Content creator Beau Brown was born into a tall family — his father stood 6-foot-9, his mother is 6-foot-1
NEED TO KNOW
- Beau Brown, now 7-foot-1, says he was bullied as a kid and called names like “clown feet,” which led to years of social anxiety
- He eventually embraced his height, turning it into a viral social media career with millions of followers
- Today, he uses his platform to help others accept themselves, calling what once felt like a burden his “biggest strength”
For Beau Brown, being different was something he couldn’t hide growing up.
Standing far taller than his peers, the now 7-foot-1 content creator quickly became the center of attention — but not always in a way that felt good. As a kid, he recalls being teased for his size, with nicknames that made him feel even more out of place at a time when he just wanted to fit in.
“I got made fun of a lot,” Brown, who grew up in Los Angeles, Calif., tells PEOPLE. “Everybody always called me, like, ‘clown feet’ and all that type of stuff.”
Those early experiences took a toll. Brown says he struggled with social anxiety for years, unsure how to navigate a world where he stood out in every room.
“I used to have horrible social anxiety because of it,” he explains.
Credit: Beau Brown
Born into a tall family — his father stood 6-foot-9, his mother is 6-foot-1 and many of his relatives are well over 6 feet — Brown says his height was always part of his identity.
Still, it wasn’t until later in life that he began to see it as something other than a challenge.
“I’ve realized that it’s actually a crazy networking tool,” he says. “Just walking up to people, it’s just immediately everybody’s usually happy. And I can use that sort of to my advantage.”
Credit: Beau Brown
That mindset change would eventually lead him down an unexpected path.
After college, Brown, who now lives in Georgia, began experimenting with social media, looking for something that would set him apart. With little money at the time, he bought a GoPro and started filming simple point-of-view videos that captured what the world looked like from his perspective.
“I was like, ‘What is something I can do that people can’t copy?’ And I was like, ‘Well, I am really tall,’ ” he recalls.
One early video — filmed at the Santa Monica Pier — racked up more than a million views, signaling that there was something there. Years later, when TikTok began to take off, Brown revisited the idea, this time using a small camera clipped to his hat to document everyday interactions.
The response was immediate.
“I made a video, like, ducking under doorways and interacting with people and I had, like, two million followers overnight,” he says.
@bigbeaubrown Bathrooms as a giant…this is fun
♬ original sound – BigBeauBrown
Today, Brown has built an audience of millions on TikTok and Instagram by sharing what life is really like at 7-foot-1 — from humorous encounters with strangers to the very real challenges that come with his height.
Even simple errands can turn into something more.
“If I just want to go to the store and get some milk really fast, I have to talk to probably 10 people about my height,” he says.
@bigbeaubrown That one time I got Staples in my head from hitting it on a screw in a parking garage?
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Travel, he adds, can be especially difficult.
“Planes, trains and automobiles are all just horrible,” he says with a laugh. “I can’t fit in a normal seat.”
From navigating airport security — where he often gets stopped or stared at — to negotiating for exit row seats just to sit comfortably, Brown says it’s a constant exercise in adaptation.
“It’s just a lot of not fitting,” he says.
Still, he’s learned to approach those moments with humor — something that has become a hallmark of his content.
“I really did not take myself seriously,” he says. “There was a lot of comedy in the videos and just accepting that I’m this tall.”
@bigbeaubrown POV of a 7’1 human in an airport #fyp #tall
♬ original sound – BigBeauBrown
That authenticity has resonated with viewers around the world, many of whom have reached out to say his videos have helped them embrace their own differences.
“I just started seeing all these messages of people saying that I’ve helped them accept themselves,” he says.
The impact has even extended beyond social media.
While traveling in Italy, Brown recalls being recognized by a group of tall athletes — a moment that underscored just how far his content had reached.
“They were like, ‘We love your videos,’ ” he says. “I was like, ‘Whoa, this is crazy.’ ”
Credit: Beau Brown
He’s also had some unexpected celebrity moments, including meeting Shaquille O’Neal, who he says greeted him with, “Big man, love your videos.”
For Brown, those interactions — both online and in real life — have reinforced something he wishes he could have told his younger self.
“Just know that the height and everything is a blessing and not a curse,” he says he'd tell himself looking back. “Just wait a little bit and you’ll see why.”
@bigbeaubrown @SaraJane had her I didn’t… I had my hand squeezed very hard and was very good at getting ice chips. #tall #couplegoals
♬ BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish
Now a husband and father to a toddler, with another child on the way, Brown says he’s especially mindful of passing that message on to his own kids.
“It’s just really teaching her how to be confident in herself,” he says. “Using it as a tool, not a crutch.”
@bigbeaubrown Get your own Jarvis! Link in the comments!
♬ original sound – BigBeauBrown
Looking ahead, he hopes to continue growing his platform and using it to shift how people think about being different.
“Being born a certain way could be the biggest strength you haven’t unveiled yet,” he says. “Being different isn’t as weird as you may think it is.”
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