I’m A Celeb star GK Barry’s real name and reason she uses fake one revealed
Topics: ITV, Im A Celebrity
Rhianna Benson
Featured Image Credit: Mike Marsland/WireImage/ITV
Topics: ITV, Im A Celebrity
We're learning a lot about social media star GK Barry amid her appearing on I'm A Celeb - including that she actually goes by a totally different name in real life.
That's right - and there's actually a pretty interesting reason why she doesn't go by her birth name whilst in the spotlight.
For Millennial readers who might not have heard of Barry before she entered the jungle, she first shot to fame back in 2020 by sharing content on the video-sharing app TikTok, which gained mass popularity amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Going by the username @gkbarry, she then branched out and started her own podcast, Saving Grace, where she has interviewed celebrities from Alison Hammond, Madison Beer to Alan Carr.
This online level of fame later transferred to television, with Barry going on to appear on the likes of Love Island: Aftersun, CelebAbility, The Wheel, The Weakest Link, Don't Look Down and Big Brother.
And 2024 has been particularly special for the TikToker, after she was announced as a regular Loose Women panellist back in March, and last month, ITV producers revealed she'd be taking part in the incoming series of I'm A Celeb.
On the show, the star is referred to by both presenters Ant and Dec, and her campmates, as 'GK Barry' - it even says it on the back of her jungle t-shirt.
But you might be surprised to learn that this isn't actually her birth name.
Her name is actually Grace Eleanor Keeling, with the 'GK' element of her moniker standing for her first and last name.
And even more odd, the 'Barry' section of her title has been taken from the surname of her best friend, Tatiana Barry, Smooth Radio reports.
According to OK! Magazine, she told KISS FM: "I'm a fake Barry. I know, all my f***king contracts are to Grace Barry and I thought if you guys ever try and sue me it's not my name."
The decision to use a fake name was to initially remain unknown to people in her area during her early days of TikToking.
The more you know, eh?
Barry is currently joined on the show by 'Wagatha Christie' legend Coleen Rooney, McFly's Danny Jones, Strictly Come Dancing pro Oti Mabuse, Loose Women lead Jane Moore, Radio 1 presenter Dean McCullough, N-Dubz singer Tulisa, and boxing promoter Barry McGuigan.
The line-up also includes radio DJ Melvin Odoom and Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall.
Thursday night's episode saw two latecomers thrown into the jungle in the form of former Love Island star Maura Higgins and radio star Rev. Richard Coles.