Once upon a time, To Kill a Mockingbird’s Atticus Finch famously said, “Before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself.” And that is exactly what 20-year-old Gauge Burek did. Commonly known as Heir of Atticus, Gauge made a name for himself on the internet by not only owning who he is, but loving it, too. Twisting gender norms and paving new stylistic pathways, he refuses to be constrained by society’s standards. Whether it be a point-of-view TikTok or an elaborate photoshoot complete with drawn-on freckles and school skirts, Gauge wows the crowd more and more each day, amounting to an incredibly devoted fanbase and a whole lot of Instagram followers. It’s no surprise he fashioned his username after lawyer and hero Atticus Finch; it takes bravery and a massive amount of guts to be true to who you are. But as a highly acclaimed fictional book goes to show, you’ll go down in history for it. And that’s exactly what Gauge plans to do.
Only entering the scene a year ago, Gauge took TikTok by storm, setting up stories and authoring aesthetic clips. But he didn’t stop there. Heir of Atticus brought his grungey charm to Instagram and turned it into a punk rock paradise. Looking up to bigwigs like Kurt Cobain and Circle Jerks, each photo, each outfit, each facial expression—hell, even the eyeliner rocks your socks off as if you were moshing at a heavy metal concert. But despite leaning towards leather and chains, Gauge believes that breaking barriers and being whatever you feel is twice as important, and twice as fun—for that matter. As a self-proclaimed “nerdy kid who likes making videos,” it’s clear he has, and will, do it all.
So, where can we get a “cool guy, just doing me, I don’t give a rip” attitude and a nearly illegal amount of confidence like Heir of Atticus? Well, Gauge shared a little bit about his life, likes, and leaps of faith in an interview with SHEESH! Check out some of the ways Gauge lives with himself—and completely owns it, down below.
Treat each day like Halloween:
Every morning, we wake up and choose who we get to be that day, and Gauge is no stranger to this. Hopping on TikTok, he can sashay in silky blouses or put a string of pearls around his neck like The Rocky Horror Picture Show. For Gauge, it doesn’t matter the occasion, just as long as you feel absolutely fantastic while wearing whatever you please. And that’s why his favorite holiday falls on October 31st. “Halloween over Christmas by far,” he specifies. As for his favorite costume? Beetlejuice, of course! No surprises there.
Keep it sustainable: heir of atticus
Once Ryan Lewis asked Macklemore, “can we go thrift shopping?,” and Gauge answered “yes” for him. Opting for a more environmental approach, he doesn’t get caught up in the latest trends, but rather, he spends his time perusing thrift stores. “I don’t really care about brands,” Gauge explains. And why should he when he’s fitted to the nines simply by upcycling? Big department stores might have something chic, but at a second-hand store, “you can find something that is unique to you,” Gauge states.
In fact, Heir of Atticus is so fascinated with developing a distinct look, he decided to build a brand himself. With over forty samples for different clothing items, the fashion industry is becoming a reality for the young icon. But each item will be made with mother-earth in mind, since staying environmentally conscious is important to him.
Store: @chancevintage
Don’t be afraid to break barriers:
One scroll through his Instagram, and Gauge makes it clear that gender stereotypes are a thing of the past. With pioneers like David Bowie and Prince, Gauge can swipe on some jet black eyeliner or dot on a few freckles without a doubt in mind. “They looked really pretty so why can’t I do that?” he proposes. And drifting from the norm seems to be working for him.
Captioning his posts with phrases like “Femboy Friday,” Gauge encourages everyone to “f*ck stereotypes” and express themselves however they feel. And by taking the time to voice his ideals to his fanbase, he spreads the valuable message that it is ok to be different, no matter who you are. So, if anyone asks him to put on his big-boy pants, he’d say “screw it!” and put on a skirt instead.
It’s better with friends:
As a content creator on TikTok and Instagram, Gauge is used to working alone; however, like The Beatles, he gets by with a little help from his friends. Every so often, he’ll collab with others on a video idea, but he knows one thing is for certain: “It’s easier when you already have a friendship there,” voices Gauge. Genuity always makes the video better.
And all of those snapshots we see decorating his gram are attributed to not only a crazy-talented photographer, but also someone who knows Gauge well enough to capture his visions. “The pictures tend to turn out better when you have a relationship with your photographer,” he points out. As for his favorite photoshoot, he and his friends reveled around an old warehouse complete with ornate, victorian stairs. For the photographer, it was his good friend, Tati Bruening. “It wasn’t that the pictures turned out that great; it was more of the ambience,” he laughs. Playing off each other’s energy, the group was able to capture the moment, and not just with the camera.
Left: @cooper.noriega
Middle: @rylandstorms
Try something new: heir of atticus
In an internet world where it’s all been said and done, Gauge finds amusement in picking up new hobbies and straying from the mundanity of day-to-day life. Within the past two weeks, he’s been picking guitar, both literally and figuratively, to pass the time. Finding music to be a super creative avenue, he pays homage to his punk-rock idols, Sex Pistols and Greenday, knowing it takes years of both practice and talent to amount to musical notability.
A change of scenery also takes precedence in Gauge’s busy life. As of right now, he’s really missing New York. “The snow—it looks so pretty,” he says in response to receiving east-coast wonderland pictures via text from his manager. While he can’t hop on a plane and travel around the globe in the current societal state, Gauge hopes to visit Italy one of these days. What we can say to that is: Bella scelta (good choice), Gauge!
Always stay on your toes:
A Las Vegas native, Gauge finds himself bouncing back and forth between SoCal and his hometown quite often, which is a four hour drive in total. But he hardly bats an eye to days spent on the road and this dual living lifestyle. Dropping out of school last March, Gauge devotes himself to becoming an aesthetic aficionado full time, as well as breaking into both acting and the fashion industry. To his fans, he’s got plenty of exciting things planned. “Be ready for the cool stuff we’re doing,” he enthuses. Through hard work, confidence, and a boatload of freckles and curls, Gauge will be more than just heir to Atticus.
Interested in what Gauge is up to? How could you not be! Check out his Youtube Channel for more Heir of Atticus news. And give him a follow on TikTok and Instagram, for all your freckled, aesthetic needs.
Read interviews with other TikTok stars like Rayce Aaronson, Caroline Ricke, & Renee Bellerive next.
