GK Barry

Grace Eleanor Keeling (born 12 August 1999), known professionally as GK Barry, is an English internet personality, social media influencer and presenter. Keeling began posting on video-sharing platform TikTok in 2020 whilst completing a film studies degree at Nottingham Trent University, during which she worked on the BBC soap opera Doctors. After one year of posting lifestyle videos on the app, she surpassed 1 million followers. She began presenting a podcast, Saving Grace, in April 2022, which sees her interviewing various celebrities. She toured the Saving Grace podcast around the UK in February 2023.

GK Barry
Born
Grace Eleanor Keeling

(1999-08-12) 12 August 1999
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
Alma materNottingham Trent University
Occupations
  • Internet personality
  • social media influencer
  • presenter
Years active2020–present
TikTok information
Page
Followers3.3 million
Likes238.3 million
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2022–present
GenrePodcast
Subscribers359,000[1]
Total views51.3 million[1]
Last updated: 22 July 2023

Life and career

Grace Eleanor Keeling was born on 12 August 1999 in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.[2][3] She later moved to Nottingham and studied film at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), obtaining a master's in digital marketing. Whilst at NTU, she worked on the set of the BBC soap opera Doctors, created videos for ShawMind and Nottinghamshire Police, helped the Nottingham Women's Centre rebrand their business and assisted on the set of the Netflix film Hood.[4][5]

Keeling joined TikTok in March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. She had initial qualms over the app due to believing it was for dance videos, but upon discovering that she could make comedy and lifestyle videos, she began posting.[6] She chose the username @gkbarry due to initially not wanting her real name to become public. She has explained that the username comes from her initials, GK, and the surname of her friend, Tatiana Barry.[2] She admitted that in her final year of university, she prioritised TikTok over her work and felt that she could have gotten a better grade.[7]

In late 2021, she appeared on the Fellas podcast, which led to Keeling getting her own podcast, Saving Grace, in April 2022.[8] Since it was rare for TikTokers to have a podcast at that time, she wondered if it was a good career move and was shocked when it debuted at number one on various podcast charts.[9] She also uploads the podcast to YouTube.[10] In November 2022, Keeling participated in Footasylum's Locked In series.[11] She had wanted to compete in Big Brother and thought the two are similar, and despite hating leaving her home, she appeared on the series for two weeks.[9] Afterwards, she was asked if she would appear on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! by hosts Ant & Dec. She joked: "If there's pound signs involved - absolutely!".[12] In February 2023, Keeling toured the UK as part of her Saving Grace podcast.[9] Later that month, she also appeared in an episode of Love Island: Aftersun to discuss the ninth series with presenter Maya Jama.[3] She also fronted an advertisement campaign for KFC in July 2023.[13] Keeling has also appeared on the ITV2 game show CelebAbility in July 2023, as well as starring in upcoming episodes of The Wheel and The Weakest Link on BBC One.[3] In September 2023, Keeling was announced as one of the celebrities participating in Don't Look Down for Stand Up to Cancer, to air on Channel 4 in October 2023.[14]

References
  1. "About Saving Grace". YouTube.
  2. Jakes, Aimee (17 July 2022). "GK Barry talks fake tan, manifestation and how to go viral on TikTok". Heat. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  3. "GK Barry is managed by HLD Talent". HLD Talent. Archived from the original on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  4. Upton-Clerk, Eve (24 May 2023). "Inside the life of TikTok icon and podcast host Grace Barry". OK!. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  5. "Grace Keeling". LinkedIn. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  6. "TikTok star gkbarry, aka Grace Keeling, says app can be used for good". BBC News. 22 October 2022. Archived from the original on 17 December 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  7. Hudson, Lilith (15 September 2021). "TikTok Star GK Barry Chats Pryzm, Forbes and Studying at Nottingham Trent University". Left Lion. Archived from the original on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  8. Duke, Simon (21 November 2022). "I'm A Celebrity's Ant and Dec 'sign up' star for next year during Instagram live chat". Chronicle Live. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  9. Norris, Lucy. "Grace Keeling aka GK Barry: All I want for Christmas is... a vodka cranberry and a bit of peace and quiet". Metro. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  10. Mensah, Katelyn (28 October 2022). "All the young and hilarious TikTok stars in the UK you need to be watching right now". The Tab. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  11. Gurney, Frances (20 October 2022). "Here's how you can watch Footasylum Locked In featuring GK Barry and Kate Elisabeth". The Tab. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  12. Thompson, Sophie (23 November 2022). "Ant and Dec beg TikTok star GKBarry to sign up for I'm a Celeb". Indy100. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  13. Houston, Amy (21 July 2023). "TikTok's GK Barry overstates the power of her influence in KFC promo". The Drum. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  14. "Celebrities revealed for Channel 4's Don't Look Down for Stand Up To Cancer". Channel 4 News. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
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