Content Creator and TV Personality, Chanley Wong is known for her charismatic presence and infectious personality. Her refreshing perspective continues to capture the attention of digital audiences and global fashion brands alike. Her partnership with tech innovator, Samsung is testament to her visionary approach to digital storytelling and creative excellence.
I met Chanley during the Galaxy Unpacked trip to London, where Samsung unveiled its latest Galaxy Z8 Series. Her genuine warmth and engaging presence immediately stand out: qualities that seamlessly translate into her digital content, bridging her online persona with her authentic self. It is easy to see why a global brand like Samsung naturally gravitates toward her narrative.
Having established a strong visual identity as a creator, which initially caught Samsung’s attention, she shares that her relationship with the tech giant began with the Galaxy A Series. “One of my very first campaigns with the brand focused on Samsung SOS+, a feature providing users with 24/7 emergency assistance by connecting them directly to private security or medical responders,” she recalls. “I remember thinking how remarkably innovative and practical that use of technology was. It demonstrated that a phone wasn’t just a creative tool, but a device that could make a meaningful difference in everyday life.” Enlightening that this is the campaign that introduced her the way Samsung thinks about innovation. “From there, my relationship with the brand continued to grow. I went on to work with the Galaxy S Series and today I get to create with Samsung’s innovative Galaxy Z Series - from the Fold to the Flip.”
Noting that we’re in this incredible era of AI, she says she loves how Samsung has integrated Galaxy AI into the phone in a way that feels useful and intuitive. “Whether I’m editing content, searching for something, translating while I’m travelling or using AI to help bring a creative idea to life.” She affirms that as a creator, it almost feels like having another creative tool in her pocket. “My phone has always been so much more than just a phone - it’s my camera, my editing suite, my office and one of my biggest storytelling tools. I’m constantly travelling, filming and capturing moments on the go, so working with a brand that continues to evolve alongside the way I create feels incredibly natural.” Expanding on what makes the partnership feel like the perfect fit, she says, “Samsung keeps asking, “What else can technology do?” and creatively, I’m always asking myself the same thing: “What else can I do with it?”
Expanding on how her relationship with the brand has evolved alongside her career and approach to content creation, she says, “Samsung has gone from being a brand I created content for to becoming a genuine part of how I create. I’m no longer just thinking about capturing a beautiful shot - I’m thinking about storytelling, how I can take my followers with me and how I can use technology to make that story more immersive and engaging.” As the devices have become more innovative, from incredible camera capabilities and Nightography to Galaxy AI, Chanley shares that she’s found new ways to incorporate those features into her own creative process. She values how the partnership has evolved beyond mere product endorsement. “I’ve shared incredible moments with Samsung—traveling together and interpreting those experiences authentically through my own lens.”
Reflecting on her journey, she notes how special it is to see her personal growth mirror the brand’s advancement: “My content, my career, technology, and our relationship have all grown side by side.” What does being part of a global brand journey like Samsung's mean to her, particularly as a creator from South Africa? “It means a lot to me because there’s something incredibly special about being a South African creator and knowing that the stories we tell, the content we create and the perspectives we bring can have a place on a global stage.” Opening up, Chanley says she’s had moments with Samsung where she’s found herself on the other side of the world, experiencing it all alongside creators and media from different countries. “And I always have that little moment of, “Wow, I’m here representing South Africa. It reminds me that where you come from doesn’t limit where your creativity can take you.”
Letting us in on her creative process from the initial idea to the final piece of content, she says, “My best ideas always seem to come right before I fall asleep at night, which is probably why my notes app is full of very random late-night thoughts! From there, I think about how I can bring the idea to life in a way that feels creative but also smart. I’m always looking at the features I have available on my phone and thinking, “How can I use this to make the content better, easier or more interesting?” Then it’s about adding my personality, shooting it, editing it and refining it until the final piece still feels polished but authentic.”
Chanley’s content often feels polished but still personal, on how she balances creating aspirational content with making sure your personality and authenticity come through, she asserts that the personal element is what keeps polished content from feeling too perfect or disconnected. “I love bringing my family into my content. Whether it’s the Kleintjies (my nieces and nephews or my dad) because those relationships are such a genuine part of who I am. I also think authenticity starts with the brands you choose to work with. When I partner with brands, like Samsung, that already fit naturally into my life I don’t have to force a personality or create a version of myself just for the campaign.” Further enlightening that she can still bring that professional, polished or even cinematic quality that she loves but at the heart of it, it still feels like her. “I think that’s the balance: creating something beautiful and aspirational without losing the real people, relationships and personality behind it.”
Elaborating on how her approach to content creation changed as social media and technology have evolved, she expounds that, as technology has evolved, so has the way she creates. “I’m a big believer in using technology to enhance creativity, not replace it. My ideas usually come to me late at night, as I mentioned earlier, when they’re still a little jumbled. So I’ll use Gemini to help me organise those thoughts into a more solid concept or storyline.” Chanley excitedly shares that she has also started experimenting with AI in more visual ways, “Turning still images into a video, helping me visualise an idea before I shoot it, brainstorming different creative directions, refining scripts and even thinking through transitions or how I could structure an edit.” Noting that the world is moving in this direction, and as a creator, “You have to be willing to evolve with it or risk getting left behind.”
Different content pieces resonate differently with audiences but as a creator, is there a piece Chanley has created that holds a particularly special place in her heart? And what makes it meaningful to her? “Any piece of content I get to create with my family will always hold a special place in my heart. One that immediately comes to mind is some of the very first content I created with my dad. What started as us simply having fun and sharing our father-daughter relationship online, ended up earning us our first Content Creation nomination together. That was such a special full-circle moment, being able to experience that with my dad is what made it truly meaningful to me.”
The Galaxy Unpacked journey is one that allowed us to create memories against London’s iconic backdrop. On what it was like being there and experiencing the launch from such a close perspective, Chanley says it was surreal. “I’ve watched the technology evolve, so to then be in the room and experience the next generation of devices being unveiled to the world felt incredibly special. And, of course, being one of the first to see the new foldables was a highlight for me!” More than anything, she says, it was one of those moments where she looked around and thought, “Wow, I’m really here! To be there representing South Africa and experiencing a global moment like that firsthand was something I’ll never take for granted.”
Her reaction to seeing the Galaxy Z Fold8 in person? “My first reaction was honestly, “How did they make a foldable feel this light and sleek?” You expect a device with such a big screen and so much capability to feel bulky but the Galaxy Z Fold8 completely challenged that expectation for me. And then I saw the lavender one and it was pretty much love at first sight!” Beyond the beautiful aesthetic, she shares that she immediately started thinking like a content creator, “About having that huge screen for editing, multitasking and creating on the go, while still having a device that feels effortless to carry around. It felt like the kind of phone that could genuinely fit into both my work life and my personal life.”
Being surrounded by creators, technology, and innovation in London, she says the experience influences the way you think about your own creativity. “When you’re creating content every day in South Africa, it can be easy to forget just how global the creator industry really is. Then suddenly I was in London surrounded by around 200 creators from all over the world — from South Korea to America and so many other countries, all bringing completely different perspectives, styles and ways of storytelling.” She affirms that It was incredibly inspiring because it reminded her that the content we create in South Africa exists on the same global stage. Was there a particular moment from the London experience that she’ll remember long after the trip? “There were so many special moments, including getting to experience London and Unpacked alongside the Samsung South Africa team, media and fellow creators but the moment I’ll remember forever has to be bringing a global award home for Samsung South Africa.”
It’s worth noting that after the Galaxy Unpacked event, creators participated in a content challenge leading up to the Galaxy Influencer Awards. Her featured video showcasing her running in London against scenic backdrops, captured using the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Fold 8, earned her a prestigious award. Reflecting on this incredible feat, she says, “We had just 24 hours to create a piece of content using the new Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Watch9. Around 200 creators from across the world were there, so to have my work recognised with Gold was incredibly surreal. Seeing my name come up on the screens alongside the South African flag - I felt so proud that something I had created was being recognised on a global stage. It was one of those moments that reminded me just how far a South African creator’s work can travel.”
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 sparks different reactions from everyone. From a creator perspective, what immediately stood out to her? "The first thing that caught my attention was how much more space I suddenly had to create. Opening up the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and using that larger display completely transforms the experience—whether I'm editing a video, reviewing content, writing a script, or multitasking between different apps.” As someone who is constantly juggling several projects at once, she says being able to open multiple windows and move seamlessly between ideas, reference materials, and edits without switching apps has been a total game-changer. “It goes back to my whole philosophy of working smarter, not harder. And despite everything it can do, it’s incredibly sleek and light. For someone whose phone is always on them, having that much capability to literally fold up and fit into my pocket is what immediately impressed me."
Expanding on how the foldable form factor changed the way she creates, works, or captures moments throughout your day, Chanley says, “It has definitely made me more independent as a creator. One of my favourite things is using FlexMode with FlexCam because I can position the phone at the angle I need, put it down and capture content completely hands-free. It’s almost like having a built-in tripod with me wherever I go.” Enlightening that that’s especially useful she’s travelling or creating on the go and don’t necessarily have someone there to film her. “I can set up the shot, step into frame and capture the moment without needing extra equipment. It also opens up so many more creative angles and perspectives that I probably wouldn’t have thought to try before. For me, that’s where the foldable form really makes sense - it’s not just about having a phone that folds, it actually changes how I’m able to create with it.” On the Galaxy Z Fold8 features that surprised her the most or didn’t know she needed, she says, “I didn’t realise I needed the Cover Screen Preview. I can use the rear cameras - including the 0.6x ultra-wide lens - while still being able to see and frame myself on the Cover Screen. As someone who creates a lot of content on my own, that is such a game-changer.” Further enlightening that she’s getting the quality and versatility of the rear cameras but is not guessing whether she is actually in frame. “It makes capturing wider shots, travel content or even group moments so much easier. Once you start using it as a creator, you wonder how you ever created it without it!”
The device moves between being compact and a larger screen, as a creator on the move, Chanley says she loves that it can adapt with her. “When I’m running between shoots, travelling or capturing everyday moments, it’s still compact enough to use like a regular phone. But the second I unfold it, I suddenly have this much bigger workspace in my hands.” She shares that she doesn't always want to pull out her laptop, so having what feels like a mini workstation in her pocket makes a major difference. Beyond productivity, it has also become one of her favourite screens for downtime. She loves reading on it, and notes that watching content on the larger display feels much more immersive, especially while travelling. She adds that for gamers, it would be an absolute dream having that much screen space to play on. Highlighting the versatility of the form factor, Chanley emphasises how seamlessly it transitions between being her work device one minute, an entertainment device the next, and then folding straight back into her pocket.
Asked to sum up the Galaxy Z Fold8 through a single scenario from her life, she paints a vivid picture of airport layovers between flights. She describes capturing content from a trip, unfolding the device to edit footage on the bigger screen while checking her itinerary in another window, and then watching a series or reading while waiting to board. For Chanley, that scenario sums up her fast-paced life perfectly.
As she considers how technology continues to redefine storytelling, Chanley sees AI playing an increasingly prominent role in content creation. She notes how AI helps creators take an idea from their imagination and visualize it in ways that would have previously been far more complex or costly. However, she believes that as technology advances, authenticity becomes even more crucial: while everyone gains access to powerful tools, unique perspectives, personal warmth, and individual stories remain the key differentiators. Ultimately, she envisions the future as an exciting collaboration between human creativity and technology, where AI enables smarter workflows while human storytellers remain firmly behind the vision.
In the next chapter of her career, she is eager to explore the intersection of presenting, travel, technology, storytelling, and content creation. And remains excited to experiment with new technology and AI to bring ambitious ideas to life without requiring massive production teams, while continuing to share South African stories on an expanding global stage. Reflecting on what she would tell her younger self starting out in content creation, Chanley advises keeping up with those early outfit-of-the-day posts because they eventually open doors to dream brand partnerships like Samsung. She emphasizes that while the journey requires immense hard work, consistency, and overcoming moments of self-doubt, turning a passion into a fulfilling career makes every step worthwhile.
Recapping the core lessons from her journey regarding ambition, creativity, and authenticity, Chanley affirms that there is no single path to building a creative career. Ambition drives her to push boundaries, creativity keeps her experimenting, and staying true to herself ensures meaningful connections with her audience. Her guiding philosophy, "If there's no space for you, build the walls" encourages creators to build their own opportunities and elevate others along the way, keeping personal authenticity as their greatest advantage as technology and trends evolve.
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