Social Media Star StanChris Just Wants To Brighten Up Your Day

The prominent gay YouTuber and social media creator has dedicated his platform to creating engaging LGBTQ+ content…

Story and interview by Christopher Turner
Photos by MaxwellPoth

Social media star Chris Stanley, better known by his online alias StanChris, has been captivating and entertaining millions of fans on YouTube and across social media since he started posting online more than six years ago. Today Stanley’s content is all over the place. With more than two million followers across his platforms (including 432,000 on YouTube, 900,000 on TikTok, 340,000 on Instagram, 168,000 on Snapchat and 87,000 on Facebook), StanChris shares a seemingly endless number of comedic videos, memes, candid on-the-street interviews and body-positive videos, advocating for the LGBTQ+ community.

Born in 2000, Stanley began his social media journey back in 2018 (under his first online alias, “twinkstan”), focusing on all things queer from the very start. Things started off slowly as he simply started taking along his camera to film his adventures, with lots of involvement from his family. In the early days, his mother and younger brother were frequently featured in videos on his YouTube channel, exposing them not only to his own experiences as a gay man but to queer culture in general.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and dramatically changed our social media habits, Stanley was one of the first LGBTQ+ creators on TikTok to go viral…and it all skyrocketed from there. Now, after mastering the world of viral digital content, he is on to his next big thing with his involvement in the production of two queer short films.

We sat down with the adorable social media star for a wide-ranging conversation that covered everything from the highs and lows of social media, to his own role models, celebrity crushes, and much, much more.

Let’s kick things off and talk about your alias, StanChris. How did things get started for you?
So, originally, my name was actually ‘twinkstan’ online, but I changed it because there was too much pressure to be this ‘perfect’ twink. Also, obviously I won’t be young forever. So I made it ‘StanChris’ because my name is Chris Stanley, and ‘stan’ is slang for being a huge fan of someone. It’s cute, clean and has double meanings, so I like it.

Who are a few of your faves on social media?
A few of my faves currently are worldofxtra, the mean gays, the old gays, Austin Show, King Asante, pattiegonia and iamgregorydillon.

You put your mic in front of a ton of people. Is there one story that has really stuck with you?
I interviewed one guy who was in the US army during ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ [the official US policy on military service for non-heterosexual people in effect from Feb. 28, 1994, until Sept. 20, 2011]. He told me about how after it got repealed, he kissed his boyfriend in full uniform, and the photo someone took of them went viral on the internet. I just thought of this one because he was so sweet, and his message was that it always gets better, which – no matter how many times the gays say it – it’s not enough because it is true and something I wish I’d believed more when I was struggling after coming out.

What’s the best thing about TikTok, or social media in general?
The best thing about social media is that my videos can be seen by so many people and brighten their days. I’ve gotten so many messages and DMs [from] people saying I helped them come out, I cheered them up, things like that, and it always makes me smile. One guy even sent a whole email about how he was in chemo and he would watch my videos every day and how it really helped him get through it. Brought a tear to my eye, and I’m just so thankful I have this opportunity to help people.

What’s the worst thing about TikTok, or social media in general?
The worst thing about social media is probably the random hate. People are so much more comfortable saying something behind a screen than they are saying it in person. So there are some pretty mean things out there.

What’s one piece of advice that someone gave you that has really made a difference to you?
The only person you can compare yourself to is yourself. It’s hard sometimes not to compare yourself to others. But that’s apples and oranges. There’s only one you.

When did you come out?
I came out when I was a sophomore in high school [15 years old].

And what was that experience like for you?
It didn’t go well. My core friend group at the time all ditched me except for one, and my entire school found out and made it into this huge big deal when it really wasn’t. I ended up quitting the soccer team. But I also started writing poems and stories with queer characters, so you know that old saying: One door closes and another one opens. Plus, it led me here to where I am today and for that I am thankful.

You’ve recently been involved with the production of two queer short films. Can you tell us a bit about both projects?
Of course! So one is a short film set in Provincetown, Massachusetts, called Second Thought, that I made with my best friend Art just before Pride Month. I wrote, acted, produced and helped direct it. It’s about hookup culture and explores that sometimes relationships can be more fulfilling when you take things slow. It’s won four awards already and about a dozen nominations at film festivals. My audience really loved it too, so please do check it out! [you can watch Second Thought on YouTube]

The other one is a coming-of-age queer skateboarding romance called Scraps. It just had its premiere at Outfest in LA. Right now we are working on the feature film that Scraps was mostly a proof of concept for. It’s written by Matthew Francis and Ryan Nordin. I helped with producing and marketing the film last summer when they filmed in Montana. It should be getting its online release in the next few months before eventually going up on YouTube. It’s a really great story, and being a queer skateboarder myself, I really resonated with the project, so I was very happy to help be a part of it when they asked me. Check out the Instagram: @scraps_movie for updates!

What is your advice to people who are looking to you as a role model?
My best advice is, if you want to do something, don’t give up and be consistent. It took me five years of making videos to get to where I am today, and the discrepancy from when I started versus now is HUGE. I kept learning and getting better, and I still am. But I posted consistently for five years, and most of the time, that’s what it takes to get good at something. So just don’t give up and if there’s something you want to do – start doing it and getting better!

Who do you consider a role model?
Right now I would say Troye Sivan, Matt Cullen, Taylor Swift and Daniel Levy.

Who is your celebrity crush?
Well, aside from my boyfriend [Stanley has been with his boyfriend, Bret, for the last three years], my celeb crush is Cameron Britton. I’m not sure what his sexuality is, but he’s very handsome.

If you weren’t taking over social media right now, what would you be doing?
Growing up, I always wanted to be a massage therapist or a pro soccer player – so maybe one of those two things.

What do you want people to know about you that they might not already know?
People always meet me and then say I’m a lot shyer in person than they thought I would be based on my videos. So I’m a shy boy 🙂 But I still love when people say ‘hey’ to me in public.

Favourite TV show, movie and song?
TV show: Demon Slayer. Movie: Everything Everywhere All at Once. Song: “B2b” by Charli XCX.

What’s next for Chris Stanley?
What’s next for me is EVERYTHING! Haha, no but I will keep making more films, documentaries, [and] I have a song coming out July 18 with my friend Gregory Dillon. I want to look into modelling more. I want to travel more. Definitely LOTS of gay content coming up, so be sure to follow my socials! [Hint, hint: @stanchris, if you’re not already following him.]

CHRISTOPHER TURNER is the editor of IN Magazine. He is a Toronto-based writer, editor and lifelong fashionisto with a passion for pop culture and sneakers. Follow him on social media at @Turnstylin.