Name: Lauren Luke
AKA: Panacea81
Fame came to Lauren through the power of beauty. Her make-up tutorials have hit home with millions of YouTube users and what started off as a few videos for friend quickly snowballed. Now she writes in The Guardian’s beauty column and has her own make-up line as well as recently publishing her first book, Lauren Luke.
Did you ever figure that your make up videos on YouTube would win so many fans?
The size of my audience still amazes me. My video’s were never created with a mass audience in mind, I was mostly offering a service to what I thought would be a few people.
The success of these videos has propelled your career into journalism, your own beauty line and even a video game! How big of a factor were your YouTube videos in achieving this?
I think it had everything to do with the popularity factor. If I had pursued any of these careers such as journalism, TV, cosmetics or game software using traditional routes then I would have had to cross over barriers along the way, not least of which is the social barrier. Average looking girls don’t usually get these breaks.
As mentioned you have done an awful lot since acquiring this celebrity status, is there anything in the pipeline?
There is a lot in the pipeline. I’m exploring more TV opportunities, working on the next set for my cosmetics line which I want to reflect who I am as well as challenging traditional beauty. I don’t rule anything out and I do have a long term goal. I like to keep ahead of the game so I am keen to explore new technologies such as the iPad.
Lots of people like yourself, have showcased their special gifts on YouTube which has then seen them lanched into the public light. Do you feel there should be some form of major award ceremony to acknowledge this?
Yes and yes! Watch this space.
Would you be up for an award then?
I have won two awards for beauty related stuff which still blows my mind, I try not to think of these things,
I’m still pretty grounded at heart. Would I be up for another award? Of course, if I think it is relevant to what I do. I believe that people should be judged on merit and awarded for their efforts.
Name: Bryony Matthewman
AKA: Paperlilies
The queen of British YouTube, Bryony has carved out a place in many viewers’ hearts with her characters and strong opinions. Perhaps one of her most remarkable ideas was her attempt to create YouTube’s first world wide zombie movie. This ambitious projecct caught the attention of the BBC who even filmed its undertaking. With further plans in the pipeline, this is not the last we’ll hear from this prolific YouTube star.
In what ways has your YouTube based celebrity status changed your life, are you recognised on the street for instance?
I’ve been recognised once on the tube, which was weird and awkward! But otherwise, I’ve not really been recognised on the street.
Did you ever imagine those clips that you posted would get such a huge response?
No! Not at first at least…
The Telegraph puts you as their number one up and coming star on youtube, how does this accolade rank for you?
Do they? I haven’t seen this! I think alot of the time, newspapers try to get a hold on youtube and don’t really understand how it works.
When BBC3 tracked the progress of your Zombie Movie, World Wide Dead, were you surpirsed by the worldwide response?
I was surprised at the amount of professional people who wanted to be involved- we had editors and camera people who’d worked on huge film projects that wanted to get involved! Though I think the BBC aspect to the project probably made it seem more legitimate than just a crazy internet project.
Is there more from this project yet to come?
I’d like to finish it, but I have no idea when it’ll ever happen. It was a very stressful time!
Do you think you will ever attempt a similar project again after this experience?
I would! But it would have to be something I was very passionate about. And I would plan it all far more than I did with the Zombie movie.
In light of this and many other’s inventiveness on YouTube to gain millions of hits, do you think there should be some sort of awards to recognise their efforts and if so what would you call it?
There are some youtube awards, but it tends to be the people with the most subscribers who win. I don’t know how else you can judge youtube videos though.
Many people pursue being a celebrity for the wrong reason, were yours right?
I never pursued being a celebrity- I just posted some videos online to interact with other people around the world! I made a lot of friends via youtube, which I am very grateful for! I think some people expect to post a video on youtube and become instantly famous, which I think is a little weird.
Has the YouTube fame helped or hindered areas of your social/love life?
It’s helped! I have so many friends now that I would never otherwise have met! And my pre-existing friends think it’s funny that I make videos. No one’s ever had a problem with it.