Emma Chamberlain

Early Life and Background

Emma Frances Chamberlain was born on May 22, 2001, in San Bruno, California, making today her 24th birthday. Growing up as an only child, Chamberlain experienced significant changes early in life when her parents divorced when she was just five years old.^[1] Her family faced financial challenges during her childhood, particularly depending on commissions from her father Michael's work as an oil painter. When he became ill and unable to paint, the family endured what Chamberlain later described as "hard times."^[1]^[10]

Chamberlain attended Central Middle School in San Carlos, California, before enrolling at Notre Dame High School in Belmont, an all-girls Catholic preparatory school. During her time there, she participated in both cheerleading and track teams, and was a competitive cheerleader for five years with the California Allstars in Livermore, California, competing on the team Senior Pink.^[1] However, she left high school during the first semester of her junior year, later graduating after passing the California High School Exit Exam and eventually receiving her high school diploma at age 23 with the Class of 2024.^[1]

YouTube Career and Rise to Fame

Chamberlain's journey into content creation began when she became dissatisfied with high school toward the end of her sophomore year. After discussing her feelings with her father, she was encouraged to find a passion outside of school. On June 14, 2016, she launched her YouTube channel as a way to discover that passion.^[1] Although she created the channel in 2016, she didn't post her first video, titled "City Inspired Summer Lookbook 2017," until a year later.^[5]

Her rise to prominence was remarkably swift. By 2019, when she was just 18 years old, Chamberlain had amassed 8.5 million subscribers and 900 million views on YouTube.^[3] As of 2023, her YouTube channel had reached 12 million subscribers and accumulated a total of 1.6 billion views.^[1] Her massive success happened almost overnight, with her Instagram engagement growing from approximately 15,000 likes per post when she started to averaging 1.5 million likes by 2018.^[10]

Content Style and Influence

What set Chamberlain apart from other creators was her authentic and unconventional approach to vlogging. Before her emergence, on-trend YouTubers typically edited out natural bodily functions like burps and farts. Chamberlain pioneered a new style that embraced these authentic moments, showing off acne and highlighting mundane experiences like needing an iced coffee.^[3] Her editing style, characterized by long monologues interrupted by quick quips to the camera, zooms in and out, and text-edit overlays, spawned a subgenre of young creators following her lead.^[11]

TIME magazine recognized her impact, writing that "Chamberlain pioneered an approach to vlogging that shook up YouTube's unofficial style guide."^[1] Her content captures everyday moments of her life, making her best described as a lifestyle vlogger who takes her audience along for the ride, creating an experience that feels like hanging out with a best friend.^[8]

Business Ventures

Chamberlain Coffee

In 2019, Chamberlain expanded beyond content creation by launching Chamberlain Coffee with the help of United Talent Agency's UTA Ventures. The company has raised $15 million in funding from investors including Blazar Capital and Volition Capital.^[4] Her approach to the coffee business reflects her authentic personality, as she describes herself as "a home barista just like the rest of us" and aims to create a brand that makes coffee feel less intimidating.^[4] The product range includes coffee grounds, matcha powder, and recently launched ready-to-drink canned beverages.^[4]

Fashion and Brand Partnerships

Chamberlain's influence extends significantly into the fashion world, where she has secured groundbreaking partnerships with luxury brands. Her collaboration with Louis Vuitton in 2019 was historic, marking the first time a major luxury fashion house teamed up with a YouTuber—an arrangement that has since become common practice.^[11] She has served as an ambassador for Louis Vuitton since 2019 and for Cartier since 2022.^[1]

At just 18 years old, Louis Vuitton began placing her in front-row seats at fashion shows, cementing her status in the fashion world.^[11] She has also worked with other luxury brands including Lancôme, becoming a global ambassador for the beauty company.^[7] Her unique position in fashion was highlighted when she became the only major internet personality to attend the Met Gala in 2023, serving as Vogue's YouTube channel official red carpet host for the third consecutive year.^[12]

Podcast and Media Presence

In April 2019, Chamberlain launched her first weekly podcast series called "Stupid Genius," which she later rebranded as "Anything Goes."^[1]^[5] The podcast achieved remarkable success, reaching number one in 50 countries and earning Chamberlain the award for "Best Podcaster" at the 12th Shorty Awards.^[1]^[5]

Beyond her own content, Chamberlain has appeared on major magazine covers including Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Cosmo Girl, and Allure, and has been featured in publications like Vogue Australia and Nylon.^[11] Her media presence spans multiple platforms, with over 14.9 million followers on Instagram, maintaining high engagement rates that average around 25%—significantly higher than many traditional celebrities.^[10]

Recognition and Awards

Chamberlain's impact on digital media has been recognized through numerous prestigious acknowledgments. She won the 2018 Streamy Award for Breakout Creator and was named Social Star of 2020 at the People's Choice Awards.^[1]^[5] In 2019, TIME magazine included her on both its TIME 100 Next list and its list of "The 25 Most Influential People On The Internet."^[1]^[9]

Her financial success reflects her influence, with Forbes estimating she earned approximately $20 million in 2024, making her one of the most successful creators of her generation.^[4] She was also part of the 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 class, further cementing her status as a business leader beyond content creation.^[4]

Mental Health Advocacy

Chamberlain has been open about the challenges of growing up in the public eye and on social media. She has spoken candidly about developing eating issues as a result of growing up on social media, sharing that she "literally struggled with that my whole life."^[2] She has also expressed concerns about the pressure of being labeled an "influencer," preferring to see her role as entertaining and being a friend rather than influencing others.^[2] Her authenticity in discussing these challenges has resonated with her Gen Z and millennial audience, who appreciate her honest approach to mental health topics.^[6]