Kristen Hanby X SCTR

Despite his self-proclaimed online perception that he’s a ‘troublemaker who terrorizes his family’, Hanby is quick to clarify: “Without sounding too big-headed, I’m really a nice guy.”

It doesn’t take much to acknowledge the wisdom within his words. Beyond his comedic persona lies a man navigating the normalcy of everyday life and embracing vulnerability.

In his formative years, things were carefree, but now, with success, there’s more at stake, he tells me. Hanby recognizes the pressure to appear perfect on social media: “The average person will look online and compare themselves to something that isn’t real.” I guess it comes down to social media as a whole, where people want to be perceived as perfect and not show their vulnerabilities.”

In spite of this, it’s something he aims to work on more. His rule for the year? “Just “f%*k it. Act on it. Once you do it, there’s nothing to be scared of.”

“I love being different and creative. I always like to change it up and I guess a big part of it is my ADHD. I can’t just stick to just one thing. My body just itches to do different stuff. I can’t do ‘nothing’, my brain goes crazy”. His content reflects his diverse interests, with each day bringing something new: “Whatever we post that day has been filmed and edited that day.”

Despite his global success, Hanby remains grounded in family values. Home is where his heart is, surrounded by loved ones. He started his journey on Facebook, creating skits and pranks before going viral. “If you saw some of the videos I used to post before, you’d end the interview right now”. He decrees them to be slightly cringy. But like anything, growth is in every aspect, as he now stands as one of the top 0.1% influencers in the world, feeding content across multiple platforms seamlessly.

With a hands-on approach to his digital output, working even on bank holidays and Christmas, Hanby maintains a balance between creativity and personal life.

Do you ever have trouble maintaining consistency, especially when life gets in the way? How do you balance the demands of fatherhood, entrepreneurship, and content creation? I ask.

“There are no days off,” he responds.

But when he’s with his daughter, Emie, he finds solace.

“I often say I am unable to switch off but when I’m with my daughter, I subconsciously do. You know when you have someone in life where you do everything you can to impress them, and make them proud, Emie is that person. Even if she doesn’t know what I’m doing, if I make her laugh, that makes my day.”

Consistent and captivating, Hanby’s content not only captures the heart of Emie, but of millions around the globe. His key lessons about success and failure emphasize adaptability and versatility. He knows the importance of staying consistent and being ready to explore new ventures. “In my head, it’s good to be versatile, and for people to be able to see different sides of you.”

Now, aiming to explore different business endeavours, Hanby is ready to hit the ground running.

Fashion is a market he’s keen to delve into, aligning his style with his personality. If there’s one thing for sure, Kristen is well-versed in things he is passionate about. Aware of trend forecasts and a liking to oversized, baggy fits, staying comfortable and cool is at the top of his priority list.

So, what’s his advice to aspiring influencers and content creators wanting to establish a sustainable business and brand, you may ask? “This might sound cliche but be you. Be passionate and true to yourself.” Having a deeper understanding of the value of resilience, he tells me: “If you fail at one thing, you just keep going. If they tell you to try 100 times, you try 101 times”.

It’s the hard work that has been the backbone of his success and deservedly so. Kristen Hanby’s integrity and authenticity is something strong enough to penetrate through a screen, because if not: “there is always someone waiting to take your spot.”

Unlike many creators who find success on a single platform, Hanby’s ability to resonate with diverse demographics is reflected in his significant presence across multiple social media channels. With over 44 million followers and a loyal fanbase behind his back, the only spot with Hanby’s name on is at the very top.