Makeup Guru Michelle Phan Reveals Secrets Behind YouTube Empire
(KPIX 5) -- She's the makeup guru of the YouTube generation known for creating faces like Taylor Swift, Angelina Jolie and even Barbie.
With 7 million YouTube subscribers and over a billion views, Michelle Phan laid the foundation for success back in college with just one video.
"I had 40,000 views within the end of week and hundreds of comments from not just women, but people from all over the world asking me how I do things," said the 27-year-old self-taught artist.
She can be over the top or office chic. And it's a hobby that has turned into a multi-million dollar, multi-media beauty empire. She landed big deals with Lancome and Google, launched her own makeup line, and started Ipsy -- a San Mateo-based makeup subscription service. This week, she's out with a book.
"I'm just a living example of someone who followed what I loved doing -- being creative," Phan said. "And that's something I really touch base on when I'm telling people this is that it wasn't the money I was chasing after."The digital superstar didn't set out to be her own boss. But she always had a strategy.
"My best advice that I give to anyone if you want to build a brand, if you want to go online and become a YouTube sensation is to ask why? Why are you doing this?" Phan said.