Aspiring YouTuber quits full-time work, consumes 5,500 calorie meals in front of strangers

A woman has gone part time at her day job to pursue eating copious amounts of unhealthy takeaways – containing more than 5,500 calories a meal – for a living.

Charna Rowley, 22, is pursuing her dream of becoming the UK’s first mukbang Youtube star.

Mukbang is an internet trend whereby people watch total strangers gorging on junk food. The fad originated in 2011 in South Korea, but is still relatively unknown elsewhere in the world.

The phrase mukbang comes from combining the Korean words for eating (muok-da) and broadcast (bang song).

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“I have over 40,000 viewers, with about 50,000 subscribed over all platforms and they can request all sorts,” said Rowley of her hobby turned career.

She added: “One of my first videos was a Pizza Hut one, where I ate two large pizzas and two sides, meaning the calories were straight away in the thousands.

“I've had requests for the UK typical takeaways, so that's why I've done videos buying from McDonald's, Greggs and Pizza Hut.”

So far, Charna has invested a total of £1,000 in her chosen career path – spending over £100 a week to produce a minimum of two full length videos.

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However, she hopes to break even once she becomes more well-established.

“I enjoy it and it gives me confidence - and now that I can monetise my channel and really respond to people's requests, it can become a full time career move,” she said.

A sample menu from one of Rowley’s vlogs

Chinese chips: 850 calories

Chicken chow mein: 500 calories

Prawn crackers (bag): 800 calories

Sweet and sour chicken balls: 1,500 calories

Special fried rice: 1,000 calories

Spring rolls: 1,000 calories

Total calorie count: 5,650 calories