Meet Ann Chambers, who as a mental health teacher, is also affectionately known as Crazy Auntie Ann. She is a TikTok sensation celebrated for her infectious positivity and down-to-earth charm.
Her signature dressing gown dances and candid approach have garnered her over 1.5 million followers on TikTok. Why? Because her content is genuine and dedicated to spreading joy! She’s become a beloved figure, inspiring many with her message that it’s never too late to pursue one’s passions and make a positive impact. And boy, this world needs that right about now!
If you’d like to learn more about Ann and how she spends her day, read our interview below!
Ann, I just love your content and look forward to you showing up on my feed whether through TT, IG or YouTube! You have been spreading joy and love like nobody’s watching! Thank you so much for joining us on Henlit Central and sharing a little about yourself too!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started as a vibrant personality on TIKTOK.
My name is Ann Chambers, better known as Crazy Auntie Ann on social media. my niece made my account, hence the name. I teach mental health for a living, and during lockdown I used TikTok to make videos to cheer my student up during those times when they were all stuck at home. When we came out of the first lockdown I had about 500 followers. I was talking to my students one day and I said “you know you guys can be anything you want to be in life, you can be an astronaut if you want to be. You have got to work very hard, and study very hard, and you have to push yourself through the doors that you’re not supposed to go through”. You have to say “I want to be in here what do I do to get here “. I said bearing that in mind, I want you to set me all a challenge. So, they all said “get 10,000 followers on TikTok “so I said OK! I started doing more videos on TikTok, and it just so happened that one of them went viral. I read my favourite poem, and I was wearing my dressing gown, and I went viral. It got 2.3M views and I went up to 70,000 followers. Everyone was like I love the poem, and I love your dressing gown. Me and my dressing gown became famous, and it sort of took off from there really. When I got back to college after the second lockdown, I could not wait to see my students to let them know that I’d made all these followers, and they were all very proud of me. That’s kind of how it took off really.
For those who don’t know, you are a mental health advocate. Can you tell us more about that? And what message would you like to share with your followers regarding mental health and well-being?
I teach mental health for a living, and I am very lucky. Mental health is very important for all of us. Not only to look after our own, but to understand others and therefore be able to support and empathise. One of the most important things, in my opinion, is acceptance. To accept that you are not in a good place today, means you can accept that its ok to rest, its ok not to do anything accept take care of yourself. To accept that a loved one or friend is not in a good place today, means you can have empathy and accept that they will be ok, but they need to rest today. Acceptance, in my opinion, also means that an individual can stop thinking “why me” and start thinking “what do I do to make this easier”.
How do you balance your role as a college lecturer with your online presence as a comedian on TIKTOK?
I only work three days a week now at college. One of the things that’s very important to me on my platform, is that I only ever put positive things out there. I don’t swear, I don’t make fun of anybody else but myself, and I don’t put up with in a negativity or allow it on my comments etc. I think that’s why it works in tandem with being a college lecturer, because it means I don’t have to worry about my students say my page because everything on my page is just as positive and professional as I am at work.
How has your fame impacted your personal and professional life, especially within your local community?
There is one interesting story. I have 3 grown up sons, one of them went to work into his office and all his friends at work we’re all looking at this video and watching it and they were all laughing, and one of them said “come and look at this woman on TikTok she’s hilarious” and my son said “Oh yeah that’s my mum”.
I love that you can poke fun at yourself! Something more of us should do. What feeling does creating funny short clips evoke for you?
I think the older I get the less I care what people think about me. Therefore, that means I can make fun of myself, just have a laugh and a giggle don’t to worry about what people think. People will judge you whatever you do, and whoever you are, and I think you should just be yourself. I don’t get caught up in any drama on the page at all, you know just if there’s any very rarely do I get any negative comments, but if I do, I just delete them I don’t get wrapped up in them because people will always judge you anyway. I do think it is a thing that happens as you get older.
It may be too difficult to choose, but do you have a favorite clip/series of clips you’ve done?
Not really, but I am very much enjoying my DJ series. It is so much fun, and I love the music from that era. I do think that craters have to go with the flow to some extent. I think you can over do something. So It is best to enjoy it while it lasts. Who knows what’s next. What new kitchen utensil I can turn into an instrument!
Tell us what a typical day looks like especially when it comes to entertaining all your fans? (Please answer this one! LOL).
I don’t know about a typical day but I like to think I have a good balance in my life these days.
Monday-Wednesday – I work these 3 days and, as any teacher will tell you, it fills most of my thoughts and energy for those days. I have to say however, that to relax when I get home, I will go on TikTok and watch videos, maybe make a video and have a giggle. plus look at my comments and answer messages etc. This always fills my heart with joy.
Thursday – a day out with my husband. We usually do a car video too.
Friday – Saturday. I am a grandma to my wonderful grandbabies.
Sunday – usually do a live, make new videos and do student marking. I usually complete any admin on Sundays too. (today is Sunday)
As I said a good balance.
Who are some of your favorite authors/comedians/TikTok personalities and why?
I like to read a lot of mental health books and recovery books being 18 years sober myself. I love people who are down to earth and positive. Favorite creators: Sammi Jeffcoat, Ally Nicolle, Britney Miller, Richard Mountfield and Alexis Blake. The thing they all have in common is that they are authentic and down to earth.
Any advice you’d like to give to aspiring TikTokers in the world these days?
The one thing I love most about TikTok is that everyone can be themselves on there. Who would have ever thought that a 63 year old grandma would get 1.5M followers. I honestly think its because I don’t pretend to be anything I am not. Just me, just as I am. If I can do it, then anybody can. Whatever that is for you, be yourself, don’t apologise, don’t compete, and don’t criticize anyone else. You do you, let them do them. Do videos to make yourself laugh, and if anyone else laughs too then it’s a bonus.
For your loyal fans, is there anything in the pipeline you can tell us about?
Well maybe a podcast. Who knows I would love for that to happen. I’m working on it right now so let’s see if it takes off. It is only in the planning stage.
Do you think there’ll ever be a day when you’ll want to stop creating TIkTok videos and why?
No No No No. I have way too much fun making videos for that to happen.
You can reach Ann here:
