Chris starts community for girl dads to celebrate

Chris starts community for girl dads to celebrate

12 November 2025

A NEWCASTLE man has built an online community of over 10,000 ‘girl dads’ to celebrate being fathers to daughters.

Chris Braniff (34) and his wife had the idea for the Proud Girl Dad Co project while waiting on the arrival of their second daughter in July last year.

“In June this year I started a small Instagram account inspired by becoming a dad and wanting to celebrate what modern fatherhood really looks like,” Chris explained. 

“Becoming a dad to girls changes how you think and how you act. You want them to grow up and learn that they can do anything.”

Chris, who currently works full-time as a tech designer, has watched what started as a small side project grow into a community of over 10,000 dads from across the UK and beyond in a matter of months. 

He regularly encourages his father followers to share thoughts and moments with prompts such as ‘What has being a girl dad taught you?’ and ‘What is a moment with your daughter you won’t forget?’

“The project is a conversation starter. It has brought dads together, including single dads and those who may feel isolated. They feel like they are part of something bigger,” he said. 

“Dads have contacted me and told me what the community means to them – That’s what keeps me going.”

Chris has created a small range of apparel and accessories highlighting the community’s focus on raising gutsy girls, and he also plans to use the platform to support girls’ charities.

“It’s still early days, but it’s been amazing to see something that started here in Newcastle connect with so many people around the world,” he said.