Profile Overview
| Full Name | Zoe Elizabeth Sugg |
|---|---|
| YouTube Name | Zoella |
| Subscribers | 11+ million |
| Total Views | 1+ billion |
| 9 million followers | |
| 5.2 million followers | |
| 6.3 million followers | |
| Net Worth | £4+ million |
| Birthday | March 28, 1990 (Age 33) |
| Born | Lacock, Wiltshire, England |
| Partner | Alfie Deyes (ex) |
| Known For | Beauty, fashion and lifestyle vlogging |
As one of the first wildly popular YouTube lifestyle vloggers, Zoe Sugg has captivated millions of fans across the globe. From her fresh-faced beauty tips to her inventive recipes and charm, Zoe‘s content inspires and entertains. Let‘s explore the many sides of this multi-talented internet personality.
Early Life in the English Countryside
Zoe grew up in the quaint village of Lacock in rural Wiltshire with her parents and older brother Joe. She describes her childhood as happy and carefree, spent making jewelry, playing outside in the countryside and reading compulsively.
In school, English and creative writing were standout subjects for the imaginative Zoe. At age 15, she even began writing a novel that she hoped to publish one day.
After completing her A-Levels, Zoe started an apprenticeship with an interior design company. But she soon realized corporate life wasn‘t her calling. Like many 19-year-olds, she felt stuck and uncertain of her future.
Discovering YouTube and Building Her Channel
In 2009, Zoe stumbled upon YouTube makeup tutorials and was instantly hooked. Inspired by vloggers sharing their lives online, she created the channel “zoella280390” (using her birthdate as part of her username) to have an outlet for writing, beauty and lifestyle topics.
On February 2nd, 2009, she uploaded her very first video – a natural makeup look tutorial. The video now has over 540,000 views!
Zoe found her creative groove creating videos every week on fashion, hair, cooking, advice and more. Her bubbly personality and easygoing presenting style quickly attracted an audience. She hit the 100,000 subscriber milestone just 10 months after launching her channel.
Collaborations with popular YouTubers like Tyler Oakley, Louise Pentland and Alfie Deyes introduced her to new audiences. By 2011, she had over 500,000 subscribers. And in just a few short years, she became one of the biggest British lifestyle YouTubers.
Skyrocketing Success on YouTube
Zoe’s channel exploded exponentially between 2013 to 2017. She hit 1 million subscribers in 2012, doubled to 2 million in 2013, reached 5 million in 2014 and crossed 10 million subscribers by 2017.
Some major milestones from Zoe’s YouTube career include:
- 2011: 500,000 subscribers
- 2012: 1 million subscribers
- 2013: First book deal announced
- 2014: Launched Zoella Beauty brand
- 2017: Named one of Top 10 Highest-Paid YouTubers by Forbes, earning $4.7 million that year
Today, Zoe has over 11 million dedicated subscribers, adding thousands more daily. According to SocialBlade estimates, her channel brings in anywhere from $700,000 to $11.2 million annually!
Expanding to Books, Brands and Beyond
Capitalizing on her online popularity, Zoe began launching books, brands and products. Her debut young adult novel Girl Online sold a record-breaking 78,000 copies in its first week! She has since published 11 other books and novella collections.
In 2014, Zoe launched her own beauty brand called Zoella Beauty, featuring bath/beauty products she developed. Zoella Lifestyle followed with homewares and stationary.
Other notable collaborations include:
- Makeup collections with ColourPop and Revolution Beauty
- Clothing ranges with Primark
- Candles with Goose Creek
- Teaware with Chatty Feet
Zoe’s business savvy and loyal fanbase rocketed her to the top of the influencer industry. She built an empire doing what she loves!
Navigating Fame and Relationships
Behind the scenes, Zoe struggled with crippling anxiety when her channel first blew up. She’s been open about learning to cope with sudden fame and overwhelming expectations. Her tight-knit family and friends like Louise Pentland supported her through difficult times.
In 2013, fans rejoiced when Zoe began dating YouTube star Alfie Deyes (PointlessBlog). Their combined fanbase of over 15 million followers loved watching the cute couple in vlogs together.
Zoe and Alfie seemed like a perfect match and even lived together in Brighton with their dogs. But in 2021, the two announced they had split after nearly 8 years of dating. They remain on good terms though no longer post joint content.
Paving the Way on YouTube
When Zoe started out, lifestyle vlogging was still a novel concept. She helped pioneer the genre through her infectious positivity and focus on beauty, fashion, home and food content.
Her wild success demonstrated the power of YouTube and social media. Brands began recruiting influencers like Zoe for promotions based on their sway with young viewers.
Now there are countless lifestyle vloggers following in Zoe‘s footsteps. But as one of the first to make it big, she‘ll always be remembered as an OG trailblazer. Even a decade later, Zoe‘s still got it!
What Zoe Is Up To Now
While her upload schedule has slowed, Zoe remains active on YouTube with 2-3 videos weekly. She expresses no plans to quit her first love of creating videos. Recent content covers lifestyle topics like home organization, cooking, beauty routine and day in the life vlogs.
Outside YouTube, Zoe runs her books, brands and selective collaborations with leading companies like Coca-Cola, Pandora Jewelry and WW (Weight Watchers).
On the personal front, Zoe focuses on family, friends and self-care while adjusting to single life again. She often appears on social media with fellow influencers like Anastasia Kingsnorth.
While others now claim more subscribers, Zoe Sugg remains an icon. She opened doors for creator content and inspired millions to have the confidence to be themselves and pursue their passions online. Here‘s to many more magical years with Zoella!
