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PJ and Thomas

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PJ and Thomas
BornTimothy Paul Jasper McKay:
(1986-05-24) May 24, 1986 (age 38)
Thomas Garrett:
(1991-03-30) March 30, 1991 (age 33)
Cleveland, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupations
  • Internet celebrities
  • television personalities
  • interior designers
SpouseMarried in 2015
Children3
YouTube information
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Websitepjandthomas.com
ChannelsPJ and Thomas
Years active2015–present
GenreDocuseries
Subscribers130 thousand
Total views16 million
100,000 subscribers
Last updated: February 24, 2022

Timothy Paul Jasper "PJ" McKay (born May 24, 1986) and Thomas McKay (née Garrett; born March 30, 1991) are a couple who are internet celebrities, YouTubers, television personalities, remodelers, and interior designers, best known for their eponymous YouTube channel as well as their TV show "Down to the Studs" on HGTV about renovation and interior design.

In 2015, they launched their YouTube channel titled "PJ and Thomas" which focuses on their personal and professional life, along with their website, Instagram and Twitter accounts concerned with lifestyle and documenting the process of their remodeling and decorating projects.

Backgrounds

PJ McKay was born and raised in Cleveland, Tennessee and attended Bradley Central High School. McKay started modeling through the "Ambiance" modeling agency and International Modeling and Talent Association in New York but left to conclude his education. After getting his Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and a two-year degree in construction technology from Cleveland State Community College, McKay started pursuing acting by appearing on TV shows as background actor in Atlanta, including cameos on the fourth season of The Vampire Diaries, the second season of Teen Wolf, season four of Drop Dead Diva, and the 2012 film, Joyful Noise.[1] He eventually started working as a real estate agent in his hometown.[2][3]

Thomas Garrett, also born and raised in Cleveland attended the same high school and after college graduation, started working as a company employee.[4] The couple both quit their jobs in 2019 with the aim of focusing more on their business & social media participation.[5][6]

Media career

Online

After getting married in 2015, they launched their joint YouTube channel titled "PJ and Thomas (The Property Lovers)" to document their journey of renovating their 1950s house in their hometown of Tennessee along with sharing vlogs about the process of their other DIY makeovers.[7][8][9] Which led to them becoming social media influencers and posting a more diverse range of content including health and fitness, tourism, leisure, fashion, decorating, homosexuality in society, gay adoption and parenting, and societal attitudes toward homosexuality.[10][11]

Reality television

In 2017, HGTV premiered a show titled "Down to the Studs" featuring PJ and Thoma as the first gay couple to host a show on the network.[12] The show which aired on June 24th, follows the course of purchasing, renovating, designing, and flipping houses by the couple.[13][14][15][16] Their style in remodeling was described as 'more traditional than existing HGTV shows with blending vintage with modern [...] stylish, simple spaces filled with gallery walls and cozy details.'[17] In an interview about the show, Thomas stated, 'showing America what the city has to offer and the type of homes that are in this area. it's something that we feel very strongly about and we’re honestly just humbled to have this opportunity.'[18] He also explained 'It's something we’ve both always been interested in. PJ has a degree in construction management and has been flipping houses for years, it's a lifelong passion.' PJ continued, 'Once the opportunity presented itself, we were excited to be husbands on TV and having the gay community be excited about the show.'[19]

Later, the couple also appeared on the online series "Clash of the Crafters".[20] and the finished design and decoration project of their house was featured in the March 2018 issue of Design*Sponge.[21]

Other activities

Investments and endorsements

Outside of their media projects, PJ and Thomas have worked in other activities. Including, real estate development, real estate investing and selling apparel, merchandise, and accessories to their audience.[22][23]

They have also been involved in marketing initiatives and endorsing brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Pottery Barn, IKEA and partnering with Amazon for holiday gift guide programs.[24][25][26]

Activism

PJ and Thomas have engaged in charitable causes by donating money and using their platform to raise awareness. Including adoption campaigning, promoting gay rights, pro-feminism, participation in HIV/AIDS activism, and advocacy for refugees.[27][28][29]

Personal life

The couple started dating in 2010 and after mutual marriage proposals, they wed in 2015. Thomas revealed, 'when we first met at a mutual friend’s get-together in 2009, I was not out and PJ was in a relationship. I had come across modeling photos of him on MySpace two years prior. Following PJ's breakup, a Facebook friend request started our dating. About a month and a half into our relationship I came out to my family and in December 2014, on PJ’s favorite holiday, Christmas, I proposed to him.' A few months later on Thomas' birthday, PJ proposed to him explaining, 'I had grown up envisioning me proposing to my husband, so, on his birthday, one of his presents was his ring. he was totally surprised.' 'We love this idea of popping the question twice!' Thomas said.[30] Originally planning for a destination wedding at a beach, the couple eventually decided to get married right after the Gay marriage in Tennessee became legal in an intimate ceremony at their house, surrounded by family.[31][32][33][34]

The couple revealed they were contemplating different options of parenting including foster care, adoption and surrogacy. Speaking to Out, they stated, 'For some reason, our hearts kept coming back to fostering. There are so many children already in the world who need a good, loving home, and I think that really spoke to us.'[35] In 2019, the couple got their foster care license and brought home a group of three siblings aged 18 months, 2.5, and 4 years old.[36] They added, 'overnight, we went from zero kids to three, our lives changed in pretty much every way [...] but [despite all the challenges] we wouldn't trade it for the world.' In 2021 they legally adopted their foster children.[37]

References

  1. ^ "Curtain Call: Cleveland, Tenn., actor pursuing dream". Chattanooga Times Free Press. August 16, 2012.
  2. ^ "PJ McKay: 'Flipping' houses and 'flipping out' for HGTV". Cleveland Daily Banner. May 2, 2015.
  3. ^ "PJ McKay - TN Real Estate Agent". Realtor.com.
  4. ^ "The Married Down to the Studs Stars Chat LGBT Visibility, Marriage, & Their New HGTV Show". Pride.com. July 17, 2017.
  5. ^ "Community Voices: PJ & Thomas". parkerclay.com. June 4, 2021.
  6. ^ "Quitting. PJ & Thomas". YouTube. March 3, 2019.
  7. ^ "GETTING DOWN WITH HGTV'S "DOWN TO THE STUDS"". MensVows.com.
  8. ^ "Gay Couple Hosting New HGTV Show Asks for Support". EDGEMediaNetwork.com. June 28, 2017.
  9. ^ "Why LGBTQ+ Design Matters". Out. October 7, 2021.
  10. ^ "Meeting and marrying his teen crush: One gay influencer's sweet love story". Queerty. February 22, 2021.
  11. ^ "Hot Gay Husbands Host New HGTV Show". PASSPORT Magazine. June 29, 2017.
  12. ^ "Meet the Couple Hosting HGTV's Down to the Studs — Because That's What They Are". PopSugar. July 15, 2017.
  13. ^ "This gay couple is hoping to take HGTV by storm". Queerty. June 29, 2017.
  14. ^ "HGTV Flips for Gays in New Home Improvement Show 'Down to the Studs'". TheWrap. July 1, 2017.
  15. ^ "HGTV's Newest Hosts Are An Adorable Married Gay Couple". TheGailyGrind.com. June 29, 2017.
  16. ^ "This Adorable Gay Couple Could Be Your Next HGTV Obsession". Logo TV. June 28, 2017.
  17. ^ "11 Things You Need to Know About HGTV's New Show, 'Down to the Studs'". Country Living. June 30, 2017.
  18. ^ "'Down to the Studs' on HGTV features local house flippers". WDEF-TV. June 24, 2017.
  19. ^ "Getting Down With HGTV's "Down to the Studs"". mensvows.com.
  20. ^ "Small town Tennessee 'Property Lovers' meet the masses in HGTV web series". OUTvoices.us. January 5, 2018.
  21. ^ "Before & After: A Childhood Home Reimagined". Design*Sponge. March 20, 2018.
  22. ^ "Work Vlog, PJ and Thomas". YouTube. September 21, 2019.
  23. ^ "PJ McKay - Tennessee Real Estate Agent". Realtor.com.
  24. ^ "A&F online shop". Abercrombie & Fitch. November 15, 2020.
  25. ^ "BE OUR GUEST: 8 QUICK TIPS FOR REFRESHING YOUR GUEST BEDROOM". Pottery Barn. August 30, 2017.
  26. ^ "Home Holiday Gift Guide". YouTube. December 13, 2019.
  27. ^ "Local Artists Join Together In Fight Against HIV". The Chattanoogan. August 30, 2017.
  28. ^ "How Starting a Family Helped PJ & Thomas Flip Their House Into a Home". Out. October 28, 2021.
  29. ^ "Inspired by refugee stories, Tennessee interior designers use their platform to support refugees". UNHCR. November 29, 2021.
  30. ^ "WEDDING WISDOM: PJ & THOMAS". MensVows.com.
  31. ^ "Meeting and marrying his teen crush: One gay influencer's sweet love story". Queerty. February 22, 2021.
  32. ^ "Marriage equality and state rights at question in lawsuit against Bradley Co. Clerk". WTVC. December 1, 2017.
  33. ^ "20 Questions with PJ & Thomas". Here Media.
  34. ^ "The Married Down to the Studs Stars Chat LGBT Visibility". pride.com. July 17, 2017.
  35. ^ "How Starting a Family Helped PJ & Thomas Flip Their House Into a Home". Out. October 28, 2021.
  36. ^ "Our Journey to Becoming Dads". YouTube. September 20, 2021.
  37. ^ "How Starting a Family Helped PJ & Thomas Flip Their House Into a Home". Out. October 28, 2021.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to PJ and Thomas.

Category:Internet celebrities Category:American YouTubers Category:Participants in American reality television series Category:Living people Category:People from Tennessee Category:Discovery Channel people Category:American TikTokers Category:LGBT YouTubers Category:Social media influencers Category:LGBT media personalities Category:LGBT designers Category:21st-century LGBT people Category:Gay models Category:Gay artists

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