James Charles: The Rise of a Beauty Influencer and Makeup Artist

In this article, we will talk about James Charles, a popular YouTuber and makeup artist. His claim to fame was his makeup artistry, evident on his YouTube channel. James Charles displayed his varying makeup looks on his YouTube channel, which quickly garnered the attention of millions of subscribers. His use of highlighters, ring lights, and makeup tutorials were the reasons for his success on YouTube. It was something different for people, and he surely managed to gain the attention and loyalty of millions of subscribers through it.

Early Life

James Charles’s full name is James Charles Dickinson. He was born on May 23, 1999, in Bethlehem, New York, USA. His height is 1.75 m (approximately five feet and ten inches). His father, Skip, works in the construction industry, while his mother, Christine Dickinson, like her son James, is also quite popular on Instagram, with more than 84k followers. James also has a younger brother named Jeffery, who works as a model.

James chose his niche as a makeup artist/hairstylist after completing high school. He recalls being bullied a lot in school, but he paid no heed to it. One day, one of his friends asked him to do her makeup for a school dance event, to which he obliged and found it to be something of interest. He then continued his work as an amateur hairstylist and makeup artist for various people and gradually started doing it professionally for the girls in his area. He gained popularity amongst them and decided to start a YouTube channel where he could present his skills and interests to a much wider audience.

Rise to Fame

Initially, he focused solely on makeup tutorials, using the ring light abundantly and with favorable effect. With this, he caught the attention of the famous cosmetic brand CoverGirl and was appointed as their first male brand ambassador. This was a massive achievement for him and helped him gain even more followers. People praised the work he was doing, and his popularity increased with each passing day.

Gender Identity and Controversies

James Charles has openly acknowledged on TikTok and Hinge that he is straight, and his preferences are set for women. People have made comments about him being gay, but these are mere rumors, as he has openly stated otherwise. It was rumored that he had his penis removed, but he answered that with a video he posted on Instagram, in which he is seen wearing a swimsuit. To prove people wrong, he shared another video of himself tucking, a practice used in drag where the penis is pulled back and secured with tape to imitate the presence of a vagina. He is seen rearranging his package and says, “This is the answer to the confusion many people are worried about!” These pictures and his act were not well-received by his audience, and he lost around eighty thousand followers because of this.

Contrary to what many people believe, James Charles is not transgender. Recently, he has received quite a bit of hate on social media, as he has been a subject of controversy and criticism, particularly due to his inappropriate behavior towards other people, especially his younger fans and new, inspiring followers. He is said to be involved in soliciting explicit images from minors and pressuring people into sexual situations.

He also did not get along well with other members of the beauty community, having frequent arguments with other influencers of the same interest as well as some major beauty brands. Amid all the hate, he still has quite a few loyal followers who believe in his innocence; hence, he always remains in the spotlight.

Business Ventures

All the controversy and hate did not stop James from following his passion for makeup artistry and hairstyling. In October 2017, James launched the Morphe X James Charles mini collection, which is a mini palette and eye brush set with thirty-nine shades. It was launched at an initial price of $23 USD when used with the promo code “James” just for the palette. The eye brush set, which, according to him, consists of his thirteen favorite eye brushes, sold for $53 USD, again using the promo code “James.”

Morphe X James became quite popular amongst his fans, but he did not stop here. He has opened many cosmetic stores in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Continuing His Passion

James continues to follow his love for makeup and makeup artistry. He loves engaging with his fans, whom he calls his “sisters.” Although he sometimes makes headlines for the wrong reasons, it is not wrong to say that he has been successful in his stint and has gathered an audience that adores him. He loves what he does and has plans to expand his business ventures across the world. He is confident in himself and his gender identity. “I am happy being a boy, but at the same time, I love makeup. I have a full set of nails,” he says. James’s net worth is estimated to be around $12 million, and quite recently, in the year 2020, he purchased a $7 million mansion in Los Angeles.

Inspiration and Legacy

His story is one of determination, perseverance, and absolute resoluteness. With the amount of hate and accusations he received from the public, he could have slowed down and backed off a little on his passion for makeup. But he did not. He faced the world, answered them, and continued to do what he loved: making videos, having collaborations with brands, starting a clothing line and a makeup collection, doing makeup for celebrities around the world, and touring the world. He did it to fulfill his desire and love for makeup, not caring about how the world would judge him. He sure is an example and an inspiration for people who have similar interests and love for makeup and makeup artistry.