Check Out Kaiden Cook’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaiden Cook.

Kaiden, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin? 
I just would like to note that I’m from Temecula, but the majority of my car shows & events are in Orange County or LA. 

After I watched the first Transformers movie (2007) when I was five years old, I immediately became hooked to the franchise. This was at a the same time my parents were going through their divorce, so things were really emotionally hard on me at the time. Transformers became my escape from all of the negativity that was going on at the time. The movies and toys were my distraction. Transforming Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Ironhide, etc., from a vehicle to a robot for hours. As I got older, I promised myself to never give up Transformers. It was there for me at a time I was at my lowest, so I wanted to be loyal fan to the franchise ever since. 

Fast forward to 2014 when I was 11 years old, my father surprised me with our father & son project that would eventually transform into my career and passion. It was a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS Transformers Edition, aka Bumblebee. It was such a surreal experience. I’m so grateful to have parents that willingly supported my passion for Transformers and believed in my vision at such a young age. 

After building and modifying the car for a few years, in 2017, started an Instagram page at one of our first car shows just for fun. I saw a bunch of other Camaros with a decal of their @ on their car, and it made me feel like I should start one as well. I called it @tfbeecamaro, which means Transformers Bumblebee Camaro. Unfortunately, a lot of people think tf means the f*ck, but I kept it anyways. I kept posting content and quickly realized that this could really turn into something. In 2019, I hit 10k followers, and in 2023 I hit 100k followers. I currently have 163k followers on Instagram and 595k followers on TikTok. 

I’m so grateful for what this page has become over the years. I believe it is successful because it is more than just a car account. It tells a story of how a little boy wanted to build his own Bumblebee with his father, and how staying dedicated will pay off in the future. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
After my parents divorced, my mom moved to Kansas to be closer to her family. I flew back and forth from California to Kansas once a month since I was five. I went to school in Kansas, and all of my breaks, including the summer, were in California. It was difficult when I was younger, but it truly made me the person I am today. It also made me very well-rounded by understanding both West Coast and Midwest culture. 

I was born with one arm due to amniotic band syndrome. It has never limited me in any way from what I wanted to do. I’ve had a prosthetic since I was 4 months old. I connected with Bumblebee specifically because he was different from the rest of them. He couldn’t talk because his voice box was damaged, so he spoke through the radio. He also lost his legs in battle in the first movie. It just builds more of that emotional connection I have to him. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a graphic designer. After graduating high school in Kansas in 2021, I decided I wanted to stay there 4 more years. I looked at several schools back in California, such as San Diego State and Chapman, but I fell in love with KU (The University of Kansas) campus after touring it before COVID. It just immediately felt like home and that I was meant to go there. I was accepted into the Architecture and Design program and decided to pursue Visual Communication Design aka Graphic Design. 

Bumblebee’s most recent look was designed myself with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. It is a fully printed vinyl wrap in collaboration between Cook Design Co and Awthentik Design. The wrap is based on the 1976 Camaro from the first movie, so the car now looks rusted, beat up, and battle-damaged. I’m proud to say I drew every mark and scuff on it, and grateful that Josh & Kelli Tolbert of Awthentik were willing to mentor and collaborate with me. As well as everything I’ve learned from KU’s School of Architecture & Design. 

How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
I’m sponsored by several brands and shops including Toyo Tires, EBC Brakes, Awthentik Design, Audio Addiction, Eliminator LLC, Red Barn Racing LLC, Liqui Vinyl Aerodynamics, Hellgato Carbon, Camarolights.net, Destroyed Kustoms, etc. 

I’ve also worked with Paramount Pictures, Hasbro, and Universal Pictures for social media marketing of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts & Fast X. 

If you are interested in working with me or a sponsorship, please email me: tfbeecamaro@gmail.com 

Contact Info:

• Website: camarogear.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tfbeecamaro/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kaidencook
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tfbeecamaro?si=zkm3YB_ZqqeihmMY

Image Credits
Cisco Visuals
Brennan Wright