Before there was TikTok, there was YouTube, and before there were TikTokers, there were YouTubers (some of whom have made the switch over to TikTok themselves)! Here are some of the most notable YouTube personalities and influencers who paved the way for the TikTokers of today, and what they’re up to these days:

2. smosh:

Two people in tailored suits pose with arms around each other at a Streamy Awards event backdrop, smiling warmly — Axelle / Getty Images

Then: Founded by Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox, smosh was one of the most prominent channels on YouTube in the 2000s and 2010s. The pair won numerous awards, including Webbys, Streamys, and Shortys, and have amassed over 11 billion lifetime views across their various channels.

Now: Padilla left smosh in 2017 to pursue an independent venture — his own YouTube channel, which included the very popular video series “I Spent A Day With…” — only to return in 2023 to purchase smosh back from Mythical Entertainment (its parent company at the time) with partner Hecox, making smosh an independent production. In 2026, Padilla and Hecox will reprise their voice roles in The Angry Birds Movie 3.

3. Michelle Phan:

4. Bethany Mota:

5. Jackie Aina:

Person in a strapless feathered gown with a sparkling necklace, smiling at a green-themed event backdrop — Amy Sussman / Getty Images

Then: Jackie Aina was one of the first — and remains one of the most prominent — beauty gurus on YouTube, most known for being a pioneer for Black and Brown women in the beauty industry by holding makeup brands accountable for their lack of accessibility to darker shades.

Now: Aina still makes beauty content and has also branched out into lifestyle content. She launched LavishyJackie, an alt account to highlight home decor, cleaning content, organizational videos, and the bougier things in life. In 2020, Aina and her husband, Denis Asamoah, founded forvr mood, a fragrance brand specializing in perfumes and candles.

6. NikkiTutorials:

7. Hannah Hart:

8. GloZell Green:

Person smiling, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and relaxed green dress, standing on a colorful event backdrop — Alberto Rodriguez / Getty Images

Then: GloZell rose to prominence with her viral cinnamon challenge video and is known for her green lipstick. Her other videos consisted of comedy skits and lip sync videos.

Now: In 2016, GloZell appeared on the YouTube Premium series Escape the Night. In 2018, she appeared in Ralph Breaks the Internet as Little Debbie. Most recently, in 2025, she appeared as a contestant on Season 29 of Worst Cooks in America on Food Network, where she was eliminated in the fourth round.

9. Troye Sivan:

Person wearing a shiny suit, lavender scarf with a star pin, and a light shirt, posing at an event — Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

Then: In 2007, Troye Sivan began uploading videos of himself singing on YouTube. In 2012, he pivoted to including vlogs as well, most notably his video with Tyler Oakley titled “The Boyfriend Tag,” which earned them a Teen Choice Award for Choice Web Collaboration.

Now: Sivan is a Grammy-nominated pop musician with three studio albums and collaborations with numerous artists, most notably, Ariana Grande, charli xcx, Tate McRae, and Dua Lipa. Sivan also appeared in The Idol on HBO Max and the Golden Globe-nominated/critically acclaimed film Boy Erased.

10. Grace Helbig:

11. Jenna Marbles:

Person with long hair and plaid shirt on a red carpet, wearing layered necklaces and earrings, smiling at the camera — Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

Then: Jenna Mourey was a prominent YouTube comedian, specializing in humorous videos around the female experience, most notably, her video “How To Trick People into Thinking You’re Good Looking.”

Now: In 2020, Mourney went on an indefinite hiatus from YouTube after taking accountability for some controversial videos she posted early on in her career. As of 2022, she’s married to her long-time partner, Julien Solomita, and they live private lives off the internet.

12. Fred:

13. Mr. Beast:

A person smiling on the red carpet, wearing a formal suit with a white shirt — Roy Rochlin / Getty Images

Then: Jimmy Donaldson gained popularity on YouTube for his grandiose video ideas and high production value that often featured a monetary/philanthropic component. He first went viral with his video “I Counted To 100,000.”

Now: Donaldson has the most subscribed to channel on YouTube and, as of 2025, has a net worth of $1 billion. Alongside his YouTube channel, Donaldson is also the founder of MrBeast Burger (a fast food ghost kitchen), Feastables (a chocolate/snack brand), and Lunchly (a Lunchable competitor co-owned by Donaldson, Logan Paul, and Olajide “KSI” Olatunji), as well as several other philanthropic foundations and ventures. He’s also the creator and host of Beast Games, a Squid Game-like game show on Prime Video.

14. Liza Koshy:

Person in a sleeveless, leopard print mini dress standing against a brick wall — Gilbert Carrasquillo / Getty Images

Then: Liza Koshy first gained popularity on Vine before moving over to YouTube, where her comedic videos featuring various characters — all played by herself — as well as her lifestyle vlogs quickly helped her channel become one of the fastest-growing in history.

Now: Koshy has since taken a step back from YouTube to focus on other ventures. In 2018 and 2019, she served as a carpet host and arrivals correspondent for Vogue at the Met Gala. Most recently, Koshy has appeared in Netflix’s Work It and KPop Demon Hunters, as well as Summer of ’69 and The Naked Gun.