YouTube was the original ruling platform for video content at the start of the decade. Before video content became increasingly accessible, influencer began building their brands and internet personalities on YouTube.
Many of us grew up watching a variety of youtubers who are no longer in the spotlight, but where are they now? Let’s dive into nostalgia and explore where 5 of our favorite creators went after YouTube.
5) Jenna Marbles
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Jenna Marbles first started posting on YouTube in 2010 posting vlogs and how to content, highly recognized for her humor and infectious personality. During her time in the limelight, she became friends with fellow youtubers SMOSH and starred in Pitbull’s “Fireball” music video along with other youtubers. She was even awarded a wax figure at Madam Tussauds.
Where Is She Now?
Still attracting millions of supporters, Jenna continued being a youtuber for quite some time. It wasn’t until the emergence of cancel culture that caused her decision to leave her channel. She was called out for things she had said and done in 2011 and made an apology video stating “she is so ashamed anything offensive is a part of her past.” The world still regards Jenna as one of the funniest youtubers of her time.
4) Miranda Sings
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Colleen Ballinger, known to YouTube as her character, Miranda Sings, first posted on YouTube in 2008. Miranda Sings became a widely recognized name on the internet as she was the base for many memes. The character was comedic satire to poke fun at those going on YouTube to sing covers of songs, Miranda was a purposefully bad singer trying to ignore her haters! Colleen was also an independent youtuber as she had her own channel as well.
Where is She Now?
Colleen retired from her 10 million subscriber channel in 2018 when she was having a child however Miranda the character continues to live on as Colleen tours to do comedy shows around the US. Colleen also took time to be on broadway.
3) PinkGuy/Filthy Frank
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George Miller, known to YouTube as PinkGuy and Filthy Frank, began posting videos in 2011 and attracted a large male population of viewers to his outlandish content. He made shock comedy videos of oddball satire characters that had his audience wailing of laughter.
His content consisted of comedy hip hop, extreme challenges and prolific virality. Miller’s videos popularized the Harlem Shake, becoming one of the world’s first internet challenges.
Where Is He Now?
As Pink Guy, Miller released two comedy studio albums but after their success, he decided to take his music seriously. This resulted in him ending his YouTube career and adopting the name Joji, since become one of the world’s most popular current musicians.
He released his debut album in 2018, featuring the hit single “Slow Dancing in the Dark” and another album in 2020 titled “Nectar”. In 2022, he released the US Billboard Hot 100 top-ten single “Glimpse of Us,” his highest charting song.
2) SMOSH
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SMOSH was a joined youtuber created in 2005 by Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox. Rising to become one of the most popular YouTube channels of their time, they grew a large fanbase for their comedic skits and entertainment channels. They were the most subscribed to YouTube channel from May to June 2006, April 2007 to September 2008 and January to August 2013 before being beat by PewDiePie.
SMOSH continued to be a sustained channel for many years, growing many different expansions into music, video games and shows. In 2017, Padilla announces that he would be leaving the channel as they had sold it to a company called Defy Media whom had taken away their creative freedom on the channel. Defy would later shut-down, causing SMOSH to be owned by Mythical Entertainment in 2019.
The channel was rebranded and continues to upload with a mix of the old cast as well as new faces.
Where Are They Now?
After Padilla left in 2017, Hecox became the soul owner of SMOSH however the channel saw a drastic drop in subscribers and supporters. Padilla currently uploads videos on his own independent youtuber channel while Hecox continues to run the SMOSH brand with new faces and content, posting regularly. Quite a sad ending to a once legendary channel.
1) Ryan Higa
Channel
Ryan Higa is one of the most notable youtubers from the 2000s. He created content under a now more offensive word play on his last name. Beginning being a Youtuber in 2006, Ryan had the most subscribed to channel from 2009 to 2011. His content consisted of comedic pieces lip syncing, making fun of aesthetics like being emo and later vlogs on his channel Higa TV. He was uploading and receiving award nominations until 2019.
Where is He Now
Being recognized in Forbes 30 under 30, Ryan has taking up certain business ventures and spends his time streaming and creating content on twitch. He lives a low profile and out of the spotlight life with his dogs!
