Becoming a celebrity is much easier now than it used to be before, meaning there are no castings, no long hours of filming, and not even the need to wait for careers to build up.
Apps like Vine, Keek and Twitter have become the IT way of getting yourself discovered. Vine, for example, has successfully jetted normal people out of the darkness and into Hollywood at lightening speed. However, YouTube is what started it all.
Everyone knows that although certain apps are becoming super popular, YouTube is, and will always be, the absolute father of every video-blogging app, no matter what the popularity rates say.
In 2009 there was a YouTube boom with thousands of users creating video blogs for fun. But soon enough and for different reasons, several bloggers quickly claimed more than a million followers, and were thus rocketed into fame. These videos were broad in genre, like make-up tutorials, movie and book reviews, video diaries, parodies, and even amateur movies.
Today there are plenty of YouTubers on the web, but some are must-have subscriptions and worthy of following, considering the fact that they have fallen under the “internet sensation” category, with more than five million subscribers.
YouTubers or “YouTube Personalities” you should definitely know about (and who have made it BIG) are:
Michelle Phan: an American make-up artist and entrepreneur who started her career posting make-up tutorials. In 2009 she became a sensation when she posted a how-to-get-Lady-Gaga’s-eyes video, and after that she just went viral. In 2010, Lancôme made her their official video make-up artist since she used some of their products in her posts, and in 2013 L’Oreal launched a make-up line based on her tutorials. Currently, her account has 7 million followers and more than 300 videos, so if you want to get free make-up classes, go subscribe!
Bethany Mota: an American fashionista and video blogger who also launched her career via YouTube. She rose to stardom when she started uploading fashion haul videos, in which she proposed outfit ideas, makeup and hair tutorials, recipes, and other things. This “hauling” surely served her well, since in 2013 she launched a clothing line with Aeropostale and is currently a participant in the newest edition of Dancing With The Stars.
The Janoskians: If you are craving tears of laughter, go on and follow The Janoskians, a group of Australian comedians who also got their start on YouTube by doing videos about gross-out humor on themselves and on unsuspecting spectators, and by filming mockumentaries, dares, parodies, and skits. The Janoskians have clearly made the cut: in 2012 they signed a contract with Sony Music Australia, did a show for MTV, released singles, and in 2014 they signed a deal with Lionsgate to release a feature movie about them. Think “Jackass,” but toned down.
Tyler Oakley: If you are looking for a mentor in all things life, check out Tyler Oakley. Oakley started making his videos in 2007, and he continues to do so to this present day. He video blogs about various topics including queer politics, pop culture, and humor. He is definitely a YouTuber you should have on your screen because he was able to go big…as in huge! Bloomberg has named him a “YouTube Sensation,” he is known for having one of the loudest voices on YouTube, he is an advocate for LGBT youth, and has been featured in the 2014 Frontline investigative report known as “Generation Like.” Do yourself a favor, and give Tyler a thumbs up.
These YouTubers have made their dreams come true thanks to one of today’s biggest, most popular, and free entertainment sources. But the Internet is huge, and there is surely still a lot of talent to be discovered.
Vittoria Bellino, a 20-year old fashion blogger and YouTuber originally from Brazil but currently living in Miami, combines her studying of Business Administration at Miami Dade College with her weekly video posting. “I do videos because it’s my passion and I want to share it with girls and guys out there. I don’t feel like I have to do a video, or like it’s hard work. I think that if you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life,” she said.
Bellino explained that although her videos are not exactly related to her career path, they are surely something that she intends to pursue in the long run. “It would be a dream to become famous on YouTube and be compared to one of my favorite YouTubers, but for now I’m just enjoying it and having fun,” she said.
Agustina Fanes Cotonat, an Argentinean 22-year-old blogger, started making videos back in 2012 for the sake of creating something cool like the YouTubers she admired. She was more of a watcher rather than a blogger, but she got hooked up at LeakyCon (a conference for Harry Potter fans) where she met a lot of bloggers who inspired and encouraged her to give it a try.
Fanes explained that her videos were made just for fun and to have something to look back to and laugh in a couple of years. Although her videos are not related to her career, she explained that YouTube helped her practice her English and become a better speaker. Fanes said that she’d like to get some fame around the Internet, but it is not entirely what she desires. “I would like to become more popular because I’m attracted to the idea of influencing people in a good way. However, the downside is that some of these YouTubers suffer from cyber bullying and even stalking, and that’s harsh,” she said.
Bellino’s favorite bloggers are: Jaclyn Hill from the United States, and Brazilian YouTuber Camila Coelho. Fanes recommends keeping an eye open for Jenna N. Mourey, known in the YouTube world as Jenna Marbles, a rising female comedian and entertainer with more than 13 million subscribers that can make you laugh in every single video.
“YouTube is a social platform, therefore you are bound to run into other people with your same interests and aspirations. This platform allows for people to collaborate on each other’s channels and that is a huge step into making connections with the outer world,” concluded Fanes.
With just a camera, books, notes, make-up and a computer, Agustina and Vittoria, (just like all the other YouTube sensations) are opening doors with their own hands, but with the help of a free website that…who knows…might just turn them into the next it Internet stars.
words_donatela vacca. photo_victoria bellino.