Caden Conrique is a rising teen actor and social media star to watch.

At just 16 years old, Caden has an Instagram following of over 300,000 fans who love watching him act as  Tim Sharp on the Brat YouTube series Chicken Girls.  Chicken Girls, currently in its second season, has 2 million views on its most recent episode and will be premiering as a feature-length film this spring.  Chicken Girls features an ensemble cast of teen actors, singers, and social media influencers: among them Annie LeBlanc, Hayden Summerall, Hayley LeBlanc, Baby Ariel, Carson Lueders, and Caden’s sister Dylan Conrique.

Caden, who is based in Los Angeles, will also be attending the US countrywide DigiTour in spring 2018, where fans will have the chance to interact with Caden and support him alongside his sister Dylan.

Everly Mag talked with Caden about his Chicken Girls character, personality, career goals, and advice for other teens.

Everly Mag: How did you get the role of Tim on Chicken Girls?

Caden: The production company was given my name by a couple of friends.  They called and offered me a different role.  At the last minute, the original Tim Sharp was not available and they asked me to come.

Everly Mag: How are you and Tim similar and different?

Caden: Tim is a little nerdy and shy.  I can be shy too, at times.  We can be different – Tim is quiet, [and] I’m not usually that quiet.

Everly Mag: What does Tim have in store for him this season?

Caden: We don’t know what is in store for Tim just yet.   We don’t get prior details about filming or storyline until we are ready to film.  I think the creative process is always working and changing as we go.

Everly Mag: What do you love most about acting?  What’s the hardest part?

Caden: I love the Chicken Girls set as most of my friends are on [the show].  That is not the norm, though.  It is hard to juggle schoolwork, working, social life, social media, and time for fun.

Everly Mag: What makes you feel confident?  What makes you feel nervous?

Caden: I feel confident when I have done the best job I can.  When I feel that I auditioned well or filmed well, [or] when I see the final project on film, TV, or YouTube, it makes me proud of what I have accomplished so far.  I get nervous going into a situation I haven’t experienced yet, like singing on the Chicken Girls Christmas song.  Singing was new for me.

Everly Mag: Describe yourself in 5 words.

Caden: I think I am confident, humble, loyal, loving, and giving.

Everly Mag: What do you like to do with your friends?  How would your friends describe you?

Caden: My friends and I like to hang out and play video games mostly.  We skateboard, bowl, go out to eat, [and] just hang out.  My friends may describe me as being a little pushy on the games, or at least my mom would.

Everly Mag: What’s your favorite thing about acting alongside your sister Dylan?  Is it ever hard to work together?

Caden: [Dylan] has my back.  It is hard being with her all the time – we go to the same school, hang out with the same friends, then we work together on a lot of projects.  We are always together.  We do fight but at the end of the day we are #siblinggoals.

Check out Everly Mag’s interview with Dylan Conrique here.

Everly Mag: Tell us something about you that might surprise us.

Caden: Well, I grew up in Northern California on a horse ranch.  My parents raised, boarded, and showed horses.  I rode ponies and horses all [through] growing up.  We had cows, pigs, dogs, and cats, too.  Only when we moved to Los Angeles did we give up the ranch lifestyle.  The space…very different for sure.

Everly Mag: What are your career goals in the next 5 years?

Caden: My goals would be to book something big – TV or movie.  I would also really love to do more national commercials.  5 years seems so far away, but hopefully I am still doing what I am doing now, but on a bigger scale.

Everly Mag: What advice do you have for teens and tweens who want to act?

Caden: Don’t get discouraged.  In the end, you can have the best audition, but it could [come] down to your height, hair, length of hair, nails, if you look like the “family.”  There are so many components to getting booked that you don’t realize until you are in it.

Everly Mag: What’s the best part about having a large social media following?  What’s the hardest part?

Caden: The fans make it fun for me to do social media.  The interaction is awesome.  I don’t get to respond to everyone, but I do try to comment or like comments.  The hardest part is to not get sucked into the negatives of social media.  The hurtful comments.  [People] don’t know my relationships with other people and sometimes judge or compare.  I have to step back and realize that it’s just words and ignore the negative.

Want to keep up with Caden?  Find him on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Did you catch Dylan and Caden taking over the Everly Mag Instagram?

Want to hear more about Chicken Girls?  Read Everly Mag’s article about the YouTube series or check out an episode.

Want to get involved with Everly?  Contact us through email or Instagram and apply to be an Everly Ambassador today.

Feature Image Credit: Nikki Parimore