But the young man himself didn’t necessarily shun the attention. He had already started a TikTok account flaunting his sense of self, one that rapidly grew in popularity. Fast forward to present, and Zachary has over 2.3 million TikTok followers.

Now 22, he continues to produce content in line with his interests and views. They range from get-ready-with-me type vlogs to more serious videos tackling issues like homophobia, hate crimes, and politics.

Despite four years having passed since his homecoming queen win, the story still garners intrigue. After renewed interest in the historical feat, Zachary told PEOPLE that he believes some of the people highlighting it have a definite agenda.