Meet Christy Batantou of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christy Batantou.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
# Your Story

I’m Christy Batantou, a 23-year-old Atlanta native, and I’ve always loved sharing the city I call home. While my content has evolved over the years, one thing has stayed constant: Atlanta has always been at the heart of it. From showcasing the best coffee shops and bars to highlighting hidden gems, local discoveries, and fun facts about the city, I’ve built a platform that helps people experience Atlanta through my eyes.

Ironically, I never set out to become an influencer. During the height of the pandemic, I started posting TikTok videos from my bedroom about my experience growing up as a Black girl in the predominantly white suburbs of Atlanta. Those honest conversations struck a chord with people across the country, many of whom told me they saw their own stories reflected in mine. The community that formed around those videos gave me the confidence to keep creating.

When I enrolled at Georgia State University in the fall of 2021, my content naturally expanded to include campus life and downtown Atlanta. I began documenting student experiences, exploring the city, and sharing what it was like to attend college in the heart of Atlanta. To this day, one of the most rewarding things I hear is, “I chose Georgia State because of your videos.” Knowing that my content helped someone make such a meaningful decision is incredibly humbling.

I graduated with a degree in Public Management and Public Policy, but throughout college my social media presence grew into a full-fledged career. What started as a hobby became a business, leading to thousands of dollars in brand partnerships and collaborations. The funny thing is, money was never the motivation. I simply enjoyed creating content and telling stories that connected with people.

Since then, I’ve had opportunities I never imagined, including being featured in *Rolling Stone* and appearing on television after being scouted through TikTok for *Scare Tactics*. My videos now reach audiences across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Today, most people know me for my Atlanta-focused content. Whether I’m recommending the city’s best coffee shops, finding new restaurants and bars, sharing local history and factual information, or uncovering unique experiences and neighborhoods, my goal is to help both locals and visitors discover something new. There’s so much personality in Atlanta, and I love being able to highlight it every day.

The funniest part is that I still can’t believe I get recognized around the city. I’ll be walking the BeltLine, grabbing coffee, or exploring a new neighborhood when someone stops me to say they watch my videos. It never feels normal, and I hope it never does. It’s a reminder that what began as casual videos filmed in my room has grown into a platform that connects people with each other and with the city we all love.

Alright, 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 definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been balancing content creation with the rest of my life. While I was building my platform, I was also a full-time student at Georgia State University pursuing a degree in Public Management and Public Policy, all while working in the public policy space. Juggling classes, assignments, work responsibilities, and creating content often meant late nights and very little downtime.

Staying consistent has also been difficult at times. As much as I love creating videos, there are seasons when I feel unmotivated or uninspired, and it can be hard to keep posting when creativity doesn’t come naturally. Social media moves fast, and there’s constant pressure to stay relevant and produce new content.

Another challenge has been dealing with negativity online. When you share your life publicly, mean comments and criticism are inevitable. Early on, those comments affected me more than I’d like to admit, but over time I’ve learned to focus on the supportive community that has grown around my content rather than the negative voices.

Despite those challenges, the rewards have made it all worthwhile. Hearing from someone who discovered a new favorite coffee shop because of one of my videos, decided to attend Georgia State after watching my content, or found a new appreciation for Atlanta through my recommendations reminds me why I started in the first place. Those moments keep me motivated to continue sharing the city I love.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
## Your Work

At its core, my work is about bringing people along with me as I experience life in Atlanta. I create content that helps locals and visitors discover everything the city has to offer—from the best coffee shops and restaurants to hidden gems, neighborhood guides, bars, events, and unique experiences. I love being able to show people that there’s always something new to explore in Atlanta, and I take pride in making the city feel more accessible and exciting.

Beyond lifestyle content, I also enjoy sharing educational and career-focused experiences. As a former Capitol Fellow at the Georgia State Capitol, I documented parts of my journey in public policy and government, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at what working in that environment is really like. I’ve had students and young professionals reach out to tell me my videos inspired them to consider careers in policy or public service, which is incredibly rewarding.

One thing many people don’t realize is how much work happens behind the scenes. I film and edit every video myself, and creating a single piece of content can take hours of planning, shooting, and post-production. I’m also heavily involved in the creative direction of my brand partnerships, developing concepts and ideas that feel authentic to both my audience and the companies I collaborate with. I genuinely enjoy that creative process and seeing an idea come to life from start to finish.

What I’m most proud of is building a community that trusts my recommendations and follows along because they feel like they’re experiencing Atlanta with a friend rather than watching an advertisement. I never wanted to create content that felt overly polished or disconnected—I wanted it to feel real, approachable, and useful.

I think what sets me apart is that I combine storytelling with authenticity. Whether I’m showing viewers a hidden coffee shop, taking them behind the scenes at the Georgia State Capitol, or exploring a new neighborhood, my goal is always the same: to make people feel included and inspire them to get out and experience Atlanta for themselves. At the end of the day, being creative is simply fun, and I’m grateful that sharing my life and my city has become my career.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Putting myself out there has honestly been one of the hardest parts of being a creator. When I first started posting on social media, the biggest challenge wasn’t even the content itself—it was the fear of being perceived. Knowing that anyone could watch, judge, or form an opinion about what I was sharing made me overthink everything. Even simple posts felt a lot more personal than I expected.

Over time, I had to learn how to push through that discomfort. I realized that if I kept waiting until I felt completely confident or “ready,” I probably wouldn’t post at all. So I started posting anyway, even when it felt a little uncomfortable. And slowly, that fear started to lose its power.

What helped me shift my mindset was seeing that the opportunities on the other side of that fear were real—connections, creative growth, and being able to actually build something from my ideas. I still feel moments of hesitation sometimes, but I don’t let it stop me the way it used to. Now I see being perceived not as something to avoid, but as part of what comes with sharing your work and growing into your voice as a creator.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisnotchristy/?hl=en
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisisnotchristy?lang=en