Unbelievably proud to say that I am in this year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe.
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“When I started posting content five years ago, I remember feeling so cringe and awkward.
“Little did I know that working through those feelings with hard work and determination would lead to such incredible blessings.
“Genuinely lost for words, but filled with so much gratitude.
“Thank you all for allowing me to be a part of your day — I can never say thank you enough.”
Max spoke to the Lancashire Telegraph in 2021 when his career had just started to blossom.
At the time, he had 1.4 million followers and was a student at Newcastle University. He also revealed he had previously worked at a fish and chip shop in Darwen before rising to social media stardom.
He is also set to compete in the first ever full‑length series of The Celebrity Apprentice.
The Forbes 30 Under 30 list has been published annually since 2011 and highlights 30 outstanding individuals under the age of 30 across a range of fields.
Nominees are sourced through online submissions and recommendations from industry sources and alumni.
They are assessed on a variety of factors, including (but not limited to) funding, revenue, social impact, scale, inventiveness and potential.
For the 2026 Europe edition, all nominees were required to be aged 29 or younger as of April 14, 2026.
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