EXCLUSIVE: Meet Actor, TikToker, and YouTuber Ayden Mekus

Ayden Mekus is a few days shy of his 16th birthday, and he’s already amassed over 6 million followers on social media! Ayden’s Instagram bio says “Positive Vibes” and that perfectly describes the uplifting content he shares with his fans. In this exclusive interview, the California teen shares his amazing journey.

Q: Your YouTube videos have racked up over 80 million views, but we’d love to hear about your life before you skyrocketed to social media stardom!

A: I grew up in a small farming town, Tracy, located in Northern California. It’s a very small town where everyone knows everyone. My parents owned a successful business there, but by the time it was time for me to start school, they moved to Coronado Island, a small place right next to San Diego. So, it was in Coronado where I spent almost all of my childhood years. It was nice because I lived just blocks from the beach. My Everyone, kids and adults, all rode bikes everywhere they went. It was really kind of cool!

Q: That is really cool! How old were you when you when from riding to the beach to riding to auditions?

A: I started auditioning in middle school. We would have to drive up to Los Angles, which was a 2-to-3-hour trip. I would do a quick audition in front of casting, only to turn around and drive all the way back home. We did this several times each week!

Q: Wow! Were you acting in San Diego before that?

A: Yes, I started acting classes there, but weren’t too many acting schools there. What really got me into acting was when I started being [cast in] short films. I think my favorite one was Chocolate Chip Cookie, by New York Film Academy. Filming took over two weeks, but from that point on I was hooked and knew I loved acting.

Q: How’d you go from short films to YouTube?

A: What really moved my career ahead were two different things. One was when I joined a group of YouTuber kids, and we started to do weekly videos. The other area of success is when I was asked to do videos with Dhar Mann Studios, a well-known YouTube company that produces weekly positive messages. Both of those areas really helped me to excel at a rapid rate.

Q: What do you think drives you?

A: The first thing is seeing the results from my hard work, but what honestly makes a big impact upon me is to see how much my fans truly love me, and how much they appreciate the positive messages I send each week. That alone is the greatest of feelings, to know that what I do really means something to other teens. 

Q: What else do you have planned for this year? 

A: I am working on releasing my very first song and a music video to go with it. I am also starting to film a new kind of YouTube video, something different from what is being done now on YouTube.  You will start to see some of these new video additions very soon.

Q: Finally, YSBnow stands for “You’re So Beautiful Now.” What advice do you have for our readers when it comes to loving and believing in themselves and their dreams?

A: My best advice is to always respect and love the people that support you. Do your best to remain a solid good character and always do what is right. Remember it’s the fans who have helped make you what you are. Don’t let anyone change you or your way of thinking, simply because your way does not match theirs. You are unique as your own person and that is what makes you special. Always believe in your dreams and go for it. 

Click here to check out Ayden’s YouTube channel!