Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Hayman.
Brandon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In my early 20s I was surrounded by many queer creatives who were all very artistic in their own way. Back then, I was still in a stage of self-discovery and feeling accepted by others was still a priority in my life. I struggled to express myself creatively since it wasn’t particularly fostered within me in my upbringing, especially coming from a family that wasn’t exactly thrilled about my sexuality.
I remember spending time last year dreading the reality that my 20s were almost over; but at the same time I was so proud of my journey. I never found the unconditional acceptance I wanted but I was able to let go of my desire to be accepted. Letting that go allowed me to to not only express myself more freely but also gave the confidence to pursue new experiences. So, late in 2025 I spent a lot more time cultivating my social media presence – specifically Instagram.
Most of my opportunities were made available to me through my social media presence. Up until this point, I’ve collaborated with Grindr, promoted numerous queer brands, and occasionally modeled. I can’t wait to see what I do next.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I began being more active on social media, it was hard figuring out what worked and what didn’t – no one was out there teaching me. Some of my friends weren’t exactly supportive either, they thought I was being superficial and vapid online. Being a content creator also means second guessing pretty much every aspect of your creative process. – even the insignificant parts.
Of course, my own fears also got in the way. I’ve had little modeling experience because I’m too afraid to put myself through casting calls and so I’ve been relying on collaborations with photographers and the references of my friends. Maybe I’m not meant to model, but I know I should give it my best shot. Better to know you tried and failed than to live with the fact that you never tried at all.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What pays the rent is being a retirement plan administrator. However, what keeps my sanity is content creation. Most of my content is gay lifestyle content mixed in with some comedy, fitness, and a lot of fun.
My proudest achievement is collaborating with Grindr for a youtube series they created and just began releasing. Acting for them was something I would’ve never expected especially since I’m not a professional actor nor would I consider my social media following to be massive. The entire experience made me feel very celebrated and appreciated as an individual.
I definitely wouldn’t be getting the attention of brands if I was a copy-paste of every other content creator. I’m punchy, borderline raunchy, but I have a sweet trickster aura about me. I’ve been told there’s something about the way I am naturally that people find entertaining. Plus, I got a full head of bouncy voluminous curls to boot.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Life is precious and it doesn’t last forever, so make sure you make your life into an art. And remember, you’re the only beholder of the art that matters.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/brandyanima
