TikTok sensation GK Barry is bracing herself for the wild adventure of participating in the popular ITV reality show, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, which is set to debut on November 17. The 25-year-old social media influencer, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has some reservations about camp life, especially when it involves creepy-crawlies and sleeping outdoors.
"It looks like absolute hell. I hate bugs. I hate sleeping outside. I’ve never done it," she shared candidly with the Daily Mirror. Despite her apprehensions, she acknowledges the appeal of reality TV: "I feel like it would also probably be good viewing for other people."
GK Barry is not just another face on social media; she has gained significant recognition since starting her TikTok account back in 2020. With over 3.6 million followers and 277 million likes, Barry has made her mark as one of the platform's bright stars. Her rise to fame unfolded during the pandemic, when her relatable and humorous content began to resonate deeply with viewers.
Born on August 12, 1999, Grace Keeling grew up in Cambridgeshire, England. She led what many might call a normal life, immersing herself in the arts early on. She pursued studies at Cambridge Regional College, focusing on Film, TV, Cinematography, and Film/Video Production, graduating with top honors.
She then continued her education at Nottingham Trent University, continuing to develop her skills and refining her passion for storytelling through the lens. Grace even dipped her toes behind the camera, briefly working on the set of the BBC series Doctors and the Netflix film Hood during her college years.
Before the TikTok wave swept her up, GK worked as a barista at Costa Coffee, balancing her shifts with her burgeoning social media career. That quickly changed as her popularity grew. "When I hit 200k followers on TikTok, my current manager reached out," she recalled. Within three months, she transitioned from serving coffees to creating ad content at a remarkable pace—early brands began offering her substantial sums for promotional videos. Her first brand deal for some leggings sold out, marking her full leap from college student to social media powerhouse.
Her viewership skyrocketed when one of her humorous clips went viral during the early days of lockdown. The video featured her amusing commentary on spotting a jogger nearby. This assort of self-deprecative humor caught the attention of many, resulting in hundreds of thousands of likes almost immediately. Success on TikTok soon led to broader opportunities, including her own podcast, Saving Grace, which she launched in 2022.
On Saving Grace, GK Barry invites various celebrity guests to share their stories. The podcast has featured well-known personalities such as Alan Carr, Coleen Nolan, and Katie Price. Still, not all episodes have been smooth sailing, as one recent interview with adult content creator Bonnie Blue raised eyebrows and sparked significant controversy among her listeners.
The backlash primarily revolved around concerns about the appropriateness of the content for her primarily younger audience. Bonnie Blue's insinuation of promoting promiscuity and the nature of her adult career prompted critiques. Many fans expressed disappointment on social media, with some asserting the episode's themes could negatively influence GK's young listeners, most of whom are aged between 13 and 20.
One critic voiced their concerns on social platform X: "Bonnie Blue and GK Barry may be adults. But the majority of her audience is young girls. It raises serious concerns about promoting promiscuity and objectifying women!" Meanwhile, others echoed similar frustrations, demanding GK be more selective with her guest choices. Following the uproar, GK quietly removed traces of the contentious episode from her social media profiles.
Through all the highs and lows, it seems her on-screen life is matched by her personal life. GK Barry is dating Ipswich Town footballer Ella Rutherford. The couple had kept their relationship under wraps until Ella openly declared her love for GK on Instagram. This romantic chapter adds another layer of public intrigue as GK prepares to take on the jungles of Australia.
The upcoming season of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! promises to be full of challenges and surprises. GK Barry will be joining big-name celebrities, including Coleen Rooney and Jane Moore, as they navigate camp life and face emotional hurdles as they contend for the coveted title. How this TikTok star, who has publicly confessed her disdain for bugs and the wild, will fare remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure: she'll be generating plenty of buzz as viewers tune in to watch her take on the ultimate reality test this November.
