Her YouTube channel has more subscribers than Lady Gaga (4.8 million), she has more Instagram followers than Elle, Vogue, Glamour and Marie Claire combined (2.2 million) and she earns half a million dollars a year just by shopping.
Oh, and she still lives at home with her parents.
Bethany Mota, 18, kicked off her YouTube channel in 2009 with a ‘haul’ video discussing makeup she’d bought at Sephora and Mac. The Californian native wasn’t in it for the fame; she was being bullied online and YouTube’s beauty community provided her with an escape.
“I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I didn’t want to leave my house,” Mota tells Business Insider. “YouTube ‘was kind of an outlet for me to be myself and not really worry about what anyone thought.’”
Her latest ‘haul’ video has garnered over one million views in just six days.
The videos, that Bethany cuts herself and films in her bedroom, are exactly how you would expect a teenager to discuss their shopping haul.
Mota doesn’t use any fashion speak or jargon in describing her purchases, and shops at affordable stores like Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, H&M and Aéropostale – which is in part, her appeal.
“She’s super sweet and so relatable. Her videos are so personal. It feels like she’s speaking to me,” gushes one 15-year-old fan.
It’s estimated that Mota earns $US40,000 a month from her videos alone, and not surprisingly, clothing brands are eager to tap into the market she’s created for herself.
Last year Mota developed ‘Motavate,’ a line of clothing and accessories with teen apparel retailer Aéropostale. The range (with pieces varying between $7 and $112) features her signature open backed sweaters, skater skirts and novelty print tees.
As for what’s next for the entrepreneurial teen? “She’s 18,” her agent says. “I think she’s still discovering what her dreams are.”
Dare we ask, what were you doing at age 18?
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