Asian LGBTQ Beauty Vloggers Worth Subscribing To
Ingrid Nilsen at VidCon California ©Gage Skidmore
Today’s social media landscape has paved the way for more diverse representation among people of all gender and sexuality. Whether you’re on the lookout for inspiring coming out stories, day in the life videos, or make up tips, these vloggers will be your new favorites.
Members of the LGBTQ community has maximized the internet to share their unique stories and inspire millions of people. However, there’s one medium that stands out most because of its more personal and in-depth approach in the lives of influencers – YouTube. This platform has become a melting pot of a diverse set of individuals who want to express creativity and share new beauty secrets.
Unfortunately, many vloggers still receive homophobic and transphobic comments because of who they are. However, these harsh comments are not enough to bring them down. We’ve rounded up our top LGBTQ vloggers that take pride in their authentic selves.
Ingrid Nilsen
Ingrid is one of the first beauty vloggers who became a household name thanks to her relatable and fun videos about skincare and makeup. With 3.66 million subscribers, the vlogger has landed features on Project Runway and deals with brands such as CoverGirl cosmetics. When the half-Thai vlogger released her coming out video admitting she was gay in 2015, millions of her subscribers were shocked.
“I care about you guys, you’ve been a part of my life for the past almost 6 years, and this is a really big part of my life and I want to sit down and talk to you and have this conversation just like I’ve had this conversation with friends,” she shared.
Patrick Starr
One of the pioneering “makeup men” on YouTube, Patrick Starr is one of the best content creators you can find today. The Filipino-American makeup artist has been making videos since 2013 and has done impressive collaborations with MAC Cosmetics. Patrick also works with some of the most famous celebrities including Kim Kardashian and Ashley Tisdale. These clients made him even more famous.
According to Starr, he never tried to refute his bright personality. He feels like he is the minority of minorities because he is gay and Filipino, but he won’t let that stop him from fighting for the rights of others.
Bretman Rock
If you haven’t seen any of Bretman’s videos, you’ve probably been living in a cave for the past couple of years. Bretman Rock (that’s his real name!) is a Filipino beauty vlogger raised in Hawaii with more than 6 million subscribers on YouTube. When the A-list beauty influencer is not busy making videos on Instagram and YouTube, he’s sitting front row on Fashion Week shows next to celebrities.
“People value makeup differently. Some people see makeup as an artistic expression, some people use makeup as a boost of confidence. I just think makeup is so beautiful and that it really is art. That’s why I do makeup,” the Singer/Song Writer/Actor/Actress/Athlete/Activist/A scientist on the mother*cking side/The star of the crystal of the dayayayyayaayy/And a coconut water connoisseur shared with Elle. Yes, he’s multi-hyphenated…and not ashamed of it!
Nikita Dragun
If you’ve been following Bretman Rock’s videos, then you probably know his beautiful best friend, Nikita Dragun. With her amazing makeup skills, bubbly personality, and flamboyant style, it’s hard not to be enamored by this Vietnamese vlogger. Dragun is famous for her transformation videos. Just like many transgenders, Dragun also got bullied and has faced issues with her trans identity.
“For about half a year, I wouldn’t tell anyone that I was transgender. Then, I started being honest and documented my journey. It was really out of frustration. I wanted to transition, and I had all these questions, and couldn’t find answers anywhere online,” Dragun stated in an interview with Forbes. There’s no stopping this beauty vlogger on her rise to fame. She even released her makeup label, Dragun Beauty, just recently.
Challenging Beauty’s Extremely Gendered Idea
When you think about beauty vlogs, it may be tempting to focus too much on beautifully crafted looks rather than the artist. Having grown up in mostly conservative households, Asian LGBTQ vloggers have gotten through tough hurdles just to uplift and inspire their subscribers. So if you want to watch a video that will turn your day around, check out the vloggers listed above.