We recently connected with Bucky Yaqub and have shared our conversation below.
Bucky , so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
As a queer Pakistani that had no connections or money, “making it” or being “successful” within the creative industry was always going to be difficult. I learned to however use my unique point of view to my advantage. Growing up in Surrey, no one inspired me like I inspired myself, whether it was through my bold fashion choices or my outspoken personality. I knew and have always known that I would be the only person that not only looks like me, but has a similar personality, a distinct vision and immense ambition for my delusional dreams. For example, when I first attended Vancouver Fashion Week, I borrowed outfits and pieces off so many different friends and creatives to ensure that I stood out in the same way Doja Cat would. I pride myself in being able to do the most with the least resources and that’s truly what’s gotten me this far.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Hiya, my name is Bucky, better known as famegrandpa. I am a Vancouver, BC based content creator with a focus on fashion and personality. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Simon Fraser University with a variety of work experience including as a clown, at an indoor playground, marketing at pride, at a trampoline park, as a mall elf, on the radio, and much more. As a self-proclaimed niche internet nano celebrity, I stand out due to my obnoxious and chaotic personality and my eclectic and semi-maximalist wardrobe. I am a double cancer and aries rising passionate about thrifting, creative writing and attention seeking.
My goals as a content creator are to stay relevant, whether that’s through street interviews or brainstorming more iconic looks. I have a strong brand vision, as seen by my social media presence. As a wanna-be cartoon character, I love making sure people know exactly who I am by just looking at me before hearing me speak.
This year I want to continue being in the spotlight while preserving my mental health.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three qualities that were most impactful in my journey of content creation were rejection, clout chasing and passion. I’ve gotten rejected from reality television shows, brand deals, collaborations and so on. But, I never let that interfere with my determination of making it as a micro influencer. Clout chasing happens in every creative industry and I just happen to be open about it. I would not have made it to where I am today without the help of other creators, particularly Derek Gerard. I am grateful that I was able to make genuine connection with other creators, while also being self-aware enough to leverage these connections to platform myself. Lastly, my passion for talking on camera, being entertaining, creative directing, playing dress up and just being an inspiration all make being an online figure worth it. With all the hate, love, bad or good engagement, you truly have to be okay with who you are and know that no one is perceiving you accurately and that’s okay. Just do what makes your inner child happy and post content you enjoy because people will love or hate regardless.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
Recently, I was kicked out of my house in Surrey from my homophobic and abusive parents. I’ve been couch surfing since then, but have now found a living room to create into my bedroom. This challenge took an immense toll on my mental health but I now have 2 therapists and am on medication to help regulate my heavy emotions. This is a common experience for queer folks though, we deal with so much trauma from a young age. I hope I am able to inspire the LGBTQAI+ community to follow their dreams with or without support from those who raised you. Now, my parent’s are coming around to accept me, but the weeks prior were awful. Still, it’s all of our first times living in this crazy life, with different experiences. Therefore, I am able to empathize and understand why my parents are the way they are.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://famegrandpa.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/famegrandpa/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/byaqub/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyooCyhKekEqkQk6SGSNGEA/featured
