YouTube Millionaires: Chris Collins “Was A Very Shy Kid”

Welcome to YouTube Millionaires, where we profile channels that have recently crossed the one million subscriber mark. There are channels crossing this threshold every week, and each has a story to tell about YouTube success. Read previous installments of YouTube Millionaires here.

Thanks to his popular videos on YouTube and Vine, 18-year-old Chris Collins has cemented himself as one of the preeminent faces of a new generation of online video stars. Collins, who makes videos under the name WeeklyChris, is an aspiring musician with a big smile and an affable personality. He’s now a web series star, too; Collins is one of the Fullscreen-partnered creators who stars in Breaking Out, a new series sponsored by Sour Patch Kids.

Collins just reached one million subscribers, so we talked to him about his online presence:

Tubefilter: How does it feel to have one million YouTube subscribers? What do you have to say to your fans?

Chris Collins: Hitting one million subscribers is an unbelievable feeling. It’s a massive family that I am so thankful to have.

TF: What led you to start a YouTube channel, and how has your channel changed since you launched it?

CC: I was a very shy kid and I started making videos as a way to express myself. I never expected anyone to watch them. It is unbelievable where it has gone since then.

TF: What do you think is your favorite part of making videos on Vine?

CC: Vine is a unique platform where it restricts your content to 6 seconds. It’s fun coming up with quick humor and fast paced content.

TF: Who is one person who you would like to collaborate with in the future?

CC: There are so many great content creators that I would love to collaborate with like Jerome Jarre and Cameron Dallas.

TF: What is the hardest part about balancing your career with your personal life?

CC: It does take a lot of time creating content and managing my career, but it’s also my hobby and I enjoy every moment of it. I wouldn’t spend my time doing anything else.

TF: What is the most memorable interaction you’ve ever had with a fan?

CC: It’s always a pleasure meeting my viewers, but the most memorable experience I’ve had so far was with this young girl who was in tears telling me how at the brink of committing suicide she watched one of my videos and found a reason to smile.

TF: You seem to be a very cheery person. How do you maintain your positive attitude?

CC: I see life as a huge blessing and a fun experience. I’m so thankful to have it. I just try to focus on the positive instead of the negative.

TF: What are your goals for your music career?

CC: I love music. It’s one of the ways I can express myself. My goal is to impact as many people as I can through music.

TF: What’s next for your YouTube channel? Any fun plans?

CC: I’m always working on new projects and ideas. There will be a lot more music and acting projects coming soon, as well as some more personal content.

On Deck (channels that will soon reach one million subscribers): Big Think, Mini Ladd, Ghost Robo