Personal Details :
- Full Name: Chella Man
- Date of Birth: November 26, 1998
- Place of Birth: Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, USA
- Nationality: American
- Ethnicity: Chinese and Jewish descent
- Gender Identity: Transgender, Genderqueer
- Sexual Orientation: Queer
- Disability: Deaf (uses cochlear implants)
- Occupation: Artist, Actor, Model, Activist, Author
- Education: The New School, New York City
- Languages: English, American Sign Language (ASL)
- Known For: Role as Jericho in DC’s *Titans*, activism for LGBTQ+ and disability rights
Social Media Presence :
- Instagram: @chellaman
- Twitter: @chellaman
- YouTube: Chella Man
- TikTok: @chellaman
Career Overview :
Chella Man began sharing his journey publicly in March 2017 by launching a YouTube channel where he documented his gender transition, discussed gender dysphoria, identity, and used ASL to translate songs—filling a visibility gap for Deaf, queer, and Jewish-Asian youth.
In May 2018, he presented his TEDx Talk “Becoming Him,” detailing his transition and advocating for LGBTQ+ and disability rights.
By September 2018, Chella made history as the first deaf, transgender, Jewish-Asian model signed to IMG Models. He has since modeled for brands like Calvin Klein, Gap, American Eagle, and Yves Saint Laurent, and walked major runways, including Opening Ceremony and Milan’s Boss show.
In 2019, he made his acting debut as Jericho, a deaf vigilante, in the DC Universe series Titans — one of the first transmasculine actors cast as a superhero — and joined fellow actors nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award.
Chella’s multidisciplinary artistry extends across painting, tattooing, sculpture, and film. He created a short film, The Device That Turned Me Into a Cyborg Was Born the Same Year I Was (2023), and designed inclusive ear-jewelry that celebrates Deaf identity.
He is also an author—publishing Continuum in 2021—and a recognized activist. In 2024, Forbes named him to their “30 Under 30 – Art & Style” list for his impact on representation across art, fashion, and activism.
Personal Life & Interests :
Chella Man was born on November 26, 1998, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He is of mixed Chinese and Jewish descent and was diagnosed with progressive hearing loss at age four. By age 13, he had become profoundly deaf and now uses cochlear implants along with American Sign Language (ASL).
He came out as genderqueer and later as transgender during his teenage years, and has been open about navigating his identity as a deaf, trans, queer person of color. His openness has helped many others in the LGBTQ+ and disability communities feel seen and empowered.
Chella is a graduate of The New School in New York City, where he studied virtual reality programming and art. Outside of academics and his professional work, he is passionate about painting, sculpting, tattooing, and exploring new forms of creative expression.
He is also an advocate for intersectional representation in media and fashion and frequently speaks at schools, conferences, and public forums about inclusion, accessibility, and trans visibility. In his downtime, he enjoys skating, weightlifting, and spending time with his partner and service dog, Lenny.
Net Worth :
Estimated net worth varies significantly:
- Most conservative public estimate (based on YouTube revenue): $27,000 USD
- An unverified social media claim suggests around $500,000 USD as of 2025
Summary: Chella Man’s net worth likely ranges between $27K and $500K. With modest YouTube income and emerging creative ventures, most reliable figures point toward the lower end.
Awards & Achievements :
- First deaf, transgender, Jewish-Asian model signed to IMG Models (2018): A historic milestone for inclusion in fashion.
- TEDx Talk “Becoming Him” (May 2018): Shared his journey of transition and advocacy for LGBTQ+ and disability rights.
- Screen Actors Guild (SAG) nomination: Part of the ensemble cast in a nominated project.
- Forbes “30 Under 30 – Art & Style” (2024): Recognized for his impact across art, fashion, and activism.
- Author of Continuum (2021): A published work highlighting his personal and creative journey.
- Creator of short film and inclusive design: Developed “The Device That Turned Me Into a Cyborg Was Born the Same Year I Was” and accessible ear-jewelry celebrating Deaf culture.
Fun Facts :
- Chella Man started going deaf at age 4 and now uses cochlear implants along with ASL to communicate.
- He began testosterone hormone therapy at age 17 and documented his transition journey openly on YouTube.
- He is a self-taught tattoo artist and has tattooed several pieces on his own body.
- Chella Man is passionate about body modification and views his body as a canvas for art and self-expression.
- He’s an avid skateboarder and often incorporates skate culture aesthetics into his fashion work.
- Chella has a service dog named Lenny, who is often featured in his social media content.
- He designed a line of inclusive jewelry inspired by cochlear implants and hearing aids to promote disability visibility.
- Chella is also a painter and visual artist, and has exhibited work that combines sculpture, technology, and social themes.
- He considers vulnerability and storytelling to be core tools in his activism and creative career.
- He frequently speaks at universities and conferences about intersectionality, identity, and accessibility.