David Laid
David Laid | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 29, 1998 Estonia |
| Occupation(s) | Fitness personality, YouTube content creator, fitness model |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Known for | Fitness transformation videos, creative director of lifting at Gymshark |
David Laid (born January 29, 1998) is an Estonian-American fitness personality, YouTube content creator, and fitness model. He rose to prominence through his YouTube videos showcasing his physical transformation, which began at age 14 when he started weight training. In 2023, he was appointed as the creative director of lifting at Gymshark.
Early life
Laid was born in Estonia and relocated to the United States with his mother following the death of his father when he was three years old. He grew up in Atlantic City, New Jersey and attended Mainland Regional High School, where he maintained average academic performance.
Weightlifting and later career
After being diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 14, Laid turned to weightlifting, motivated by fitness YouTubers such as the Hodgetwins, Marc Fitt, and Jeff Seid, as well as teasing from peers about his slender build. His initial transformation video documented an 18-month period and was released in December 2013. Another video chronicling his development from ages 14 to 17 had garnered over 43 million views by 2021. By 2019, his YouTube channel had attracted 800,000 subscribers.
Laid previously worked as a fitness model for the direct-to-consumer brand Gymshark before being named its creative director of lifting in 2023. In this role, he launched and oversees the brand’s lifting-focused social media platforms. By 2024, he had amassed more than 4.9 million followers on Instagram.
Personal life and image
In 2020, Laid revealed that he follows a vegan lifestyle and is based in Los Angeles. He has publicly denied using anabolic steroids and has spoken about his experiences with body dysmorphia. By 2016, MEL referred to him as a "role model" for young male viewers on YouTube, while ABC News described him as the "poster boy for physical perfection," drawing attention to comparisons with "bigorexia." In 2021, USA Today recognized his fitness journey as an influential example for many teenagers, amid ongoing discussions about steroid use within his community. Fitness influencer Baby Zyzz included Laid among "the top dogs" in the fitness world in 2022.