Scrubs & Spotlights: Christian Franz on Living a Double Life with Purpose

Featured Interview: Christian Franz

Introducing Christian Franz, a full-time registered nurse by day and beauty & lifestyle content creator by night. From working in palliative care to walking fashion runways and attending magazine shoots, Christian embodies the art of living a double life — scrubs by sunrise, spotlight by sunset.

Balancing two demanding careers, Christian uses both as platforms to empower others. In the hospital, he is a steady source of comfort and advocacy for patients navigating their most vulnerable moments. Online, he creates space for honest conversations around identity, self-expression, and self-worth.

By excelling in both medicine and media, Christian defies traditional definitions of success. He is proof that you don’t have to choose between your passions — you can build a life expansive enough to hold them all.

Follow Christian on Instagram @chrsfranz

What's a small daily habit you swear by?

Reminding myself of one good or happy thing that happened during an overall stressful and sad day before falling asleep. 

What's been one of the biggest challenges you've faced, and how did you push through it? 

Throughout high school and bouts of college, I had severe facial acne. It deprived me of any self-confidence and self-love. I would look into the mirror and cry, thinking that everyone felt disgust when they looked at me. I thought that no one could ever like me. I did not want to go out and see people, even my friends at times, because I was so ashamed of my skin. I wore hoodies during the hot summers to hide my forehead and cheeks. Admittedly, I just went through those years in hiding. But looking back now, I realized that I was able to go through it only because of the right people around me - who all loved me for who I was deeper than my skin. These are the same people now in my life who still celebrate me even as my skin has healed. I am so lucky and grateful!

What does a normal day in your life look like?

A "normal" day in my life involves constant changes in daily happenings. Whether it's a 10-12-hour shift in my day job as a nurse, running to a beauty content creator event right after my shift, a magazine shoot, or a fashion show runway -- my 'normal' is abnormal and often not real-life, and I love it! I loved watching 'Hannah Montana' and her double life growing up, and I think I'm now living vicariously through her, haha.

By day, you are a full time registered nurse, but by night, you are building a creative life online. How do those two worlds shape each other?

I think nursing allows me to touch upon the most painful and darkest parts of the human condition by being there for patients during their probable worst health moments. This grounds me in life's realities, contrasting with the blinding lights and glamour of social media life. On the other hand, meeting so many amazing people and brands from social media opens my eyes to different life stories. In turn, these stories help inform my approach toward patients by fostering a better understanding of their health and life choices. 

What moments or lessons with your patients have stuck with you the most?

A few years ago, I had a patient during night shift who received a few-weeks ultimatum due to a new blood cancer diagnosis complicated by several acute medical issues. I remember I was giving her a bed bath when she randomly said, "Life is just so fleeting. You never know when it will just end. So, live your life to the fullest with no regrets. And be nice to your mom." I keep that with me daily.

Who or what inspires you most on your creative journey?

I rarely hop on social media trends. I also often call myself a "lazy" content creator because I don't post video reels that often - mainly because I just don't feel like posting most days. This helps me know that anything I post is something I intentionally want to share. I view my social media as my personal diary, which I'm lucky to share with people who care enough to know what is happening in my life or my next endeavors. They inspire me to share my journey online.

"I used to believe ____, but now I believe ____"

Big Ideas No Chills is an interview series spotlighting real stories of ambition and reinvention—everyday people pivoting careers, taking bold risks, starting new chapters, and chasing big dreams.