Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica Gonzalez.
Hi Veronica, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a content creator on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, though YouTube is my main platform. I started YouTube in 2014, but my real start was in January 2016, when I took on the name “LarryBoy Fanatic.” My niche revolves around LarryBoy – the cucumber superhero mascot from the show “VeggieTales.” I live and breathe LarryBoy on my YouTube channel and involve myself in fan art, skits, movie/video reviews, gaming, podcasting, and so on. Over the year, I steadily grew my fanbase. People see me as a creative individual with a lot of promise. This channel got me to come out of my shell in a sense. If you had told my high-schooler self years ago that I would be a rising YouTuber with a dedicated fanbase, I would’ve looked at you weirdly and said, “Yeah, right!” I even surprise myself because of all the blood, sweat, and tears I’ve put into my channel. The journey was worth it, and there’s no point in stopping now.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Yes, I have endured trials and tribulations growing my YouTube channel. Whether it’s my family doubting my success on YouTube or mean people in the comments section, I have overcome such obstacles. The biggest challenge that I have faced in my YouTube journey was people challenging my personality. What do people see when they click on one of my videos? A male superhero, toys, and video games, and a woman. In addition, I would get that usual comment: “You’re not LarryBoy!” In other words, it’s a problem that I’m a woman who’s a huge fan of a male superhero. Not to mention, whenever I do gaming videos, some people would chastise me for being a woman playing video games – you know, the “Girls can’t play video games” comment. Despite the hardships, I always come out on top. I always move forward with my content because It doesn’t matter who you are. What does being a woman have to do with being a superhero fan, a gamer, or a content creator?
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Every once in a while, I would post fan art (from my favorite IPs like LarryBoy and the upcoming video game “Billie Bust Up”) and even original art on platforms like DeviantArt (LarryBoyFanaticYT). However, my bread and butter are my videos on my social media (YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram). I take art commissions occasionally; however, that has slowed due to countless people trying to scam me using Instagram – I’m waiting for legit clients to come to me for art commission requests. What sets me apart from other content creators is that I’m one of the few who want to keep LarryBoy on the map. With the VeggieTales brand continuing to collapse due to the following issues:
- Original voice actors fired from their roles
- A podcast that’s been panned by critics like myself.
- Inconsistent communication from Big Idea LLC and NBCUniversal, I’m one of the pioneers of keeping the superhero LarryBoy relevant even today. For years (even before the start of my YouTube channel), I have received ridicule over my LarryBoy fandom because why? LarryBoy has plungers for ears? Is he from a Christian kids’ show? Does he make mistakes during his adventures? The ridicule is over the top. But despite the ridicule, I’ve never given up on my favorite superhero. Naysayers don’t have to believe in him, but I do.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
During my time on YouTube, I’ve met a lot of amazing content creators, the likes of Finnigan Rowe (The Ultimate Unofficial VeggieTales Channel), JuniorBoy, Matt the Cat, Nintega Dario, and so on. These content creators specialize in fan animations, podcasting, and content creation. They have been my biggest supporters thus far. However, I can never forget Wesley (Christian Nutrition). Since I collaborated with him on his “LarryBoy and the Bad Apple” review in September 2016, I have received much more viewership on my channel. Christian Nutrition was among the first to put the “LarryBoy Fanatic” name on the YouTube map. I am forever grateful for Christian Nutrition giving me that boost in popularity. I collaborate regularly with my fellow content creators and besties, JuniorBoy and Matt the Cat. We often hang out on platforms like Discord to discuss the goings-on with VeggieTales and even brainstorm content ideas. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate their friendship and company – I would be nothing without my besties.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larryboyfanatic/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@LarryBoyFanatic
- Other: https://www.deviantart.com/larryboyfanaticyt
