During his conversation with Rylan, Francis Bourgeois shared nine things with us that we discovered about how to be in the spotlight.

Up to the year 2021, trainspotter Francis Bourgeois was unknown to the general public. After experiencing a time of restlessness during the lockdown, Bourgeois joined TikTok. At first, he experimented with random videos, but later, he centred his attention on his passion for trains. Because of his unique approach to filming and his contagious excitement, his videos quickly became internet trending topics. There are currently 3.2 million people that follow him on the platform. As well as being featured in fashion campaigns for Gucci, he has also been seen spotting with celebrities from throughout the world. However, the quick rise to prominence has been tough to acclimatise to. In the episode titled “How to Be in the Spotlight,” Bourgeois explains to Rylan the following: 1. Lockdown boredom was the driving force behind his success on TikTok.
While the Covid lockdowns were in effect, Francis, like many other people, was seeking for methods to keep himself entertained. Bourgeois, who is 24 years old, says, “I went from being in the process of completing my degree to coming home and being with my brother and my family again.” “My brother and I were in full creative mode, and we were making movies. I had composed a song about the quarry in the area, and we took videos of ourselves. My brother suggested that we may launch a TikTok account. “Sure,” I responded. ” It started off with random footage, but then he started creating videos of himself joyously detecting trains. He used a face-on camera, which gave him a distinct and warped appearance. In the process of creating these videos, I was able to reconnect with my enthusiasm for trains. At the end of May 2021, he had gained more than 250,000 followers.

When I was in school, I had the impression that everyone else was obsessed with trains. Simply put, I believed that it was typical.
On the occasion of Francis’s initial discovery of a liking for trains 2. At school, he had a deep affection for trains.
According to Bourgeois, “When I was in school, there was this Wendy house that was located right next to the North London Line.” If I were to stand there, I would watch as these brand-new Freightliner 66s passed by… It worked out perfectly for me throughout my breaks. At the time, he was unaware that it was a relatively specialised hobby. During my time at school, I was under the impression that everyone else was obsessed with trains. I simply believed that it was unremarkable. When he was four years old, he was given his very first model railway set. The interest I had for railroads was solidified.

3. Because he was concerned that trains were not cool, he decided to give them up.
When Bourgeois discusses how he gave up his hobby of riding trains in an effort to conform to the norm, he becomes upset. The statement that he makes is as follows: “When I started this new school in Year 7, I had my model railway as a kind of comfort to come back to.” When I started attending this new school, I began anew. For the first time, I became aware of the fact that I did not necessarily experience happiness in general. I used to feel lonely at school. Although he continued to enjoy his trains, he struggled with feelings of embarrassment. During my time at school, I was sort of analysing and engaging with the things that people were interested in. My interest in mountain biking led me to try to talk about it, and as a result, I established friendships… I took on this identity, and by the time I graduated from high school, I was convinced that it was the way I was. I was able to sell my model train throughout this procedure.

4. He is not known by his real name, Francis Bourgeois
When the year 2021 rolled around, the fact that Francis Bourgeois did not exist was one of the reasons why nobody had heard of him. Luke Nicolson is, in fact, the real name of Francis. As part of his pursuit of a degree in mechanical engineering, he was working at Rolls Royce at the time he started his TikTok account. He desired to maintain a clear distinction between his professional and online life. His statement is as follows: “I felt that a pseudonym would have an additional layer of protection.” The name was not the result of a very insightful thought process. “My brother and I had just returned from a visit to the Hauser & Wirth Gallery, where we had seen several sculptures created by Louise Bourgeois on display. It was just a moment ago that Francis Bourgeois emerged from the… I believe that the name, with its peculiarity, reflects a little bit of who I am.

5. He was attending a pub when he had his first realisation that he was renowned.
Francis didn’t really give much thought to the fact that he was becoming renowned, despite the fact that his fan base was growing. Up until the time that he went to a pub at the campus. He explains, “I was in the beer garden and all I wanted was a relaxing pint with my friend.” “All of these eyes were fixed on me, and I heard these whispers,” she said. Someone then yelled out, “FRANCIS!” and everyone enthusiastically cheered as if they were watching a football game. My jaw dropped to the floor. He claims that employing a pseudonym on the internet is beneficial to him in public settings since he is aware that anyone who calls him Francis is most certainly a fan, whereas anyone who calls him Luke is most likely someone who knows him in real life.

6. He was irritated by allegations that he was a fabrication.
There was some criticism directed against Francis as his popularity increased. During the time that he had been keeping quiet about his trainspotting, classmates and other people who knew him at school suspected him of doing it for attention. “People were saying things like, ‘He is not a fan of the great railway. He is a phoney. Simply put, he is doing it for financial gain,'” he says. The fact that his videos have been of assistance to younger people has made him feel better, despite the fact that it has disturbed him. It has happened that children have approached me and expressed their gratitude, stating, “Thank you so much, because I am no longer being bullied at school.” Simply for the sake of having made that difference… the criticisms are something that are worth it.

It has happened that children have approached me and expressed their gratitude, stating, “Thank you so much, because I am no longer being bullied at school.”
In reference to the fact that his videos have been of assistance to younger people, Francis expressed his happiness.
When he was with Joe Jonas, he went train spotting.
The results of Francis’s efforts have resulted in unprecedented chances. There is a long-term collaboration between him and Gucci, and he was included in one of the brand’s advertisements. Additionally, he has been seen out and about with fans of famous people, including Joe Jonas. Francis states, “He sent me a direct message.” “While we were having a brief conversation, I posed the question, ‘Should we get together for a session of trainspotting?'” That is exactly what they did. A day in Milton Keynes that was really chilly and icy. “For approximately four and a half hours, we were on the lookout for trains in a field,” according to Francis. “He was so willing to engage with what was going on and was so open to the situation.”

8 He is once again content.
According to Francis, he is feeling significantly better now that he has re-embraced trains. I am content with my life in general, he says. Despite the fact that there is a lot to take in and a lot to go through, I am content with all that is going on. He and his girlfriend have moved into a new flat, which is located by a railway line, and he has acquired an even more impressive train set to replace the one that he had previously sold. A gleeful expression appears on his face as he explains, “My current model railway runs through the kitchen, dining room, and living room simultaneously.”

9. Achieving celebrity, in his view, requires being authentic to oneself.
In the beginning of the interview, Francis makes the statement that being in the spotlight is about other people. He says, “To me, it’s changing the lives of younger railway enthusiasts and making their experience better.” At the conclusion of the conversation, he has a little change of heart. As a result of his childhood experiences with bullying and altering his appearance in order to satisfy other people, as well as his subsequent experiences with both online criticism and the support of fellow trainspotters, he has realised that the spotlight is more personal than that: “It has been discovering the most authentic version of myself.”a social media celebrity has both fantastic and not so amazing aspects to their personality.
So, here are nine things that we discovered…