'GigaChad' Creator And Fitness Photographer Krista Sudmalis On Making One Of The Most Viral Memes Of All Time

As the saying goes, "Behind every great man is a great woman," and athletic photographer and Russian-based artist Krista Sudmalis is a perfect example of this in the world of memes.

Sometimes known online as "Female GigaChad," Sudmalis is also responsible for creating one of the most viral memes of the 2000s, GigaChad, thanks to her stunning fitness photography work.

We recently spoke with Sudmalis to get the full story behind the origins of GigaChad, learn more about her SLEEK'N'TEARS photography project and get her reaction to inspiring such a powerful meme that continues to remain relevant seven years after it first appeared online.

Q: Hey, Krista. Would you mind starting things off with a quick intro to let people know who you are and what you do?

A: My name is Krista Sudmalis and I specialize in fine art athletic photography.

Q: In case anyone is unaware, could you explain what “GigaChad” is and how it relates
to you?

A: I heard he is an ideal man in appearance and inner content. His images are made by me.

Q: Alright, so before diving into the meme and history of GigaChad, can you tell us how you initially got your start in the fitness world and photography?

A: I grew up with a very distinctive person who shaped my ideas about men. My emotions towards him were expressed in different forms of creativity. Eventually, I settled on photographing sports people, especially a certain type of man.

Q: Can you tell us a little about SLEEK'N'TEARS and what the project is exactly? When did it start and what’s the goal of the art project?

A: The project has existed in this form for about 10 years. Its concept is that a person is an object of art that everyone can understand, regardless of their gender. But if you put aside all the high-flown nonsense, the truth is that I am demonstrating my own idea of beauty. This is not a message, but rather an attempt to create a culture.

Q: So back in October 2017, SLEEK'N'TEARS was suddenly thrust into the limelight online after your Instagram page and photos of Ernest Khalimov went viral on Reddit and 4chan, among other websites. Do you remember when you first heard about your project and images of Khalimov were being spread online?

A: Yes, different people started sending me memes. I didn't understand what was going on.

Q: Once the images went viral and became known as the meme “GigaChad,” what was your initial reaction? Were you excited to see them getting attention or was it concerning at first?

A: I completely closed myself off from any information on this matter. I had a feeling that he was being laughed at and it hurt me. When I was still a child, Ernest explained to me that a man should have a good sense of humor, but he should not be a clown. I felt guilty before him. I had to wait a few more years until his image on the Internet was transformed. But I did not have the psychological strength to influence the situation, I was literally crushed and did not interfere with what was happening. Therefore, it was a real miracle when thousands of people themselves began to look at Ernest through my eyes.

Q: Were you already aware of what memes were or was that your first experience?

A: I had no knowledge of memes and that made things even more difficult.

Q: How did your friends and family react to your work getting so much attention around the internet? Were they concerned or happy? What’d they make of your project becoming an internet sensation?

A: Friends were divided in their opinions. I preferred not to tell my family for a long time because they would have experienced the same thing as me.

Q: How would you describe Ernest Khalimov? What mental, physical and psychological traits make him who he is?

A: I will definitely tell more about him in the future, it's very important to me. But most importantly, the first part of the story will be in his own words, which he wrote down for many years in his journals, long before anyone knew about him. It will be a book, of course, adapted for easy reading, and not in the form of a stream of consciousness and chaotic memories, as in his manuscripts. I want people to be able to form their own opinions about him and appreciate how deep the roots of this story are and how unusual its fruits are.

Q: Did the virality of GigaChad and your photos result in a significant increase in your online following? What sort of impact did you notice the meme was having as it became a huge hit online?

A: Yes, after Ernest's profile became public, there was a sharp increase in attention from non-target audiences, but it didn't last long. I have no doubt that Gigachad greatly influenced the recognition of my work outside of fitness. But I can't say for sure that it brought most viewers directly to me because people often erase the logo from my photos, especially from those very memes, many even pass them off as AI, which I generally boycott as an artist. Probably only the most persistent learned about me.

Q: Given the massive virality of the GigaChad meme and the attention it brought to SLEEK'N'TEARS, did this alter the trajectory of your life and career? Did you decide to try and make something of it or was there always a plan to continue doing what you were doing before?

A: I think you overestimate the attention to SLEEK'N'TEARS. My work is an ode to human beauty. As a commercial photographer, I'm in demand in a small circle, given the physical characteristics of my models, so the meme didn't change the trajectory of my career. But of course, it changed the trajectory of my life. I found myself in a position where I had to explain who is Ernest, and I didn't want to, because it was personal. Now I realize the responsibility that my actions led to, and so I'm working on a book about him and how he became Gigachad.

Q: Did you watch the video that we made about GigaChad / Ernest Khalimov and you being the creative visionary behind this internet icon? Did we get anything wrong?

A: Yes, I saw the video a long time ago, you did a lot. All I can say is that Ernest is as real as it can be, given the circumstances he is in. So he is not a product based on any people, there is a concrete prototype — it is himself. If this were not true, other models would also become famous.

Q: Do you ever bring up your role in creating the GigaChad meme to people? If so, what are their reactions like?

A: I had a funny experience, at a restaurant at the next table people were discussing Gigachad. It was the only time I told strangers about my involvement. They looked at me like I was crazy. I guess that was the moment I realized that the scale of his fame went beyond simple things. I never talk about it, but when people find out for themselves, they are surprised and seem happy.

Q: Is there a person you would describe as the “real-life GigaChad”? Or is this status simply unachievable for a mortal man?

A: I know that the term "Gigachad" has become a cultural designation. Therefore, there are probably many similar men, and their main similarity to Ernest is precisely that they are mortal.

Q: Would you consider sharing more photographs of GigaChad in the future, or is this chapter of your creative life officially over?

A: I've been making images of him regularly for 15 years now. It's hard to say when I'll be able to get over this and finish.

Q: Did you know that they’ve been using photographs of you as a “Female GigaChad” meme format? Have you seen these and what do you think about it?

A: Yes, but in my opinion, my personal photos were caught in the wave, I just happened to be as close to the storm as possible. I'm sure there are much more worthy candidates for his female version.

Q: Jumping up to current happenings, can you tell us what you’ve been up to more recently? What kinds of projects, endeavors and other work do you have going on that people should know about?

A: Recently, a very caring team has finally emerged that treats the process with respect. They are building a fitness brand “GIGA Fitness” with the GIGA token on Solana, structuring the community direction and providing social connections. I just support and believe in them, thanks to them, I have my hands free to work on the book. And I want to note that Ernest does not collaborate with anyone else, this is the only team we have and only their activities are legal.

Built Different pic.twitter.com/HRxkA1g3Sv

— Giga Chad (@gigachad) October 8, 2024

Q: Any final word, closing statement or additional info to add?

A: Thank you and your readers.

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A big thanks to Krista Sudmalis for speaking with us. You can follow her on Instagram at berlin.1969 and SLEEK'N'TEARS. You can also check out her merchandise here and visit her link.tree for all GigaChad-related links.