Rising influencer Kelianne Stankus wears many hats. As a recent member of both social media collectives The Hype House and Triller Compound, Stankus has rapidly made a name for herself on the group’s preferred platform of TikTok, amassing close to 10 million followers, with another cool 2 million on Instagram. Before that viral fame, Stankus rose to prominence as a previous member of the U.S. National Acrobatic Gymnastics Team, competing in the World Championships. Her original dance troupe “The Acrobats” have even found their way onto The Ellen Show.
An influencer, gymnast, dancer, and actress, Stankus can soon add singer and podcaster to her growing list of roles. With her two best friends Nate Wyatt and Tayer Holder, together known as “The Trio,” Stankus is all set to premiere her first podcast, as well her own solo music following the trio’s 2020 Christmas single “It Feels Like Christmas.” In the midst of it all she is planning her dream wedding with new fiancé Chase Mattson.
The Untitled Magazine caught up with Kelliane to talk about all her new ventures, as well as her wedding plans and body-positive advocacy. Read the full interview below.
You’ve very quickly made quite a name for yourself as an actress, singer, dancer, gymnast, and influencer. Which of those roles do you see yourself as first and foremost?
I always say I’m first a gymnast, even though I don’t compete anymore or practice regularly. I’ve just learned the most from being a gymnast. That’s how I learned how to work hard to get to where you want to go. Setting goals and achieving them!
I’ve heard you have a new podcast coming out soon with your friends Tyler Holder and Nate Wyatt. What can you tell us about that?
I’m so excited about this podcast! I can’t wait to sit down with my 2 best friends and have some amazing conversations; we are still in the creative phase, but we are planning to launch everything very soon.
Why did you initially decide to move to Los Angeles while you were competing in acrobatic gymnastics?
I always knew I wanted to move to Los Angeles. It’s always been a dream of mine. I had to decide if I wanted to continue to compete or move and start a career. I felt like I reached all my goals in acrobatic gymnastics, and it was time to start a new chapter in my life.
You’re also recording your own solo music at the moment. How would you describe the kind of music you’re creating? When can we expect to hear it?
Yes! I love being in the studio making music. It’s such a new process to me and I love learning new things. I’m still in the process of finding my sound and the style, but definitely want something I can dance to. Hopefully this year everyone can hear what I’ve been working on!
Congratulations on your recent engagement! From Chase’s engagement video it looked like a really magical day. Tell us a bit about that day. What was running through your mind, and did you see it coming?
Thank you! I had absolutely no idea he was going to propose that day, which I’m so grateful for because my reaction was truly genuine. I couldn’t stop crying happy tears the entire night, I just felt so loved by Chase and everyone around that helped make that day so special.
We’ve heard you are currently planning your dream wedding, how is that going? Has it been difficult to plan with the pandemic?
It’s been going pretty smoothly! We hired a wedding planner which was definitely the best decision yet. We are planning for 2022 so we haven’t had any major problems with the pandemic.
What do you envision for your dream wedding with Chase?
I always say enchanted forest fairytale vibes! Everything covered in flowers and trees. I also just want it to be a fun time for everyone.
We’ve also seen you in 90069 on Tinder’s YouTube channel. How was filming those like? They look like a really fun, silly project to work on.
It was so fun to film! Being on set with all your friends is truly so fun. Also, it pushes us to try something new and play a character. Acting has always been something I’ve wanted to pursue.
How does being an advocate for self-confidence and body positivity impact your life as a professional gymnast?
I’m all about self-confidence and owning who you are. Being a gymnast, I grew up learning how to take care of my body. I think it’s so important to take care of yourself physically and mentally.
Are there any special projects coming up on TikTok or any other platform you can tell us about?
Yes! I always have new projects I’m working on and I’m so excited to share with everyone!
Follow Kelianne Stankus on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
