With 2,807,437 subscribers and 612,323,137 views on TimothyDeLaGhetto2, Thai-American Tim Chantarangsu is a certified internet star. Timothy DeLaGhetto, as he is better known to his legions of fans worldwide, also has sizeable numbers from his other YouTube channels: thetimothydelaghetto where he vblogs and TraPhikMusik where he presents his rap music. Combined with his followers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, it makes for a dizzying digit of views that confirm his online celebrity status.
Last year, Tim was nominated for a Screenchart! Channel Award for Best Male Performance, as his main YouTube channel was ranked 74 on New Media Rockstars Top 100 Channels.
But for all his talents, which rest on his quick wit, rambunctious nature and light-hearted sarcasm, along with gentle jokes about his Thai parents and those who cross his path, Tim, 29, is not solely confined to the internet.
He has crossed over to traditional media as one of the cast members on US television's comedy and improv show, MTV2's Wild 'N Out.
"I've always been funny. I was a class clown in school. I liked to make jokes, and perform for people. My parents are very funny too, and that's where I get it from," said Tim.
Tim hasn't been to Thailand for over a decade, and it was YouTube that brought him home as part of its Fan Fest celebration.
In person, Tim seems to be a watered down version of his media self. Not at all zany, tongue-in-cheek or hyperactive as he usually appears across his platforms; there's a subtle humility and well-balanced friendliness in his nature, but the confidence is very much present. A mixture sometimes detected in Thais who are born and raised abroad.
Labelling his Thai language proficiency as "okay", it's obvious that the YouTube star feels more at home giving interviews in English when opportunity permits. His Thai pronunciation is, however, better than he probably thinks.
"Because of my mum, I know how to speak Thai. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be able to speak it. Her English is like my Thai. My Thai is okay, and her English is just okay. But I feel like if her English was really proficient, my Thai would be gone. But this way, I have to remember my Thai. That's good. It's good to know more languages," he said.
Tim is also well aware that a lot of people don't know that he's Thai. He said they often think he's Filipino. He was also mistaken as a member of the world famous Jabbawockeez dance crew recently when he was in Las Vegas. He speaks Thai in some of his clips though, especially the ones featuring his adorable, sometimes confused, parents.
"I try to speak Thai in my videos because a lot of Asian kids in America are embarrassed about their language or where they come from, so I try to speak it as much as I can to show that it's a natural thing to do. Nowadays, a lot of people are trying to be proud of where they come from.
"When I was growing up people were trying to make fun of you because they thought your language sounded funny or whatever. I'm just trying to make these kids see that they should be proud of who they are."
Cultural pride and under-representation of Asians in Hollywood also push Tim towards the field of entertainment.
"That's why I want to be an entertainer. When I was little, when I watched TV or movies, I would never see Asian people unless it was kung fu, nerdy guys or sexy girls. I want to to represent an average Asian guy. I wasn't good at maths. I couldn't do kung fu. I didn't play classical music. I want to represent a cool, normal Asian guy. I want people to see that we exist too."
Born to Thai parents who emigrated to the US, Tim grew up in Southern California with big dreams to become an actor. He tried his hand at school plays and musicals as well as making a number of short films with friends to enter different contests.
"I was trying to be a serious actor, but nothing was really happening, and I found YouTube by accident. I just started putting up stupid videos of me rapping in my room or me messing with my mum. More and more people started watching, and it turned into something crazy," he said.
It's surprising to learn that Tim always had a master plan to break into the entertainment industry, because his entire persona and popularity seem to originate from his natural ability to make people laugh. This is why most people probably think he stumbled into it, and was just making it up as he went along.
"I think that's why people like to watch me. It's just like we're having conversations. The kids like the videos where I just talk and give advice, because they feel like I'm an older brother just talking to them. That's why YouTube is so popular because I'm looking directly at the camera. It's almost like we have a connection," he said.
Tim has been on YouTube since 2006, and while his big showbiz dreams never faded, growing up in a Thai household, Tim knew how important a college degree was for his parents, so he enrolled in California State University, Long Beach, to study communication and arts.
"It wasn't a pressure, but my dad would always tell me to do what you want, but you need to get your degree, you know. So I would do my entertainment stuff, making movies with my friends, but was still going to school. But when some good stuff starting happening, he got a little worried, and stressed that I should still stay in school," he said.
But one day, Tim realised he was just doing "alright" in both arenas, and he needed to devote himself to doing one thing at a time, so he chose an entertainment career. Time also became an issue.
"I thought I could always go back to school, but with YouTube, I needed to do it when all these people were still interested, you know. Now, it's turned into a career. My parents know I'm financially stable and I can help them out. They tell everybody that I'm famous on YouTube. They're okay with it. I still tell them that I'm going back to school — maybe when I'm 40 or 50!"
Although Tim has managed to cross over, he acknowledges that not all internet darlings are able to do so. Some fade away, while some continue to have hopes and dreams while their numbers of viewers just slide down. It's a combination of talent, timing and sometimes just dumb luck.
"It's tough. I was on YouTube for a long time before the TV opportunities started to show up. You must be willing to put in a lot of time and work. TVs and movies have always been a goal of mine. It was something that was a part of my plans, you know. I was always talking, making the right connections. You have to talk to the right people. You can't give up if this is what you wanna do. At the same time, not every YouTuber is a good actor, so sometimes you can take some acting classes or anything that can help," he said.
Tim is currently working on putting together a humorous advice book for troubled teens, as well as looking to land a star part in major movies. The book will lean on personal experiences from his teenage years. Asked to compare traditional media and new media era, Tim said he embraces both.
"There's good and bad things about the whole social media era. I think overall the good outweighs the bad. It allows people like me to take things into their own hands, you know, and build my own career, and do everything myself. Before I would have to go on auditions, and all the people in the industry maybe couldn't see an Asian guy being the star, but now those guys maybe can see that there's something here.
"I didn't have to worry about what people wanted me to do. I could do whatever I wanted. It's only just in the past year that I've got an agent. Now I need people to help bridge the gap, and I would like to work in both traditional and new media. The traditional ways, I think, can take me to the next level. I am in the system now. I didn't find it hard to adjust. Even though I'm on TV, most of the people that come up to me know me from YouTube," he said.
"The only difference is now I have a make-up artist."
