Who is Robby Novak?
While 10-year-old Robby Novak is hardly a household name, his alter ego, “Kid President,” is. The articulate pre-teen in a dress suit has won millions of fans with his motivational viral videos. The first one, called “A Pep Talk” has over 30 million views on YouTube. The clever clips feature Novak as an alternative version of the Commander-in-Chief who is on a mission to “make the world less boring.”
Why is he on theGrio’s 100
Novak has parlayed his Internet fame into nationwide recognition. He recently got to kiss pop icon Beyoncé on camera, make his own NCAA bracket picks (in an homage to the real-life president’s tradition) on ESPN and even appeared along with the actual president of the United States, Barack Obama, in a clip promoting this past year’s annual White House Easter egg roll. The Tennessee native was also a special guest at the egg roll. Other stars who attended the annual Easter celebration on the South Lawn of the White House including Oscar-nominated actress Quvenzhané Wallis, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick. Novak has also interviewed celebrities like Andrew WK, Pen Ward, Rainn Wilson, and Ban Ki-Moon.
What’s next for Robby?
“Kid President” will continue to make adorable and funny viral video classics. Even though he suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta, a serious bone disease, he remains incredibly upbeat and optimistic. He recently told Oprah Winfrey’s website: “Just because you’re a grown-up doesn’t mean you have to be all grown up. Be cool. Everybody can be boring, but you’re gooder [sic] than that. Every day when you wake up, you have the chance to be a party. What will you create to make the world better? Nothing, if you keep sitting there!”