Tuesday, February 18, 2025
BearsTitleholders

Meet Cub Chaos, North American Cub 2024

Allow us to introduce you to Cub Chaos, the current reigning North American Cub for 2024. We look back on his titleholder experience over the past year as we prepare to welcome in a new North American Bear title family next month.

BWM: Can you tell us a bit about your background?

My name is Cub Chaos. My pronouns are he/him. I grew up in a small town in North Carolina but flourished when I moved to Greensboro for college and got involved in the bear community. When I won the North American Cub 2024 title I was living in Fredericksburg Virginia and have since moved to Toledo Ohio. 

Cub Chaos, North American Cub 2024


Cub Chaos (CC): What drew you to the bear community and what keeps you here?

CC: When I was younger, I was much skinnier, but I was always attracted to the larger guys. I had a lot of body image issues due to my size but when I was with the bears and involved in the community, I felt better about myself because I was accepted regardless of my size. As time went on the community began to represent more than just body positivity, it represented inclusion and representation of all types of people. This is what I love about the community.


BWM: How do you define what a cub is? Tell us about the moniker of Cub Chaos. 

CC: To me, a cub is energetic, playful, and somehow always getting into trouble. I used to say that cubs were “younger bears” but as I got more experienced in the community, I’ve met bears, cubs, pets, and mama bears of all shapes and sizes. That made me realize that “Bear” “Cub” “Pet” and “Mama Bear” are mind sets, not body types. 

The name Cub Chaos came from a conversation with my bestie, Andy. We were having our weekly coffee day, and I was venting about the crazy stuff happening at work, with my divorce, my life and Andy looked at me and said “You just radiate chaos don’t you!?!” After my life had calmed down, we were reminiscing about how crazy things had been and I realized that all that chaos had changed me for the better and I appreciated the good the chaos had brought. That’s when I decided I wanted to be more involved in the community and to try to make a change, and there can’t be change without a little chaos. 


BWM: What have been your proudest achievements as North American Cub over the last year? 

CC: My proudest achievement as North American Cub was judging the Virginia Bear 2025 contest. The Virginia Bear Crew was where I started getting back into the community after my divorce, so this contest holds a special place in my heart. I had just moved away from Virginia in July, and I was really missing my family in Norfolk. Getting to be back in Virginia, seeing my chosen family, and helping decide who was going to take on the legacy of Virginia Bear was such a wonderful experience. It was during this contest that I discovered, Cub Chaos isn’t just a stage name, it’s a part of my identity.

BWM: Tell us about your platform. What was the issue(s) you addressed during your campaign to win and as titleholder. 

CC: My platform was to end the shame. So many times, I’ve been shamed for one thing or another and most of the time it was from members of the community. We are shamed by those outside the community constantly. We shouldn’t be shaming each other but coming together as a community. Times are going to get tough for the community and if we’re busy shaming each other instead of standing together we’re going to end up losing a lot. 

BWM: What can be done to make the bear community a more welcoming and inclusive space?

CC: I think if we can all be more aware of people outside of our friend groups, the community will be a more welcoming space. When I hear people complain about other events the word “cliquey” gets used a lot. If we’re not looking out for everyone in the community then people get lost in the crowd. I remember going to one of my first bear events, Mountain Bear Madness. I had heard people talk about it but didn’t know anyone going. I spent the first night wandering around alone and shy. I felt so uncomfortable I almost left, but then I met my friend Skip who came up to me and asked if I was there with anyone. When I told him no, he said “Great, then you can come hang with us!” Since then I have always tried to do the same thing Skip did, find the ones who seem to be alone and nervous and offer for them to come hang with me and my friends. I encourage everyone to do the same.


BWM: Tell us what you love about the bear community. 

CC: I love the diversity of the community. There are many different types of people and everyone has something different to offer the community. I have learned so much from all the different people I’ve met and look forward to meeting more people every time I go to an event.

BWM: What are your plans after stepping down?

CC: After stepping down I’m going to be spending time with my amazing boyfriend Matt, and my other poly dynamics. It’s been a very stressful year and I’m looking forward to having some more quality time with my partners.  

BWM: Where can we find you? Websites? Social Media?

CC: You can find me online on BlueSky and X as CubChaos, but you can always find me at NAB as their ASL interpreter.

BWM Staff

Our Staff Writing Team works hard to bring you great content and share news & events from the bear community and beyond.

×