Fayetteville native Vic Blends continues to use his platform to inspire and help others

A Fayetteville native who has gained national attention through his TikTok platform is bringing his community give-back event back to the city. 

Victor Fontanez, commonly known by his TikTok handle Vic Blends, has gained more than 10 million followers and more than 115 million likes on on the social media platform. 

In his videos, Fontanez offers haircuts to people on the street and talks with them to hear their stories. 

Fontanez said he was looking for a side hustle when he was younger and developed a love for cutting hair. 

"My passion led me to my purpose," he said. "I think that's true for everybody. I found what I love to do, I pursued it and it led me to what I'm supposed to be doing here by God and that's to motivate and inspire people." 

Fontanez said his passion isn't mainly with barbering but more so about people. 

"I just love to connect with people and show love to others," he said. "I just think that's what I'm here to do." 

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His passion to connect and inspire others led Fontanez to start his give-back event here in Fayetteville last year. 

"To me, what's a blessing if you can't share with other people?" he said. "God placed me in a very, very special position last year in my life and I know it ain't for selfish reasons. I don't think blessings come to hold to yourself. It's there to share with others." 

This year, Fontanez plans to continue to share with his home community with a second give-back event in collaboration with Fayetteville native rapper Morray on Thursday at Segra Stadium at 10 a.m. 

The event will offer free haircuts, toys, food, clothes, and community support, including free diapers for single mothers. According to Fontanez, he's recruited about 60 barbers to help with the event. 

Fontanez says he plans to continue this event at the end of every year. 

"If I could do something at the end of every year for my hometown, especially the place that made me who I am, that's helped me fulfill my purpose," he said. 

In addition to helping his hometown, Fontanez has also implemented barber schools in California prisons. 

"It's a real barber school that they can take while they're incarcerated and have their license before they get out," he said. 

Fontanez said he hopes to expand the programs to prisons nationwide. 

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Above all else, Fontanez said, at the foundation of what he does is empathy. 

"Empathy is what's going to change the world," he said. "I just think having empathy for another human is what we all need to see. I don't have any deep ties to prison, it's not like my pops was locked up, but I'm somebody that has feelings for what other people go through. If I got a networking opportunity to make a change in an area that needs it, I'd be selfish to sit on my butt every day and not make it happen." 

Staff writer Akira Kyles can be reached at akyles@gannett.com.