The internet has launched a whole new kind of celebrity — people who went from viral moments in their bedrooms to building real careers, and others who still pop up today as nostalgic favourites. From YouTube pioneers and Vine comedians to TikTok dancers and meme icons, these digital stars shaped how we watch, laugh, and share online.
Some transformed viral videos into long-term success, while others remind us of the chaotic, creative energy that defined entire eras of the internet. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and see where some of our favorite internet celebrities are today.
1.
In 2011, Rebecca Black became internet-famous overnight when she released the song “Friday.” Here she is at age 13:
Rebecca leaned into her newfound fame, rebranded her image, and carved out her place as a serious pop artist. Now she has a strong presence on social media, with a loyal fanbase and music that’s worlds away from her viral debut. And here she is now at age 28:
Benito’s career kept climbing — he created and starred in the comedy-drama series Overcompensating, co-hosts the hit podcast Ride with his bestie, Mary Beth Barone, and has become a fixture on red carpets. Here he is now at age 31:
3.
Before he was topping charts and walking red carpets, Troye Sivan was just a kid uploading song covers to YouTube. His heartfelt performances quickly built him a following. Here he is at age 18:
By the mid-2010s he had transitioned into releasing his own music. Today, Troye is a globally recognized artist with Grammy nominations, a starring role in The Idol, and viral hits like “Rush.” He’s come a long way, but his YouTube roots are still part of what makes him so relatable to fans. Here he is at age 30:
4.
Russell Horning — better known as The Backpack Kid — gave the world the Floss Dance. His deadpan performance alongside Katy Perry on SNL in 2017 made the move go viral, and suddenly everyone was swinging their arms at school dances and in Fortnite. Here he is at age 15:
While the floss craze eventually cooled off, Russell has kept creating — sharing music, comedy skits, and content that shows he’s more than just one viral dance. Here he is now at age 23:
From there, she grew into a familiar face in sketch comedy before creating, producing, and starring in her own network sitcom — a massive leap from internet humor to primetime powerhouse. Today, Quinta isn’t just an internet celeb — she’s one of TV’s brightest stars. Here she is now at age 35:
6.
Danielle Bregoli (aka Bhad Bhabie) became a viral sensation after her infamous Dr. Phil appearance in 2016 gave the world the line “Cash me ousside, how ’bout dat?”. Here she is at age 13:
Instead of fading into meme history, she reinvented herself as a rapper by releasing viral tracks. In 2024, Danielle became a new mom and has been open about her recent cancer diagnosis, sharing updates with fans as she focuses on recovery and family. Here she is now at age 22:
7.
Michelle Phan was YouTube’s original beauty guru — her makeup tutorials in the late 2000s helped define what we now call the influencer era. In her twenties, she founded Ipsy and EM Cosmetics, building an empire off her online fame. But in 2016, Michelle suddenly stepped away, later explaining that she felt lost. Here she is at age 23:
She returned in 2017 with a renewed focus, quietly running her business and, more recently, launching her Afterglow podcast in 2024. These days, her content dives into creativity, wellness, and finding balance. Here she is now at age 38:
8.
Back in 2011, Taylor Armstrong was a cast member on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, where her dramatic on-screen moments often stole the spotlight. During one especially heated dinner scene, Taylor — mid-yell and being held back by Kyle Richards — was captured in an image that, years later, would be paired with a confused-looking cat at a dinner table. The mashup became the legendary “Woman Yelling at a Cat” meme. Here she is at age 40:
These days, Taylor has swapped Beverly Hills for Orange County, still making reality TV appearances every now and then. Here she is now at age 54:
9.
In the 2010s, Lilly Singh — better known online as IISuperwomanII — was one of YouTube’s biggest stars, building a massive fanbase with her comedy sketches and uplifting energy. Here she is at age 26:
She parlayed that success into mainstream opportunities, becoming a New York Times bestselling author and, in 2019, landing her own NBC late-night show, A Little Late with Lilly Singh. While the show wrapped in 2021, Lilly has stayed firmly in the spotlight. These days, she’s more than just an online personality — she’s a multi-hyphenate entertainer who’s carved out a space for herself in Tinseltown. Here she is now at age 36:
10.
Liza Koshy first blew up on Vine in the mid-2010s, where her quick-witted sketches and over-the-top characters made her a breakout star. She carried that same energy to YouTube, pulling in millions of views. Here she is at age 18:
In recent years, Liza starred in Liza on Demand, hosted Nickelodeon’s Double Dare reboot, and landed roles in films like Netflix’s Work It and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts…just to name a few. Here she is now at age 29:
11.
Shawn Mendes got his start on Vine, posting six-second covers that showed off his voice. Those clips caught the attention of the MAGCON (Meet and Greet Convention) crew — a collective of Vine stars who toured together meeting fans. While that era was short-lived, it gave Shawn the visibility he needed to launch a full-on music career. Here he is at 15 years old:
12.
Addison Rae went from filming dance videos in her bedroom in 2019 to becoming one of the platform’s breakout stars almost overnight. Here she is at age 19:
Her fast rise led to brand deals, music releases, and even a starring role in Netflix’s He’s All That. Her stardom shows no signs of slowing. In June 2025, she released her debut studio album, Addison, and launched her first headlining run, The Addison Tour, with shows across the globe. Here she is now at age 24:
In 2024, Charli took things to an entirely new stage — literally — making her Broadway debut in & Juliet as part of the ensemble. She continues to show that her career is more than just a TikTok trend, balancing online fame with a growing presence in the entertainment industry. Here she is now at age 21:
14.
Dixie D’Amelio first rose to fame alongside her younger sister Charli in 2019, when the two quickly became part of TikTok’s first wave of breakout stars. While her sister’s dance moves dominated the app, Dixie carved out her own path, stepping into music with singles like “Be Happy” in 2020 and her debut album A Letter to Me in 2022. Here she is at age 18:
She’s since toured and built a loyal fanbase. Dixie has grown from being “Charli’s sister” to an artist establishing her own voice in pop. Here she is now at age 24:
15.
Anthony Padilla got his start on YouTube in the 2000s, co-founding Smosh with his best friend, Ian Hecox. Their sketch comedy videos made Smosh one of the platform’s first mega-successes. Here he is at age 25:
In 2017, Anthony left Smosh to pursue his own projects, including his popular interview series I Spent a Day With…, where he sits down with everyone from YouTubers to people in niche communities. In 2023, the two best friends reunited to reclaim Smosh, returning the channel to its original roots. Over the years, Anthony has proved that he’s not just a YouTube pioneer — he’s built a career on evolving with the internet itself. Here he is at age 37:
16.
Speaking of — Ian Hecox rose to fame in the 2000s as one half of Smosh, the sketch comedy duo he co-founded with Anthony Padilla. With viral video that spoofed the Pokemon theme song, “Food Battle,” and “If Movies Were Real,” Smosh quickly found online success and helped define the platform’s early era. Here he is at age 25:
While his co-founder left in 2017, Ian stayed with Smosh through ownership changes and kept the brand alive with new cast members and content. Six years later, Ian and Anthony teamed up to buy Smosh back from Mythical Entertainment (Rhett & Link’s company), reclaiming the brand they first launched as teenagers. Here he is now, at age 37:
17.
Patrick Starrr took the YouTube beauty community by storm, known for his bold makeup looks, magnetic personality, and mantra that “makeup is one size fits all.” His tutorials and celebrity collabs helped bring the beauty community into the mainstream in the mid-2010s. Here is at age 25:
Patrick later launched his own brand, ONE/SIZE Beauty, which has become a major player at makeup counters. Over the years, he’s shown how a YouTube channel can grow into full-fledged empire. Here he is now at age 35:
18.
It all started in 2006, when a young Bo Burnham shared a bedroom performance on YouTube — and the internet couldn’t get enough. Here he is at age 17:
What started as cheeky musical comedy grew into a career that’s spanned stand-up, directing, and award-winning specials like Inside on Netflix. Beyond his work, Bo has made headlines for his current romance with musician Phoebe Bridgers. The two now live a quieter life together, even as Bo occasionally pops up in Taylor Swift’s circle of friends. Here he is at age 35:
19.
Long before he was selling out arenas, Justin Bieber was just a kid from Stratford, Ontario, uploading covers of songs like “So Sick” by Ne-Yo and “With You” by Chris Brown to YouTube. Those homemade performances caught the attention of Scooter Braun, and by 2009 Justin was topping charts. Here he is at age 15:
Over the years, he’s gone from teen heartthrob to global pop icon, racking up Grammys and hit singles along the way. These days, Justin keeps a lower profile with his son and wife Hailey Bieber. Here he is now at age 31:
20.
Ingrid Nilsen was one of YouTube’s earliest lifestyle and beauty stars, known for her warm personality and honest videos that helped shape the platform’s influencer culture in the 2010s. She made headlines ten years ago when she came out as gay in an emotional video that inspired millions of viewers. Here she is at age 27:
Who’s your favorite internet star — past or present? Did you grow up following makeup tutorials, blasting “Friday,” or doomscroll on TikTok for hours? Tell me in the comments below! Personally, I’ll never get over the chaos of “Hide yo kids, hide yo wife” — true internet history.
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