The Rise of James Charles: Controversial Beauty Influencer

Famous beauty influencer, James Charles, has been the subject of immense success and scrutiny, gaining notoriety within his field of expertise in social media and beyond. From becoming the youngest ever CoverGirl in history to feuding with fellow YouTube sensations, Charles’ life is like no other in the beauty industry. In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at the rise of James Charles, the controversies that have surrounded him, and the lessons we learn from him as an influencer.

The Early Life of James Charles

James Charles Dickinson was born on May 23, 1999, in Bethlehem, New York. From a young age, Charles was open and expressive, taking part in drama and cheerleading during his school years. Among Charles’ male peers, he stood out for being artistic and being unafraid to express himself, laying the groundwork for his eventual success.

The Rise of James Charles

It was June 18, 2016 when the world learned about James Charles. Charles uploaded a video of himself wearing a full face of makeup and later posted a tweet saying, “Today is the day that I officially become the new face of Covergirl.” This tweet sparked a massive media frenzy that made Charles an overnight sensation. Charles’ success grew from there as his YouTube channel amassed over 5 million subscribers and his Instagram a stunning 16 million followers.

Social Media Controversies

There is no denying that Charles was immensely successful and continues to thrive through social media presence. However, much of his life has been fraught with controversy. In the summer of 2017, Charles came under fire for his views on sexuality. Charles tweeted that he believed that bisexuality was just a “trend” and this led to intense public criticism.

In the years since, Charles has come under public scrutiny multiple times. From feuding with fellow YouTube stars such as Jeffree Star to making insensitive remarks about the Sikh community to being accused of being a “sell-out”, it seems as though James Charles is constantly making headlines.

The Lessons We Can Learn From James Charles

Despite his controversies, James Charles has made an incredible mark on the beauty world and the larger influencer community. For young people entering the industry, Charles provides many lessons to learn from.

Confidence Is Key: Charles is a prime example of never letting anyone bring you down. From the start, Charles was open and confident about who he was and what he had to offer.

Be Convincing and Open To Change: When Charles was first selected to join Covergirl, he had a small audience and had yet to upload any makeup tutorials. However, he was quick to adapt and was able to convince Covergirl that he was the right choice.

Learn From The Unexpected: There is no denying that Charles’ life story is unlike anyone else in the beauty community. From becoming the youngest ever Covergirl to gaining the most popularity within the industry, Charles has been able to learn and grow from unexpected scenarios.

It is undeniable that James Charles has seen incredible success and faced his fair share of controversies. However, Charles’ life teaches us many lessons about embracing our own individuality and allowing ourselves to change and grow from unexpected situations. As the beauty industry (and influencer world in general) continues to evolve and gain more traction, perhaps it is his example we should most grant our attention.

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