Credits: Lucas Brasier / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 3.0.
Thibaud Delapart, better known as Tibo InShape, is now the most followed French influencer. At 32, he has overtaken Squeezie, reaching 18.9 million subscribers on YouTube. Squeezie, on a break to avoid burnout, has given way to this young man passionate about bodybuilding.
Tibo InShape’s success is built on the cult of performance and self-improvement. He films his training sessions in his gym in Albi, but also produces immersive reports on lesser-known professions. These videos attract the attention of many professional fields and even the government, which asked him to promote the Universal National Service in 2019.
The 32-year-old from Toulouse was seen with Gabriel Attal in a viral video. His popularity translates, as expected, into substantial earnings. Since May 2023, his channel has seen spectacular growth, thanks to a strategy of posting short, monetizable videos. He earns between 1 and 2 million subscribers per month.
Thibaud Delapart started bodybuilding at 17 after an assault, turning that ordeal into a passion. In 2013, he created his YouTube channel, blending bodybuilding advice and humor. In 2016, Libération named him one of the ten most influential French accounts, and in 2017, the TMC show Quotidien named him “YouTuber of the Year.”
In 2017, he opened his own gym and diversified his activities. He produces promotional videos for institutions such as the army and the police, billed at between €20,000 and €30,000. His content also includes exploring lifestyles and professions.
Despite his success, Tibo InShape is often at the center of controversy. Some fellow creators see him as a polarizing figure because of comments deemed conservative or clumsy on TikTok, sparking bad buzz. He is accused of taking radical positions and of treating issues like depression, an illness that can lead to suicide, too lightly. In 2019, controversial messages from him resurfaced, prompting accusations of racism and homophobia.
In early 2024, when he was supposed to take part in Streamers Games, an event bringing together former athletes and media personalities, Tibo InShape was removed from the show. Some participants had refused to compete alongside him. This whiff of scandal only adds to the fame of the fiancé of Juju Fitcats, herself a famous influencer, who often shares intimate confessions about their relationship.
To be continued…