Among the millions of views and likes, the messages that stayed with Chris Stanley weren't about going viral. They came from viewers who said his videos had helped them accept themselves.

Some were young people coming to terms with their sexuality. Others were older adults finally embracing who they are.

"I just feel grateful that my mostly funny, sometimes more serious videos are able to help people like that," he said.

In a wide-ranging interview with OutSFL, Stanley reflected on the experiences that shaped his work, his move to South Florida and why he's expanding beyond viral videos into documentaries, short films and advocacy.

Through candid street interviews, travel vlogs, and funny queer videos, the social media creator known as StanChris has amassed nearly two million followers across multiple platforms.

"I always try to keep my content more lighthearted, funny, and just show that we're still here, we're not going anywhere, we can still thrive." 

For Stanley, success has never been measured only by followers or viral views. Bringing joy to people's lives remains central to his mission.

"I just don't like negativity," he said.

The 26-year-old doesn't particularly like the label "influencer," preferring to think of himself as a creator — a distinction that reflects where he hopes his career is headed.

One thing creating content has taught Stanley over the years is just how fortunate he was to have the support of his family after coming out.

After coming out in high school, Stanley lost most of his close friends and often spent lunch alone, experiences that continue to shape the messages he shares today.

“Sometimes I just have to remind myself how lucky I actually got to have an accepting family, and even though things didn't go well for me right after I came out,” he said. “I still always did have my family, and there were other people who things did not go as well for them.” 

Stanley's next chapter is unfolding in South Florida. 

After the end of a long-term relationship, he relocated here nearly two years ago. The New Hampshire native moved to the area, where he now spends his free time longboarding, playing pickleball in Wilton Manors, and recently exploring yoga. While the Florida heat took some getting used to, he said the region has steadily grown on him. 

Stanley amassed a following by being cute, witty and funny. Now he's challenging himself in different ways by exploring documentaries, short films and advocacy projects. 

“I still like to push myself to keep trying to do something better,” he said. 

Years earlier, after spending many lunch periods alone in high school, Stanley often retreated to the library, where he wrote poems and stories featuring queer characters. Looking back, he sees today's documentaries and short films as a continuation of that same desire to tell LGBTQ stories.

Stanley has been to many Pride festivals where he creates content. But one day he wondered what would happen if he sought out the smallest Pride festival he could find instead of the biggest. Enter Morganville, West Virginia, population 3,000.

One of his followers recommended he visit their Pride festival. He didn't just decide to visit. He decided to make a documentary about the festival and the people who call Morganville home.

He interviews locals talking about queer life in the city, where many expressed hope their little festival would continue to grow.  

With only about 100 attendees and a 10-minute parade with 10 cars, Stanley believes it may be the smallest Pride festival in America. 

“It was actually a very unique experience, because it was the smallest Pride I've ever been to,” he said. “It almost felt like they really weren't welcome to have the Pride at all. There were a bunch of problems that happened, but it still ended up happening. I'm hoping that they keep growing. It was really intimate.”

Several residents told Stanley they felt their Pride parade wasn't treated the same way as other community events.

Another Pride festival that left an impression on Stanley happened in Rhode Island. Despite inclement weather, it failed to dampen the celebration.

“It was super rainy, but they didn't cancel it. So everyone was just outside in the rain, like dancing. It was really unique,” he said. “I thought maybe it would be canceled. Maybe people wouldn't show up. But everyone still came out. Everyone was partying, and it was really giving, like, Lady Gaga rain on me vibes. It was so fun.”  

Beyond documentaries, Stanley recently produced an award-winning short film called Demon Twink. The satirical horror-comedy explores the gay community's obsession with youth through the story of an older man who encounters a “demon twink” offering him eternal youth — but at a cost.

Stanley said he generally avoids negativity, including much of what dominates the news cycle. But he's also realized his platform can be used for good. During Pride Month, he partnered with the Human Rights Campaign for his first major fundraiser, saying he wanted to give back to the community that helped shape him.

Circling back to Demon Twink and its commentary on youth and body image, Stanley is also a vocal advocate for body positivity. He’s a big fan and supporter of the bear community, even producing another documentary, Unbearably Beautiful, that takes a closer look at Bear Week in P-Town and the community it celebrates. Stanley hopes his videos help people feel better about themselves. That includes encouraging viewers to reject the often unrealistic body expectations found within the gay community.

“There is a lot of pressure to conform to gay body standards. So I've always just wanted to make it clear that there are people who like all body types,” he said. “You don't have to be skinny, or have abs, to be hot or desirable to gay men. There are definitely many people who exist who like all kinds of body types. I just want to try and help spread that message as much as possible. I hope that people who might be feeling less confident, can find their confidence and know that they are still beautiful and attractive.”

Even though Stanley is exploring longer-form content, he said he has no plans to leave behind the family videos, travel content and humor that first made him popular.

"I still do want to keep my normal content that I do,” he said. “But I do really want to do just more higher quality stuff as well."

Despite making a living in front of the camera, Stanley isn't the fast-talking personality viewers might expect. During the interview, he often paused before answering, taking his time to think through even seemingly simple questions.

"People always assume I'm super outgoing," he said. "Then they actually meet me and they're like, 'Wow, you're so quiet.'"

Looking ahead, Stanley says documentaries and short films are only the beginning. His long-term dream is creating a queer reality series while continuing the family videos, travel content and comedy that first introduced millions of viewers to StanChris.