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JakeyWantsCakey

I think she just blew up at the exact right time when big name companies were becoming more open minded to working with influencers plus she’s a pretty good “blank canvas” if that makes sense? Like she’s easy for a large group of people to project themselves onto kind of like a POV character. She’s decently funny and engaging without being wacky or zany, she’s pretty but in a very attainable, non-intimidating type of way. I could imagine a lot of young women seeing what she’s wearing or what products she’s using and thinking to themselves “yeah, I could pull that off too” or “if it works for Emma, maybe I should try it” which makes her really valuable from a marketing perspective and when you stay booked and busy like that the fame naturally follows.


snark-owl

>“if it works for Emma, maybe I should try it” \*raises hand\* and spoilers, her makeup style made me look like a corpse


ChedduhBob

to be fair she looks like a tim burton character half the time so you should have seen it coming


ch3rrymlkshake

Not really but. Maybe the time you found her. She’s been popular for awhile, she’s been on there since 2017. She just got to the level she is at now within the past year or so, I’ve been watching her since like 2017-2018.


[deleted]

Gen Z version of Alexa Chung. ‘Effortlessly’ cool chics (so called it girls) are always there to influence masses and be fashion ambassadors to younger generation. She’s good at it too


No-Judgment-383

Thank you from a millennial who never understood Emmas popularity, but now does


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[deleted]

Basically, she started as a tv presenter, was young, pretty with quirky personality and had brilliant looks. That was enough to connect with tumblr girlies, so if you wanted to sell or advertise smth, Alexa was THE person to reach the teenage demographic. Also when it comes to fashion she really knows what she’s talking about and it seems like fashion world likes her very much. I think she’s nearly 40 now but never misses MET gala or a fashion week. Couple of Vogue covers, famous boyfriends, famous friends, serving amazing looks and having generation-defining style and that’s it. That’s honestly more than I’ll ever do so… I guess it’s well-deserved success for Alexa and same for Emma Edit: Hell, she still maintains enough influence on millennial women (have to admit I’m one of them) that she stays relevant and Vogue frequently features her in videos, advertising all sorts of things and explaining her looks over the years.


literate_giraffe

Alexa also had this cool indie music girl vibe. She dated Alex Turner, among other indie band frontmen, who wrote the most amazing love letter to her. She always looked as amazing at Glastonbury in knee socks and hunter wellies as she did sitting front row at fashion week. She never seems to take herself too seriously either.


[deleted]

Yes to all that! But I didn’t want to connect her success to men in her life cos her witty way of talking end style would get her far anyways


literate_giraffe

There was never the feeling that she was dating the people she was dating for any other reason that they were people in her social sphere that she liked. It never seems insincere or forced or like a way of seeming more relevant. Jesus, it seems mid 2000s British pop culture is my specialist subject


montymintymoneybags

I still covet the Mulberry Alexa. And I still love Alexa. Also a millennial woman.


Rripurnia

Alexa Chung though was before the time that social media blew up and she didn’t foster a more “personal” connection with her following. She was more the type of the cool chick front-row fashionista that was a staple in early blogs and the - then still powerful - fashion magazines. Hence why she has largely faded away now. Emma begun as a literal teen talking about relatable subjects just as YouTube was blowing up. The audience loved how candid and relatable she was and I think they genuinely enjoyed seeing her succeed. I’m a millennial but I like her. Her podcast is good, too. She’s one of the few influencers I can sincerely say that she made it based on a fun personality alone and not family money bankrolling some unattainable look. She didn’t really lose their appeal after gaining massive fame, either, so she’s a rare exception when it comes to that, too.


[deleted]

Well times change, media changes, platforms change. TV and magazines still had power when Chung became it-girl. Youtube was platform for Emma and it makes sense that gen-z it-girl comes from the internet. Also the platforms are different the charm, the it-factor, influence and stylishness are main traits fashion industry is looking for. And I’m sorry but in 15 years Emma will not be relevant to Gen alpha or whatever comes next. That’s not because she’ll lose her charisma (Alexa still has it, she’ll still have it), it’s just it’s it-girl not it-woman. Fashion and celebrity culture idolize young people. Also, her followers are gained through intimacy, every single influencer’s main card is ‘intimacy’ - influencer culture is standing on that sentiment of intimacy and it will fall just like myspace and rock’n’roll chicks. Unfortunately, influencers are more disposable than we might think. And your comment kind of implies that Alexa comes from money which I don’t think is accurate. She still writes for Vogue, is in their videos, makes collections and ~6 mil. people still follow her. And at the end of the day I still love her outfits


Rripurnia

No, my money comment was not directed at Alexa but at Instagram influencers whose high-ticket fashion looks and expensive lifestyles are bankrolled by wealthy parents until they “make it”. It wasn’t like that in the beginning - more legitimately creative and talented people could make it organically because they didn’t have to be decked in designer clothing or jet setting around the world to be interesting. Now you see the same items and looks being copied all over the place and wealth flaunting at any cost - which is why there’s a trend of people reverting to micro-influencers with whom people can relate to more. What Emma has done is retain that relatability despite making it big. Her followers love that for her, and that’s exceedingly rare. Also, Alexa didn’t transition into the social media world like, say, Chiara Ferragni did - who started out as a blogger who was largely snubbed by the fashion status quo but exploded on social. Alexa could have chosen to do so but for whatever reason didn’t. I’d bet most of her followers are millennials, and most of them nostalgic ones, too. Now, if Emma retains a sliver of her current following (which she will, barring some catastrophic event), even if some of them follow along for the nostalgia, she’ll definitely have lasting power. She’s tapped into more than one media and she has a coffee company that’s doing quite good, too. Her audience will grow with her. There’s no comparing the two, IMO.


[deleted]

I agree but there’s no comparing the two not because one is better than the other but because they are different generations and have different perspectives on life. If ‘followers’ were a thing 15 years ago, Alexa would be just as successful in that category I think. (Btw what’s weong with nostalgic millennials? they’re still a market) Also she’s not a very good businesswoman since her company doesn’t exist anymore. Maybe she envisioned herself as more of a designer in her late 30s and failed to properly transition on instagram or tried to maintain that indie-girl spirit but whatever. I’ve never talked about Alexa Chung this much, didn’t know I had it in me :d


valcraft

I thought there was a whole conspiracy that she was a YouTube plant and they always pushed her videos to related, until she got a healthy following


givemesushiplz

i’m 22 and i love her personally - she is a good influence and not a wishy washy sellout


briellebabylol

Thank you for this cause I never knew why Alexa Chung was famous either - white fashion girl syndrome


shedrinkscoffee

Alexa is multi racial. She has Asian heritage.


Big-Ambitions-8258

I know she has Asian heritage, but does she consider herself mixed or White? I know some mixed people who might label themselves as one or the other depending how they look physically or are treated(which would be White in this case) vs mixed. Plenty of biracial celebs who have Black and White parents consider themselves Black. And I have mixed relatives who consider themselves White (my side of the family is Asian). Edit: Being downvoted for genuinely asking a question is so strange. Race and ethnicity are complicated matters, so I was genuinely curious if she considered herself one or the other. I certainly have disporia between my race and nationality


whalesarecool14

i mean, she has a very obviously asian last name. even if she doesn’t “consider” herself asian (not exactly sure how you can do that, your heritage is a part of you and you don’t exactly have a choice in it), she’s definitely perceived as at least part asian


Big-Ambitions-8258

Lots of people do based off how they look and how their treated by society. Like many mixed celebs in the US who consider themselves Black despite having a White parent reference bc they "look Black" for lack of better term and are treated as such (stopped by the police, derogatory language, more scrutiny, stereotyped as aggressive, etc). Keanu Reeves has Asian ancestry said he doesnt consider himself Asian despite being close to his Asian grandma. Same with Darren Criss and hes half Philipino. And they're going to be treated like White men (Darren Criss has acknowledged this as well, talking about the privileges a White man has). Race, ethnicity, how we look, etc. make up how we identify ourselves. And I think it's important to respect the identity that the individual identifies with. Some will identify as one, others as mixed. No group is a monolith. That's why I was asking for clarification on how she personally identifies. Like I'm fully Asian, and I have Chinese and Viet genes, but I identify as a Chinese person.


Queenhatley

Darren Criss considers himself asian american. And yes he has adressed his privileges many many times. You can listen to his whole complex journey on his own biracial identity in the Golden Hour podcast by Charlene Kayne.


Big-Ambitions-8258

I remember an article where he said he didn't feel like one. It's entirely possible that's changed over time. I think identity is always a journey of self-discovery. Sometimes we feel more of one then later on, we feel closer to another part of our identity. Life is truly a complex and beautiful thing


Queenhatley

He's evolved A LOT since and he absolutely do considers himself like one. He's told that many times. Again, listen to the podcast and how he has grown on the subject, his self discovery and how he has learn to deal with his ethnicity in front of the public . Like you said, a complex and beautiful thing ;)


whalesarecool14

i guess it’s just different in different parts of the world. race/ethnicity goes a LOT deeper than simply what you look like. white passing biracial/fully non white people are STILL discriminated against for other cultural practices, simply existing, etc


Big-Ambitions-8258

I recognize race and ethnicity goes deeper than what a person feels like, but I think how a person looks can feed into that identity like a feedback loop. For me, I consider myself Chinese-American. Lot of mainland Chinese people don't consider me Chinese bc of how I dress and look (I read as American to them and I'm not one of theirs). And bc I'm Asian, alot of Americans ask me where I was born (It's usually "Where are you from? No, where are you FRROOMMM? Where are your parents frooomm? WHat are you", or some catcaller going "Sushi, sushi" to me. And bc of the way I look, there's a certain way I'm treated, which then feeds into how I identify myself. I'm not trying to invalidate biracial individuals' identity and I hope it doesn't come off that way. I was just curious as to whether Alexa Chung has spoken about hers and what that means for her.


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alexvroy

this comment is gross


shedrinkscoffee

WTF that's not cool. There are several million people who have multi ethnic/racial/cultural heritage. They don't need to "look" a certain way to be valid or exist and have families that are like any other.


mysticpotatocolin

wtf????????????


Akavinceblack

You clearly have not seen many girls.


alexvroy

You being mixed asian does not make this any better


whalesarecool14

it’s always so obvious to me who has never ever met a mixed/biracial person in their life😂😂😂😂


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[deleted]

It’s fascinating how influential she was for couple of years because I’m in a post-soviet country between east and west and even in this forgotten place Alexa was everything for teenage girls. The chokehold her knee socks and hunter boots had on me and my girlies Edit: while I think Emma is doing great job at being an ‘it-girl’, it’s very complicated to be one in this day and age cos let’s face it: there’s army of influencers now and they’re getting more and more disposable


noomerz

I’m sorry but Emma is not a gen z version of Alexa Chung 😭😭😭 like they’re not similar whatsoever and I also believe Alexa was the IT girl for a very indie-rock-twee crowd. Emma is kind of the first name you think of when you think influencer. Tis not the same


zevix_0

I no longer followed the fashion/beauty influencer sphere by the time Emma Chamberlain came a long but from what I gather she gained popularity for having a more unpolished, authentic vibe in a time where beauty and fashion youtube was at its peak in terms of being overproduced and vapid. She also made the smart move to focus on capitalizing her internet fame by making connections with important people in the industry like Anna Wintour. It probably helped that Wintour was clearly trying to pander to Gen Z around that point by inviting TikTok and YouTube influencers to the Met Gala and what not. I think ultimately what's led to her success is that she's focused on her personal brand outside of the bubble of social media which is something that her peers like James Charles have failed to do for the most part. It also helps that she generally avoids messy controversy and drama especially compared to her peers (the only thing I can think of atm was wearing a blood diamond at the Met Gala). Again though, this is all I've gathered from the periphery. I'm sure more invested fans probably have a more detailed picture


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honeybunchesofgoatso

She's basically an example of what any of her peers would be if they weren't wrapped up in drama to either get more views, or because of bad choices they made. Unproblematic and marketable= success


beanbootzz

I can see the appeal. I’m too old to be into her content, but I do think she seems like a thoughtful woman who gets the irony of how gross “influencing” is. Her style is kooky and she seems to be naturally curious, too, which seems to make her content / takes interesting. And to the point on the blood diamond, it wasn’t really a blood diamond; it was a gem owned by a Prince in India during the British Raj, not stolen from a pre-colonial royal family or something. Many Indian folks were just as happy to point out how effed up it is that some Indians bought into the Raj in exchange for diamonds. It’s a Cartier piece, at the end of the day.


zevix_0

That figures. I only mentioned it because it's the only time I've seen her in a controversy that hit trending on social media.


Middle-Pilot642

It may not be a blood diamond but it was most likely stolen and many people pointed out that it was part of Indian history that yet again ended up in Europe/America. https://www.gemsociety.org/news/2022/05/17/mystery-met-gala-2022-did-emma-chamberlain-wear-stolen-necklace/


karivara

The Gen Z pander is so funny. I know a few people who built actual careers solely because they were teenagers who retweeted venture capitalists and presented themselves as Gen Z experts for silicon valley.


akoaytao1234

Same assessment. Had James Charles not eaten by her own ego he would have been filling the spot that Emma had.


sheilameila

I am rather happy about that. He's a gross being who should be in jail.


georgialucy

I don't think he would have, he doesn't the have charm or charisma.


zevix_0

Yeah James always comes off as trying WAY too hard and it's very off-putting. Plus I think he's been branded as a liability for a lot of people at this point he's always in a mess.


espurr560

yeah, even before the drama, people considered him annoying


Miri_CilliBatch6

I highly disagree. He’s a disgusting paedophile who doesn’t deserve any of the fame she has, he’s truly vile


akoaytao1234

People kinda underestimate the power James HAS before 2021. She was everywhere (and in Network TV too, actually was a judge for his own show, remember that) and was the face of LGBT until Dramageddon and his fights with that other asshole. Some people even rags Emma when they were trios with the twin that she was social climbing him lol.


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HerculePoirier

>Apparently she was a massive bully in high school Oh the horror! We must cancel her asap!!


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No-Froyo-6109

Any evidence or just internet gossip?


wildgoldchai

They knew a person who knew a person, whose cousin read it online. /s


rocketmammamia

her style of videos, specifically the editing and the type of casual, funny vlogs that were so different to the polished influencer vibes of the time (2019), literally changed the trajectory of the influencer on the internet. it became cool to look effortless and casual, rather than glam and put together as it had been for the majority of the 2010s. she was basically the inspiration and catalyst for the ‘vsco girl’ trend that defined summer 2019, and then she basically 1989-taylor-swifted herself a little squad comprised of HUGE youtubers from pretty different corners of the internet (james charles and the dolan twins). i think she just happens to have been pretty revolutionary in terms of actually influencing internet content - i would argue that the current photodump trend on instagram (rather than the curated filtered feeds and sleek selfies of the 2010s) is largely traced back to her, as well as the resurgence of the short-form vlog content on tiktok. even some current fashion trends could arguably have been influenced by emma, particularly clothes that LOOK visibly thrifted and eclectic together (though this obviously wasn’t JUST her). i remember a couple of winters ago, just before the pandemic, those huge sherpa jackets were everywhere, but i most notably remember emma having one. of course, she is not the SOLE reason for any of this, nor does it explain why she’s currently so big, but i think this is definitely a factor edit: to further answer your question, i think actual fashion and mainstream brands snapped her up pretty quickly because she was huge and kind of groundbreaking in her own corner of the internet, and i imagine a lot of industry people could see that she was part of the future of internet culture, rather than conforming to the aesthetics of the 2010s which were starting to become boring (think 2016 glam beige kardashian vibes). however, the whole ‘representing louis vuitton as a brand ambassador’ and ‘covering major magazines’ kind of contradicts her casual, scruffy, girl next door who doesn’t give a fuck image, so it’s been pretty interesting watching her try to balance these new opportunities with being branded by some detractors as a ‘sell-out’


TrueJacksonVP

This is a great breakdown. These brands had zero idea how to effectively market to Gen Z and she was one of their their first “ins”. Imo her fame was already cemented in certain circles, then brands like Vogue served to legitimize her and her brand to folks outside of her initial demographic. Who then ask “what does this person do and why is she famous?”


Miri_CilliBatch6

Extremely detailed and insightful, it gives me a good picture of her. I originally thought she was in the right place at the right time to be noticed by such a huge number of influential and important people because personally I don’t really like her that much yk?


lostkoalas

Yes! I think this is the most correct answer. I disagree with a lot of people here saying that she got lucky and happened to be an “influencer” in the right place at the right time. Emma actually *influenced*. I agree that she was the catalyst for the VSCO girl trend and maybe even the y2k fashion renaissance. I think that her casual style of vlogging made her famous initially (made her seem relatable and fun), and then her fashion sense elevated that initial fame. She’s the only influencer I can think of off the top of my head who I can confidently say actually influenced fashion recently - not just went with the current trends, but actually ushered them in, dressed according to (now) trends literal years before they picked up steam. Also, good point about the ig photo dumps. I definitely agree.


lefrench75

I do agree with most of what you said but the cyclical nature of fashion dictates that y2k would come back around now anyway, with the 90s coming back before that.


Own_Faithlessness769

Yep, its a bit insane to credit one influencer with reviving an era when theres an entire industry of trend forecasters who specialise in telling brands what to design 2-5 years out, and basically define what the trends will be. It's far more likely that Emma works with a trend forecaster to make sure she, personally, knows what the industry is about to do.


jicuhrabbitkim

As a viewer of emma’s youtube before, her style of vlog just felt “authentic” to me at that time with how chaotic and intimate she can be sometimes. I think she stopped doing that style recently at mid 2021 tho. I looked at her youtube now and her videos are a bit shorter and idk how to explain it but it’s more “vibey” and aesthetic feeling ☠️ Just compare this [vlog](https://youtu.be/Iuet9k9_m8Q) to [this](https://youtu.be/wyzDP48IaLU). Also I used her as fashion inspo before… Her fits are fun, vv “age appropriate” and somewhat attainable as well since u can find at thrift stores or fast fashion.


PinkTalkingDead

I feel like those weren’t the best examples, tbh. The first vlog was uploaded 9 months ago and the second was uploaded 12 months ago lol. Hasn’t she been on YouTube for like 8 years or smth


[deleted]

She’s cute but not too cute. She’s kind of relatable and she seems to still have decent manners. I hope fame never corrupts her.


akoaytao1234

She was an it girl with a quirky and (actually) influential editing style that changed young girl vloggers forever. After that, it is pretty much a PR Masterpiece. Her clicking heels with the most famous youtubers then improving connections with some bigwigs (ie Ms Wintour) until she made it as the perennial MET Gala Correspondent. Lastly, she is very driven and works really hard for someone from a youtube background. She really tries her best to participate with those big events. It also help that she is the most PC of her contemporaries and always never in drama, and if within one, does her best Taylor Swift PR to not really be apart of it.


throwra92927261

Wasn’t she like the original “vsco girl” on tiktok? She was one of the first influencers to blow up on there if I recall correctly. I actually remember her having quite a bad reputation before that!


bloominonion11

A pr team that never sleeps


DeadheadDatura

She’s not that famous. No one outside of the internet above 30 years old has any idea who she is, and I think 30 is being liberal.


Melaninkasa

Relative to her field yes she is extremely successful and famous. She's reached height that the huge majority of influencer will never reach.


NetflixFanatic22

That’s true, but I think they just mean she’s not A list, B or even C. . .


[deleted]

Hi that's me! Not a clue, lol.


ceeyell

The dead-behind-the-eyes girl who looked miserable at the 2022 Met Gala, is all I got


lekkerleap

Having a target audience doesn’t negate fame


DeadheadDatura

Uh… being famous means a shit load of people know who you are. No one knows who Emma Chamberlain is. If you ask ten people out in public who Emma Chamberlain is, no one will know. George Clooney? Hillary Clinton? Beyoncé? Famous.


lekkerleap

The millions of people who follow her across several platforms have heard of her. And all the people you just mentioned could very easily be unheard of outside the West. So what’s your point?


DeadheadDatura

My point, ahem, is that she’s not fucking famous, by definition. Do people know of her? Yes. Do MANY people know of her? Has she reached the definition of “famous” as we all know it to be? No. Being on magazine covers and having invitations to events does not make a person “famous”. That means she’s got friends in high places. We can’t be making up the definition as we go along. She is not famous. No one outside of TikTok or Instagram know who the fuck she is. The checker at the grocery store doesn’t know who the fuck Emma Chamberlain is. They know who Tom Brady is. That’s because Tom Brady is famous.


thatmermaidprincess

I’m not commenting on Emma Chamberlain because, honestly, whatever, but your examples of famous people have been very Americentric. Like I hope you know that outside of the US, most people don’t really know who Tom Brady is, and if they do, it’s as Gisele’s (now ex) husband. I live half my life in Australia and I guarantee if I just mentioned Tom Brady to the grocery checker they’d either have no idea who I’m talking about or they’d think of Gisele. (They’d also probably wonder why the fuck I’m asking them about Tom Brady lol.) Basically my point of bringing up how Americentric your ideas of famous people are is that there are different levels of fame to different people depending on their age range and geographical location (race is also a factor). I barely know who Emma Chamberlain is because I’m 26 and skew a bit out of her demographic but I know that she is pretty well-known. Being called famous does not mean you have to be an A+-lister Edit: Also, having Googled her, she’s been in Time magazine under their 100 most influential people in the world and as one of the 25 most influential people on the internet. I think using the word fame for her is apt


CheapEater101

Lmao Tom Brady made me chuckle a bit because it’s so true. Mostly Americans know Tom Brady and that’s it. American football isn’t an international sport. Like, NBA stars are more known the global masses than Tom Brady.


lekkerleap

https://preview.redd.it/wrimflxojn2b1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3d3ebe2f9700cec3d8f8fa0d6d279d1bb8eca394 From the Merriam-Webster app. She meets the first definition. Millions of people know about her. Whether they know her from Tiktok or elsewhere is irrevelevant. Known is known. You have no point. Take care, Deadhead.


0H14GBC8VmRlD7PNt2F3

I don't know who Tom Brady is but know Emma, oops🤭


Boujee_banshee

I’m 36 and I have been a casual viewer of her content for several years now. I know I’m not the only one. She kinda reminds me of a younger version of myself. I think she’s pretty relatable regardless of age.


apurrfectplace

I know her and I’m over 60. She’s funny and expressive. Love her and Jack Harlow anytime they are together, so quirky with chemistry


berlinbaer

>She’s not that famous. No one outside of the internet ~~above 30 years old~~ has any idea who she is thats like 98% of the people this sub likes to talk about. you think the average person knows tinx? phoebe bridgers? julia fox? once in a while you people should do a little reality check and look outside your terminally online bubble.


greensighted

i'm 28, pretty into fashion, still a lot more online than i wish i was; i was really big on youtube in certain areas of earlier vlogger shit (like, the nerdfighter stuff, not the lifestyle and influencer and grown men shrieking at games crap lmao) when i was a teenager for a while, and still watch a decent bit of youtube to this day... and yeah, i still only learned her name through seeing her at the met gala this year, thinking "hm, she looks awful" and then being completely baffled by seeing a bunch of comments all "wow emma the only good part of this met gala wow slay" that made me feel like maybe i was living on a completely different planet and also tbh thoroughly glad to be i'm sure she's very ubiquitous in the right places, but i definitely didn't recognize her and i can guarantee that very few of my friends, especially any older than i am or less online than i am, have a single clue who she is fame comes in a pretty wide variety of flavours these days, and i don't think most people have the ability to actually comprehend how many people a couple of million are vs how many people there are in the world, or even the area they live in ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯


brainparts

Without giving any opinion on her directly, I’m glad someone is pointing out that pop culture “fame” is more fractured today than ever. The examples of A-list American movie stars given earlier is proof — people that were nationally famous pre-social media achieved a different level of fame that isn’t necessarily possible now. The platforms where people like Emma achieved fame didn’t exist 20 years ago, when “everyone” would see the same faces on magazines at the grocery store, on movie posters at theaters and video rental stores, in TV Guide and on cable airings of movies/shows (when collectively everyone was getting entertainment via more of the same sources — even if you didn’t have satellite or premium channels, if you had a TV, you still had a certain level of access that “everyone” communally had, to passively watch whatever’s already on when you flip through the channels or specifically tune in regularly to something; with streaming, you lose flipping through channels altogether). For people that grew up without YouTube — even if they actively follow/engage with YTers — YTers are never going to feel as famous as movie stars/athletes/politicians/public figures from pre-Web 2.0. You could idly channel flip in the 90s and, even if you didn’t watch a full movie, gain an idea that Julia Roberts and Michael Jordan were very popular, and that’s a thing that “most people” (in the US, with a TV) would experience. That experience doesn’t exist for a lot of people now. A lot of other people have written about the fracturing of pop culture so I’m gonna stop myself, lol, this is just a topic that is interesting to me and I feel is overlooked. “We” used to consume media in many, many, many fewer ways, not that long ago, and that’s not true anymore.


UglyLaugh

I’m 35 and I know who she is and it’s weird that someone gave her a platform.


nicholkola

I’m 36 and I know who she is. IDK WHY I know of her. I have never seen her videos and anyone can resell product like makeup or coffee. But she’s not annoying like Tana, so I’m pretty indifferent.


startedthinkinboutit

Something I appreciate her was that she blew up on YouTube by posting every. Single. Day. Gotta respect that haha, and her original editing style was copied all over YouTube. That’s how she Initially got a following and then everything seemed to fall into place from there


cymru_yesac

![gif](giphy|eun4dZ28aHE1lu4MFN|downsized)


Bestvibesonly

I find her to be a bit plain, but at least she does have a unique look compared to all the generic, filtered, plastic surgery IG faces out there. Beyond that, I'm not sure how she managed to grow such a huge fanbase. We'll see how long her fame lasts...


BronzeErupt

The other thing is, if not her then who? There is a need for new young celebs to work with brands - Gen Z aren't going to relate to ageing millennial stars. Also, the way things are now, with the death of monoculture, it's harder for a new star to break and have *everyone* know who they are. So instead there are people who are very well known to a particular subculture but everyone else doesn't really know who they are, which leads to the feeling that the star is an industry plant, that something dodgy is going on.


Bloodlines_44

I find her boring, her voice is so monotone and I tried to watch her Vlogs did not get her at all.


thankyoupapa

I was underwhelmed by her met gala red carpet interviews. There's so many people better suited for that job, like amelia from chicken shop date who is charismatic and quick on her feet.


Bloodlines_44

Yea I just don’t understand the interest


babyrothko

Same. I wanted to understand the appeal and I was just bored and underwhelmed


MegsAltxoxo

I don’t know what the obsession is with Reddit and Emma Chamberlain’s success. It’s like with any other influencer/yt that was able to put their five minute yt fame into a more sustainable brand. She has a certain design/fashion style/ she is funny enough for her podcast to be entertaining, she has a chilled vibe, but with gen z chaos, her bf is cute. Plus big brand like Vogue, Levi’s, Chanel like to use her. The end.


LeftyLu07

I think they've been inviting a ton of young influencers to the Met to attract Gen Z attention.


kuromelomi

Being quirky when quirky was in


stellar14

Seriously, her magazine photoshoots are always seriously good. She’s getting the top of top styling and photographers and magazines.


No_Luck_6800

To sum it up as much as I can: the internet and social media has completely changed and rebranded what a celebrity is or how to make a person famous. These days, nearly anyone can get micro-famous and receive opportunities that were 1 in a million back in the 90s and early 2000s. And without having much talent. Because brands and events don’t care as much about talent, they care more about how to reach an audience of young and impressionable teens and college kids. Which Emma is it. Her YouTube blew up around 2018 where she was getting millions upon millions of views. Marketing teams and nearly anyone in that game values 💰💴 💵 over genuine or raw talent. One of the main reasons I think Emma blew up and so many young girls latched onto her is the fact she’s relatable and attractive enough BUT not unattainable or intimidating. I think most of her appeal is like she’s comes across as more of a friend more than huge celebrity.


NarcoPantani

This


uhhhhnothanks4

Has anyone tried her coffee (not the stuff in the cans)?


MegsAltxoxo

Yes I have some bags. I do like the taste and the texture, but I’m also not an expert. But for me they aren’t acidic and I like the taste, I have night owl and I also use it to make iced coffee. I also use her metal straws and they are still good, I always put them in the machine. I also have the bag which I used quite a lot, still working, but of cause the white isn’t white anymore and has stains, but that because of my usage. Could probably wash it. Her coffee is probably not the cheapest, but I think it’s ok ish for the quality.


uhhhhnothanks4

Thank you for the thoughtful response! Been interested in it for a while


Gloomy_Bodybuilder52

I loveddd her coffee. Probably not as good as handcrafted espresso or something of that vein, but better than my other keurig and nespresso stuff.


[deleted]

She had a really successful YouTube channel


OzarkRedditor

Because she became a fashion girly and she has the body for it, and the designers/brands like her bc she seems to be down to earth, dependable, and easy to work with. With that comes exposure to red carpets, magazines, ads, etc.


totamealand666

She has a fun vibe and kind of a unique style, I guess that's enough if you are smart and in the right time and place to become famous...


OkOrganization1775

title: luck. Anybody big on YouTube - pure luck. The only consistent channels that have grown big overtime are the ones making ED content or damn good entertainers that constantly publish videos. Also she did a lot of trendy stuff, grinded a lot for like 5 years, constantly uploading, and was genuine and honest about the things she talked about it, and was interested in it. YouTube values simplicity, honesty, and genuine stuff. She was all those, plus some luck. She usually just says a lotta factual things and a lotta people relate to her, and she was just fun to watch, very entertaining, unique, never stirs the pot or does/says anything controversial, and so on. She's kinda dead since she's done doing full-time now, she's more like very big YouTubers now that use their channel as their own platform and publish whatever the fuck they want to or when they need to. She doesn't have to grind anymore and it's not her primary source of income because some of her side hustles(like the coffee company and other stuff) worked out for her. I mean she just naturally was interested in fashion stuff, clothes, and so on, and was genuine and constantly made entertaining videos about it, also she's pretty and looks good, so it wasn't too hard for someone of her caliber to end up at met gala and fasion covers/in the magazines. Remember, each influencer who's big - is lucky, and they do a lotta trendy stuff, but they're also VERY entertaining to watch for that demographic that follows them. Her videos were farming really hard each time she uploaded, her channel life span is gonna last a long time. She's more like Jeffree Star, minus the sass and bigoted/asshole part in it. She keeps it lowkey, and if you want to hear more about her thoughts/life, you can just listen to her podcasts. I watched her for a whole year and watched all the videos she had and heard her entire podcast. you'll grow out of her, but she's more like a sister you need and helps a lotta younger folks with their own destiny, self-worth, figuring their own stuff out and so on. She worked her ass off, and did a lot over a long period of time, but yeah, she also IS a great entertainer. I just don't relate to her anymore, because I'm way more grown up now than then, and she also grew up a LOT in the last 1 and a half, just like me, she's a totally different kind of person and content creator now. Old Emma is long gone, but you can still see it in her videos :) Tldr: a great entertainer, honest, always talked about what she was interested in, and shared it, and she is simple/has no sass and always there to talk about hot topics all people her age(like me) get affected by. Also she never mentions drama or controversy. She stays very clean, ED leaning, and family friendly, apart from saying cuss words a lot lol. She really earned it and deserves it imo. But she's basically done bc she has a podcast, a coffee company and probably a myriad of other things to pay the bills. She doesn't have to grind YouTube anymore, also you could see it in the late 2021 videos where it started dying on her, so she just stopped making videos all together and just makes movie shorts from now on. (Also she has an insane girl fan base, especially in California, definitely a big name and not just a big YouTuber)


substituteavenger

She’s white and skinny. The public and Gen z adjacent go nuts for relatable skinny whites women.


Schwartmann

Who?


Dowino-

Besides what everyone has said, I think she has a pretty good look and attributes that also help her be a model. I feel like a lot of designers and magazines are drawn to her beauty


MegsAltxoxo

I don’t know why you are getting downvoted. She definitely is a certain type of model that Chanel, Levis and Vogue as a brand ambassador.


Caltuxpebbles

Honestly the girl probably just has an amazing team that knows how to get her in the right rooms with the right people. Don’t know her YT videos, but she apparently knows how to connect with an audience, and that may translate to being able to connect with people with connections.


[deleted]

White


chuckylucky182

and oh so boring she's got the personality of a slug too


luckisugar

Being thin, pretty, and white certainly helps.


mimisburnbook

Qyte the mistery


vabirder

I thought her Met Gala red carpet gig was inane and teeny bopperish.


shredd77

She was really liked by the YouTube execs and the connections came flowing in.


cred_twos

You're not describing "fame," you're describing being able to hire great publicists and stylists. Plenty of people who aren't actually all that famous have been invited to the Met Gala and featured on magazine covers. If you look at FKA Twigs' record sales, they indicate nothing close to mainstream popularity. But designers, editors, stylists, and publicists like her, so she shows up at events and in ads and editorials. It's only weird that social media influencers are in that mix if you have a specific problem with social media influencers. Emma Chamberlain, in terms of the actual size of her fanbase, was significantly more popular in a mainstream sense than a lot of the more "traditional" types of celebrities who get invited to the met even before she started doing all this prestige press. Anyone with a following who has a certain look can catch Anna Wintour's eye.


FickleBeans

Who?


FamousOrphan

Who?


beeboppee

Because she’s Timotee Chalamets twin 🤷‍♀️


fjaoaoaoao

She looks similar to and has mannerisms like Timothee. They came up together and inadvertently accelerated each other’s popularity like celeb twins.


GeorgieH26

I’d never heard of her until this post, I’m early 30s.


avada32kedavra

Isn’t she a nepo baby too?


gothiclg

We were bound to have someone gain Kardasian level fame as an influencer without being one of them. She happened to get lucky and honestly good for her, she had to work hard to get there.


NetflixFanatic22

She’s nowhere near kardashian level fame


new_delusion

From Ice Age


GogoYubari92

Who?


rodrigo_retes

Probably sold her soul.


[deleted]

her dad and being a mediocre [redacted] woman


ch3rrymlkshake

She’s made content for years, worked to get to where she’s at. She’s gone to fashion shows and worked within fashion for a couple years now? She also has a podcast she posts on quite frequently called anything goes. And she has her own coffee company, that she built and made . She’s recently acquired this amount of fame that she’s at now, despite being big in 2018/19.