Meet Taay Anthony

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taay Anthony.

Taay, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I went from sharing my opinion on pop culture to my thousands of followers via stan Twitter to being a social media influencer on bigger masses. Born and raised in Detroit, MI. I came to Atlanta to attend Clark Atlanta University to be a Biology major. I always knew I wanted to help people, but I learned easily that Biology was not for me. I fell into a depression worrying about what my major would be and how I would make the college thing work. I sat with my friends at the time and we discussed what would fit me best, we came up with Mass Media Arts with a concentration Radio/Tv/Film. In search of an internship online, my Twitter followers suggested I made a YouTube channel. I was always shy and nervous in front of a camera, so I asked one of my college friends to do it with me. Our first video was a Question & Answer video, the video went viral after one of my subscribers made gifs of me. Now, those gifs are now found in iMessage gifs and Twitter gifs. Trying to find a niche on YouTube, we began to do reaction videos to new music every Friday.

The summer break came, we went our separate ways and I took over the YouTube channel. Since then, artists like Nicki Minaj and Iggy Azalea have acknowledged and watched my videos. I have now been a part of a YouTube-based reality series, called the “The Come Up: Atlanta” which basically show “The Come Up” of young creatives in Atlanta. Now, I use my platform on and off YouTube to represent young black gay men like myself. I am very big on mental health awareness and educating young black gay men on how to grow up in the “gay scene.” My followers and subscribers come to me when they need to vent, ask for advice, or just need someone to talk to when they feel alone.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been easy sailing. I started doing YouTube for my phone. I’ve fallen into a deep depression because while helping others through the mental health issues, I forgot about my own. While being depressed for almost a half year, I couldn’t come up with anything creatively to keep my YouTube channel running, so I had to take a break.

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am most proud to be a representation for young black gays because when growing up as a child I didn’t have anyone to look up to that looked like me. I had to figure things out the hard way. I try to share as much of my life on YouTube and other social media as a learning experience for people that look up to me.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory is when Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday was released. I was never able to connect with an album like the way I did with her’s. I may fall in love with music/pop culture. The entire era, from the crazy voices, outlandish outfits, to the funny interviews. I would always hear my Dad listening to Jay Z and Lil Wayne, but I could never relate. But a 12-year-old me could relate to Nicki Minaj. I think that’s where my confidence came from. Nicki Minaj taught me you can be different and still be confident.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqL41NwXPzLeY7qq9OzSm2g
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: instagram.com/taayanthony
• Twitter: twitter.com/taayanthony

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