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Image: Tyler Oakley via YouTube
Image: Tyler Oakley via YouTube
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10 YEARS HAVE passed since YouTube officially launched, ushering in the age where anyone with a camera could post videos to their own personal channel.
In celebration of its 10th anniversary, we’ve rounded up some of the stars who have been there since the beginning.
These YouTube stars were incredibly popular back 10 years ago, and they still have fan bases numbering in the millions today.
Here’s what they’re up to now.
Smosh
In 2005, Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla — or Smosh, as the duo is known — uploaded a video of them dancing along with the Power Rangers theme song.
Smosh now has more than 20 million subscribers, and their first feature-length film will premiere in July.
Freddie Wong
When Freddie Wong started his YouTube channel in 2006, he focused on making short action films with a dose of comedy.
These days, Freddie is best known for his action show, Video Game High School, which recently completed its third and final season on YouTube.
Devoted fans donated more than $900,000 to a Kickstarter campaign that funded the most recent season.
Michelle Phan
Michelle Phan started her beauty YouTube channel back in 2006.
One tutorial, where she shows how she uses make-up to transform herself into a Barbie, has more than 61 million views.
Phan now has more than 7.7 million subscribers, her own make-up line, a book, and a lifestyle network called Icon.
iJustine
Justine Ezarik — or “iJustine,” as she’s better known — launched her YouTube channel in 2006.
A self-professed techie, her first viral hit was a video of her going through and commenting on her 300-page phone bill.
She now has more than 2.27 million subscribers, and her videos have been viewed 369 million times.
She just released her first book, I, Justine, which tells the story of what it’s like to document your life on YouTube.
Ryan Higa
Soon after launching his channel in 2006, Ryan Higa became one of YouTube’s first huge stars.
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Ryan still posts several comedy videos a week, and he has more than 14.6 million subscribers.
He was one of the first YouTubers to get more than 1 billion views on his videos.
Grace Helbig
Grace Helbig started posting vlogs and silly lip-sync videos to YouTube in 2006.
Nearly 10 years later, Grace has her own show on E!, and her memoir topped The New York Times’ best-sellers list in October 2014.
Tyler Oakley
Tyler Oakley started posting his daily thoughts to YouTube in 2006.
These days, Tyler has more than 7.08 million subscribers.
His videos about coming out have inspired a younger generation of YouTubers, including beauty and fashion guru Ingrid Nilsen.
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