On a chilly evening in 2014, the Shaytards were the biggest YouTube Family phenomenons, and one of their key members, Carlie Butler - better known as CarlieStylez - made her first trip to England. She was in the country for a fitness tour and stopped at a gym in Solihull, Birmingham, to meet with fans, conduct a class and promote a healthy lifestyle. It was here that she sat down with Greer Riddell from the University of Warwick's student radio station, RaW 1251AM, for a chat.
Carlie, a whirlwind of energy and optimism, offered a glimpse into her world from her family's burgeoning clothing line to the challenges of balancing motherhood, travel, and a life lived in front of a camera.
The Evolution of TRIXIN
One of the most exciting developments recently for Carlie was the family's clothing company, TRIXIN, which had just launched in January of that year. "It's transpired into such a place in such a short amount of time that we're just super grateful," she shared, her excitement evident still despite a day of workouts. She explained that the brand was quickly moving beyond simple graphic tees. At the time, she was in a meeting with a cotton company, a pivotal step that meant she could now "actually design the clothing" by picking out fabrics, stitching, and tags.
TRIXIN's vision was to become the clothing company that everyone loves to order from, primarily by prioritizing customer service. "As a shopper, a consumer, I shop all the time - customer service is number one," she said. She also revealed plans to open a warehouse in the UK to cut down on shipping costs for their European fans, a move that highlighted the brand's commitment to its global audience.
The Butler Ring-Leader and the Reality of YouTube
The Shaytards, with Shay Carl as the undeniable "ringleader," operate with a unique dynamic. Carlie described her family as a group that inspires each other "in a competitive way without it becoming a competition where we're trying to one-up one another." It's a dynamic built on mutual support and growth, where money and numbers don't overshadow their core values.
For Carlie, YouTube provides a sense of community and a genuine connection with people. She drew a sharp contrast between the platform and reality television, which she feels is "produced" to create drama and hype. YouTube, she believes, is a "real place for content programming" where viewers can get to know people who are just as authentic on camera as they are in person.
Traveling for her YouTube fame has led to some amusing encounters. She loves meeting people who watch her videos, saying it's a "fun" way to feel "closer to home when I'm so far away." She shared one particularly strange moment when someone at an airport asked if she was a Russian spy, a rumor she was quick to squash. "Just for the record, I'm not," she clarified with a laugh!
Fitness as Therapy
As a self-proclaimed lover of balance in all things, Carlie revealed that fitness is her personal therapy. "When I'm working out, you know, regularly, it helps me stay... it helps give me that peace of mind," she explained. For her, moving her body is a way to stay sane and keep her emotions in check.
However, she admitted that maintaining a strict workout schedule is a challenge, especially with a busy travel schedule and her responsibilities as a single Mom. Despite this, she loves her viewers for their patience and understanding when she can't post videos regularly. It's a candid and honest look into the reality of a life that, from the outside, appears to be all fun and games.
Ultimately, Carlie’s chat revealed that she is a woman who is genuinely grateful and driven. She sees her family’s success as a collective effort, her YouTube platform as a place for authentic connection, and her personal challenges as a journey to be shared with her patient and supportive audience. Whether she's building a fashion brand or maintaining her sanity through fitness, CarlieStylez's story is one of genuine passion and a deep-seated connection to the community she helped create.
