The internet sensation and bisexual icon talks to DIVA about living authentically, TikTok and the Saving Grace podcast
BY MEGAN BONLEY, IMAGE BY BRETT COVE
Meeting the internet sensation GK Barry (also known as Grace Keeling) was everything I expected it to be. She was the same iconic, humorous and bubbly personality that we see on our screens every day. As soon as I joined our Zoom call, Grace made me feel instantly at ease. I was greeted with a big grin and welcomed with a “Hi Megan!”
Grace started TikTok in 2020, and I think on that day, the online world became a happier, more joyful place. “I remember in Lockdown I thought ‘we’ve got nothing else to lose here’. I didn’t think we’d probably come out of Lockdown, so I just thought why not air all of my dirty laundry online.” With currently 3.5 million followers on TikTok, her content is nothing short of TMI, which is why she is loved by so many. GK is famous for her no-filter stories on a day-to-day basis, where she will share anything, no matter the context, with her followers.
She first spoke about being bisexual last summer and confirmed this on her podcast, Saving Grace. “I would never really speak about it before when I was in a relationship with a guy. I thought maybe it would make him uncomfortable. But now that I’m single, I’m screaming from the rooftops that I like women.”
Luckily, GK has not received much negativity regarding her coming out. “If I listened to what other people think of me, I wouldn’t have this career.” Grace is an amazing advocate for being your authentic self and not caring about what others think of you. “Always being yourself is the best option. If someone has a problem with it, they shouldn’t be in your life anyway. You shouldn’t be associated with them,” she enthused. “Let them live their boring life.”
Grace took her reach and message further than TikTok when she created her Saving Grace podcast in 2022. It was a new platform where she could chat about all her favourite taboo topics and be joined by special guests such as Beckett, Katie Price and Alison Hammond. Grace tells me what it’s like when her listeners send her heartfelt messages about the pod. “I love that people take time out of their week to wait for my podcast, listen to it, and just really enjoy it, because it makes me feel like I’m doing something worthwhile, not just chatting for the sake of chatting.’
Her career on TikTok and her growing podcast seem to be nothing short of a success. Maybe an influencer who asks those jaw-dropping and chaotic questions is exactly what the entertainment industry needs. Grace is hoping to reach for the stars and become a presenter somewhere in the future. “Do you know what I see for myself? I see a mixture of Stacey Dooley and Olivia Attwood, like I want to chat about all the taboo things that no one else wants to talk about, and probably have an opinion towards it that most people are thinking, but don’t want to say. I’d love to do something like that.”
As some of you hardcore GK Barry fans may know, Grace did in fact debut her first-ever tour at the beginning of 2023 and returned to the stage early this year. Most recently, she toured 13 cities across the UK and Ireland. And much to your excitement, you “can expect more tours, sooner than you think, in different countries, come on!”, as well as some more TV content coming your way.
You can listen to GK Barry’s podcast, Saving Grace, via all good podcast providers now.
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