Where are the original stars of YouTube now?

YouTube has been a staple of modern culture since its inception in 2005 with dozens of early adopters able to carve out a niche for themselves.

Everyday people quickly became stars by creating original content from engaging comedy skits to step-by-step makeup tutorials.

But the platform is not without its dark side which is set to be exposed in upcoming release The YouTube Effect.

The ‘eye-opening documentary’ is set to take a ‘troubling look’ at the video sharing platform and the way it ‘changed how we experience the world.’ 

And it is true to say that some of YouTube’s biggest early stars enjoyed varied fates.

There were those who were able to capitalize on their springboard into the limelight to create multi-million dollar business empires and even achieve success in the music industry.

But, sadly, there were others whose fame came at a cost after being plagued with depression, harassment and accusations of racism.

As viewers get set to tune into the tell-all release, FEMAIL has laid bare what happened to some of America’s favorite YouTube stars. 

Michelle Phan went from beauty blogger to $500 million business owner – but candidly battled with depression along the way

Beauty vlogger Michelle Phan, who grew up in Tampa, Florida, first took to the site in 2006 with her easy-to-follow makeup tutorials and it was not long until she landed a slew of paid partnerships.

The content creator, now 36, became the first YouTuber to be hired as a brand’s official video makeup artist after partnering with Lancome in 2010 and ultimately landed a deal with L’Oreal to create her own line of cosmetics.

She decided to venture out on her own and soon co-founded subscription cosmetics box Ipsy, which was valued at upwards of $500 million in 2015, according to Forbes.

Then: Beauty vlogger Michelle Phan, who grew up in Tampa, Florida, first took to the site in 2006 with her easy-to-follow makeup tutorials

But despite her ability to capitalize on her fame, the success began taking its toll as she candidly spoke about battling with depression.

Michelle, who also found herself on the covers of Forbes and Nylon, took a break from YouTube before resurfacing with an explanation video in which she said: ‘The taste of success was like a drug, and I couldn’t get enough.

‘Once, I was a girl with dreams — who eventually became a product, smiling, selling, and selling. Who I was on camera, and who I was in real life, began to feel like strangers,’ she explained.

‘My insecurities go the worst of me. I became imprisoned by my own vanity, and was never satisfied with how I looked. My life online was picture-perfect, but in reality, I was carefully curating the image of a life I wanted, not had.’

Now: She decided to venture out on her own and co-founded subscription cosmetics box Ipsy, which was valued at upwards of $500 million in 2015, according to Forbes 

To cope and ‘numb the pain’, she kept herself busy and took on even more work — but that tactic didn’t work forever.

After years of this, her feelings of isolation had grown so strong, and she felt so depressed, that she started to drift away from social media. 

‘I felt like somewhere along this journey, I lost myself,’ she went on, adding that while money can buy status and even piece of mind, it can’t buy happiness.

Ryan Higa was considered by many to be the face of YouTube before becoming a K-Pop star with a number one album

Ryan Higa, who was born in Hilo, Hawaii, started out on YouTube in 2006 by posting a series of lip sync videos but soon ran into copyright issues.

To avoid the legal backlash, he decided to move into more original skits which ended up taking the internet by storm.

Ryan, now 33, became the first creator to reach three million subscribers and was considered to be the face of YouTube – claiming the title of most subscribed to content creator in the world for a record number of days.

Then: Ryan Higa, who was born in Hilo, Hawaii, started out on YouTube in 2006 by posting a series of lip sync videos but soon ran into copyright issues

And the star soon decided to experiment with different ventures in a bid to capitalize on the momentum.

In 2008, Ryan released his first ever feature-length film titled Ryan and Sean’s Not So Excellent Adventure – before also creating a short Agents of Secret Stuff in 2010.

But, far from sitting back to bask in his achievements, he pushed his boundaries even further and decided to start a parody K-Pop band with his friends in 2016.

Despite the venture starting off as a joke the group swiftly rose to number one in the charts with their single Who’s It Gonna Be.

Now: Ryan has not posted again on YouTube since 2020 to focus on other ventures which has so far included film roles in Tell Me How I Die and Finding Ohana as well as the release of a memoir

The band, titled BGA or Boys Generally Asian, even momentarily beat out South Korean singing sensations BTS.

Ryan has not posted again on YouTube since 2020 to focus on other ventures which have so far included film roles in Tell Me How I Die and Finding Ohana as well as the release of a memoir.

It is not yet known if he plans to make a return to his channel. 

Jenna ‘Marbles’ Mourey ceased posting clips after being forced to apologize over blackface allegations – before also having a stalker invade her home

New York native Jenna ‘Marbles’ Mourey, who has a masters in psychology and counselling, pivoted into a new career online after joining the platform in 2010.

She garnered millions of followers with her comedic content and lifestyle clips – with one of her most successful titled ‘how to trick people into thinking you are good-looking.’ 

But her online popularity soon came crashing down after a blackface skit from 2011 resurfaced in which she shamed women and performed a racist rap.

Then: New York native Jenna ‘Marbles’ Mourey, who has a masters in psychology and counselling, pivoted into a new career online after joining the platform in 2010

In the aftermath, Jenna apologized and announced that she would cease posting content on YouTube.

She said at the time: ‘For now I just can’t exist on this channel. I want to hold myself accountable, and it’s painful to do it. I’m ashamed of things I’ve done and said in my past – but, it’s important. 

‘I think I’m just going to move on from this channel for now. I don’t know if that’s forever. I don’t know how long it’s going to be… I’m just going to stop for now.’ 

As for her other offensive content, Jenna said ‘it doesn’t need to exist’ and she was ’embarrassed that [she] ever made’ it. 

Now: But her online popularity soon came crashing down after a blackface skit from 2011 resurfaced in which she shamed women and performed a racist rap

Her husband Julien Solomita announced earlier this year that a woman who had been harassing the couple for months broke into their family home 

The former YouTube star largely stayed out of the headlines until her husband Julien Solomita announced earlier this year that a woman who had been harassing the couple for months broke into their family home.

He said that he ‘called the police’ and the woman ‘was apprehended and arrested.’ 

Julien said that he, Jenna and the family dogs were all safe in the wake of the incident. 

Michael Buckley who found fame as contemporary commentator decided to ‘reset’ his outlook and went on to become a life coach

Michael Buckley became the face of ‘What The Buck?’ in 2006 which delivered commentary on pop culture events and celebrities with a mix of parody and sarcasm.

He quickly gained more than 400 million video views and, at the channel’s peak, he had four of the top ten most-viewed videos on YouTube.

The star, now 48, earned a whole host of accolades – including winning the first ever YouTube Award for Best Commentary – and even clinching the Live with Kelly co-host contest in 2012.

Then: Michael Buckley became the face of ‘What The Buck?’ in 2006 which delivered commentary on pop culture events and celebrities with a mix of parody and sarcasm

But Michael has since revealed that he ‘retired’ from YouTube after overhauling his lifestyle.

‘In 2017, he RESET his entire life – sold all his possessions, stopped drinking alcohol, stopped dating, stopped eating fast food, stopped drinking soda, moved across the country, published a book and launched a successful Life Coaching business,’ his website states.

As a life coach, Michael states that he can help tackle mindsets, relationships, and belief systems ‘to direct your mind, manage your emotions, love yourself and others unconditionally, use your strengths and create an amazing life for yourself on purpose.’

And it seems that the former content creator is relishing in his new life away from the camera.

Now: But Michael has since revealed that he ‘retired’ from YouTube after overhauling his lifestyle

The bio continues: ‘Today he is enjoying a remarkable and simple life in Denver, Colorado. 

‘He loves spending time with his family, playing flag football, soccer, going to church and roller skating. 

‘Oh and he has a beautiful mustache now.’

Olga Kay juggled four YouTube channels before setting up a kids’ clothing company selling knee-high socks with ears

Olga Kay, who describes herself as a Russian-American YouTube ‘pioneer,’ trained as a professional circus juggler in her youth before she joined the site in 2006. 

She set about creating shows such as Emo Girl and Olga Kay’s Show and was soon juggling four different channels on gaming and fashion.

The now 40-year-old, who now lives in Los Angeles, previously told The Guardian that by 2014 she had one million subscribers and was producing 23 videos every week.

Then: Olga Kay, who describes herself as a Russian-American YouTube ‘pioneer,’ trained as a professional circus juggler in her youth before she joined the site in 2006

But Olga quickly realized that she did not want to be in front of camera forever and took a long hiatus – during which time she lost a large chunk of her fan base. 

She said that she was soon inspired to take the leap and set up her own business, telling the publication: ‘I woke up one day thinking, “I am an entrepreneur, I want to create a business.”‘ 

And Olga did just that.

The former online star went on to launch Moosh Walks – selling knee-high socks with ears for children – which was ‘founded on the idea that self expression and individuality is a necessary step to discover your confidence.’

Now: On the official company website Olga gives an insight into her motivations, writing: ‘Growing up poor was the best gift given, every day I would force myself to think outside of the box’

But still credits YouTube as giving her the ‘knowledge and experience’ to forge her own path.

On the official company website Olga gives an insight into her motivations, writing: ‘Growing up poor was the best gift given, every day I would force myself to think outside of the box.

‘We all have something to offer but we are often not given the opportunity to be heard because we go unnoticed by others.’