GK Barry's mum says it's hard watching daughter on I'm A Celeb
When the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 2024 line-up was announced, many were left asking, "Who is GK Barry? "
However, just two weeks into her jungle stint, 25-year-old GK Barry, whose real name is Grace Eleanor Keeling, has become a household name.
The social media starlet, longing for her moment on I'm A Celeb, gushed about her participation: "Too right, I'm a super fan! [Ant and Dec] went, 'What is a GK Barry?', and now we have gone from that to me being on the show.
It has gone full circle. I can't wait to meet them in Australia in the jungle. I am also excited to meet everyone on the programme, as the cast is always excellent."
Despite her massive online following, with 3.7 million TikTok fans and over 60,000 YouTube subscribers, she admitted to being petrified of "everything". She revealed she hadn't "slept in a month" due to nerves.
Competing with celebs like Danny Jones, Coleen Rooney, Oti Mabuse, Jane Moore, Tulisa Contostavlos, Alan Halsall, Barry McGuigan, Dean McCullough, and Melvin Odoom, plus late arrivals Maura Higgins and Reverend Richard Coles, GK Barry knows some of the older viewers might not recognise her, reports OK!
She has voiced her concerns about being undervalued due to her age. "I feel like [our generation] is overlooked," GK explained, highlighting the fresh perspective she introduces at meetings, spurring lively debates. Because we're 'young', you know?"
Further discussing her impact on the audience, GK added, "I feel like it's quite nice to maybe get different, like another demographic, listening to me. Obviously, I've got Gen Z down, but I think it would be nice to have, like, a bit of a different audience as well to be included in, so, yeah, I think it's quite exciting."
GK Barry's impact stretches well beyond her social media presence. During lockdown in April 2022, she launched her podcast Saving Grace, which quickly soared to incredible heights.
Since its inception, she's welcomed a glittering array of celebrities to her show, such as Gemma Collins, Chris Hughes, Katie Price, and Louie Spence.
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Moreover, GK has been a trailblazer, encouraging open discussions about sexuality among the younger crowd.
She shared her coming out story on I'm A Celeb, revealing that she met her girlfriend Ella "by accident" on Instagram and initially kept it from her parents.
When they eventually inquired about who she spent so much time with, GK disclosed their relationship, happily noting that her parents "never had an issue with it".
GK's stint in the jungle is being cheered on by her partner, footballer Ella Rutherford.
The relationship first got a nod on GK's podcast, where Ella was referred to as "Eyelashes". However, it was officially confirmed by Ella herself in August this year with a birthday post on Instagram.
Grace has since spoken candidly about their bond, her first with another woman, confessing she will "never go back to a man".
Dermot McNamara, founder of talent agency Candid, said: "Aside from Nessa Rose last year, this is one of the few times an influencer or TikTok star has entered the jungle, so viewers likely didn't know what to expect from her. GK has done a fantastic job and, it's early days, but there's nothing to say she won't make the final."
