\n
The internet has launched a whole new kind of celebrity \u2014 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 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\u2019s take a walk down memory lane and see where some of our favorite internet celebrities are today.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 1.<\/span><\/p>\n In 2011, Rebecca Black<\/a> became internet-famous overnight when she released the song<\/a> “Friday.” Here she is at age 13:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Rebecca leaned into her newfound fame<\/a>, rebranded her image, and carved out her place as a serious pop artist<\/a>. Now she has a strong presence on social media<\/a>, with a loyal fanbase and music that\u2019s worlds away from her viral debut. And here she is now at age 28:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Benito\u2019s career kept climbing \u2014 he created and starred in the comedy-drama series Overcompensating<\/i><\/a>, co-hosts the hit podcast Ride<\/i><\/a> with his bestie, Mary Beth Barone, and has become a fixture on red carpets. Here he is now at age 31:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 3.<\/span><\/p>\n Before he was topping charts and walking red carpets, Troye Sivan<\/a> was just a kid uploading song covers<\/a> to YouTube. His heartfelt performances quickly built him a following. Here he is at age 18:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n By the mid-2010s he had transitioned into releasing his own music. Today, Troye is a globally recognized artist with Grammy nominations<\/a>, a starring role in The Idol<\/i><\/a>, and viral hits like \u201cRush<\/a>.\u201d 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:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 4.<\/span><\/p>\n Russell Horning \u2014 better known as The Backpack Kid<\/a> \u2014 gave the world the Floss Dance. His deadpan performance<\/a> alongside Katy Perry<\/a> on SNL<\/i><\/a> in 2017 made the move go viral, and suddenly everyone was swinging their arms at school dances and in Fortnite.<\/i> Here he is at age 15:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n While the floss craze eventually cooled off, Russell has kept creating<\/a> \u2014 sharing music, comedy skits, and content that shows he\u2019s more than just one viral dance. Here he is now at age 23:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n From there, she grew into a familiar face in sketch comedy before creating, producing, and starring<\/a> in her own network sitcom \u2014 a massive leap from internet humor to primetime powerhouse. Today, Quinta isn\u2019t just an internet celeb \u2014 she\u2019s one of TV\u2019s brightest stars. Here she is now at age 35:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 6.<\/span><\/p>\n Danielle Bregoli (aka Bhad Bhabie) became a viral sensation after her infamous Dr. Phil<\/i> appearance in 2016<\/a> gave the world the line \u201cCash me ousside, how \u2019bout dat?\u201d. Here she is at age 13:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Instead of fading into meme history, she reinvented herself as a rapper<\/a> by releasing viral tracks. In 2024, Danielle became a new mom<\/a> and has been open about her recent cancer diagnosis<\/a>, sharing updates with fans as she focuses on recovery and family. Here she is now at age 22:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 7.<\/span><\/p>\n Michelle Phan was YouTube\u2019s original beauty guru \u2014 her makeup tutorials<\/a> in the late 2000s helped define what we now call the influencer era. In her twenties<\/a>, she founded Ipsy and EM Cosmetics<\/a>, building an empire off her online fame. But in 2016, Michelle suddenly stepped away, later explaining that she felt lost<\/a>. Here she is at age 23:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n She returned in 2017 with a renewed focus, quietly running her business and, more recently, launching her Afterglow<\/i><\/a> podcast in 2024. These days, her content dives into creativity, wellness, and finding balance. Here she is now at age 38:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 8.<\/span><\/p>\n Back in 2011, Taylor Armstrong<\/a> was a cast member on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills<\/i>, where her dramatic on-screen moments often stole the spotlight. During one especially heated dinner scene, Taylor \u2014 mid-yell and being held back by Kyle Richards<\/a> \u2014 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 \u201cWoman Yelling at a Cat\u201d meme. Here she is at age 40:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n These days, Taylor has swapped Beverly Hills for Orange County<\/a>, still making reality TV appearances every now and then. Here she is now at age 54:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 9.<\/span><\/p>\n In the 2010s, Lilly Singh \u2014 better known online as IISuperwomanII<\/a> \u2014 was one of YouTube\u2019s biggest stars, building a massive fanbase with her comedy sketches and uplifting energy. Here she is at age 26:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n She parlayed that success into mainstream opportunities, becoming a New York Times bestselling<\/a> author and, in 2019, landing her own NBC late-night show, A Little Late with Lilly Singh<\/i><\/a>. While the show wrapped in 2021, Lilly has stayed firmly in the spotlight<\/a>. These days, she\u2019s more than just an online personality \u2014 she\u2019s a multi-hyphenate entertainer who\u2019s carved out a space for herself in Tinseltown. Here she is now at age 36:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 10.<\/span><\/p>\n Liza Koshy first blew up<\/a> 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<\/a> to YouTube<\/a>, pulling in millions of views. Here she is at age 18:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In recent years, Liza starred in Liza on Demand<\/i><\/a>, hosted Nickelodeon\u2019s Double Dare<\/i><\/a> reboot, and landed roles<\/a> in films like Netflix\u2019s Work It<\/i> and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts<\/i>…just to name a few. Here she is now at age 29:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 11.<\/span><\/p>\n Shawn Mendes got his start on Vine<\/a>, posting six-second covers that showed off his voice. Those clips caught the attention of the MAGCON<\/a> (Meet and Greet Convention)<\/a> crew \u2014 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:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 12.<\/span><\/p>\n Addison Rae<\/a> went from filming dance videos in her bedroom in 2019 to becoming one of the platform\u2019s breakout stars almost overnight. Here she is at age 19:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Her fast rise<\/a> led to brand deals, music releases, and even a starring role<\/a> in Netflix\u2019s He\u2019s All That<\/i>. Her stardom shows no signs of slowing. In June 2025, she released her debut studio album<\/a>, Addison<\/i>, and launched her first headlining run<\/a>, The Addison Tour, with shows across the globe. Here she is now at age 24:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In 2024, Charli took things to an entirely new stage<\/a> \u2014 literally \u2014 making her Broadway debut in & Juliet<\/i> as part of the ensemble<\/a>. 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:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 14.<\/span><\/p>\n Dixie D\u2019Amelio first rose to fame<\/a> alongside her younger sister Charli in 2019, when the two quickly became part of TikTok\u2019s first wave of breakout stars. While her sister’s dance moves dominated the app, Dixie carved out her own path, stepping into music<\/a> with singles like \u201cBe Happy\u201d in 2020 and her debut album<\/a> A Letter to Me<\/i> in 2022. Here she is at age 18:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n She\u2019s since toured<\/a> and built a loyal fanbase. Dixie has grown from being \u201cCharli\u2019s sister\u201d to an artist establishing her own voice in pop. Here she is now at age 24:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 15.<\/span><\/p>\n Anthony Padilla<\/a> got his start on<\/a> YouTube in the 2000s, co-founding Smosh<\/a> with his best friend, Ian Hecox<\/a>. Their sketch comedy videos made Smosh one of the platform\u2019s first mega-successes. Here he is at age 25:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In 2017, Anthony left Smosh to pursue his own projects, including his popular interview series I Spent a Day With<\/a>\u2026<\/i>, 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\u2019s not just a YouTube pioneer \u2014 he\u2019s built a career on evolving with the internet itself. Here he is at age 37:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 16.<\/span><\/p>\n Speaking of \u2014 Ian Hecox rose to fame<\/a> in the 2000s as one half of Smosh<\/a>, the sketch comedy duo he co-founded with Anthony Padilla. With viral video that spoofed<\/a> the Pokemon theme song, \u201cFood Battle<\/a>,\u201d and \u201cIf Movies Were Real<\/a>,\u201d Smosh quickly found online success and helped define the platform\u2019s early era. Here he is at age 25:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n While his co-founder left<\/a> in 2017, Ian stayed with Smosh through ownership changes<\/a> 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\u2019s company), reclaiming the brand they first launched as teenagers. Here he is now, at age 37:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 17.<\/span><\/p>\n Patrick Starrr took the YouTube beauty community by storm, known for his bold makeup looks, magnetic personality, and mantra that \u201cmakeup is one size fits all<\/a>.\u201d His tutorials and celebrity collabs<\/a> helped bring the beauty community into the mainstream in the mid-2010s. Here is at age 25:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n