Emma Chamberlain
Emma Frances Chamberlain (born May 22, 2001) is an American influencer, podcaster, businesswoman, and model. She rose to fame on YouTube in 2017 with her distinctive editing style, self-deprecating humor, and authentic personality, which pioneered a new approach to vlogging that transformed YouTube's content landscape. Time magazine named her one of "The 25 Most Influential People on the Internet" in 2019, writing that "Chamberlain pioneered an approach to vlogging that shook up YouTube's unofficial style guide."
In December 2019, Chamberlain founded Chamberlain Coffee, an online coffee company that has since expanded to over 8,500 retail locations including Walmart, Target, and Costco, with projected revenue of $33 million in 2025. She was promoted to Co-CEO of the company in 2024. The company opened its first physical cafe in January 2025 at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles.
Beyond YouTube, Chamberlain hosts the hit podcast Anything Goes, which became a Spotify exclusive in 2023 and won the Pop Podcast award at the 47th People's Choice Awards. She has served as a brand ambassador for luxury houses including Louis Vuitton since 2019 and Cartier since 2022, and has hosted Met Gala red carpet coverage for Vogue. She is also a three-time bestselling author and has appeared in film and television productions.
As of 2025, Chamberlain has over 12 million YouTube subscribers and 1.7 billion cumulative video views, and she is widely recognized as one of the most influential figures of Generation Z and a defining voice in creator economy culture.
Early life and education
Family background
Emma Frances Chamberlain was born on May 22, 2001, in San Bruno, California, a city in San Mateo County in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the only child of Michael and Sophia Chamberlain, whose marriage ended in divorce when Emma was five years old.
Her father, Michael Chamberlain, is a painter whose career depended on commission-based income from his artwork. In a 2018 interview with Forbes, Chamberlain revealed that her family struggled financially during her childhood. When her father was ill and unable to paint, the family experienced what she described as "hard times." This financial instability during her formative years contrasts sharply with her later success and multi-million dollar net worth.
Growing up primarily with her mother after the divorce, Chamberlain lived in a two-bedroom apartment—an arrangement she has described as creating barriers to her social life. As an only child with separated parents, she recalls a quiet and somewhat lonely childhood. These early experiences of financial struggle and relative isolation would later inform her authentic, self-deprecating content style that resonated with millions of viewers.
Education
Chamberlain attended Central Middle School in San Carlos, California, for her middle school education. She then enrolled at Notre Dame High School in Belmont, California, an all-girls Catholic preparatory school.
During her time at Notre Dame, Chamberlain was an active student-athlete. She participated in the school's cheerleading and track teams. Her involvement in cheerleading extended beyond school activities—she was a competitive cheerleader for five years and competed with the California Allstars, an elite cheerleading program based in Livermore, California. She was a member of their Senior Pink team.
Despite her involvement in extracurricular activities, Chamberlain became increasingly dissatisfied with traditional education toward the end of her sophomore year. In conversations with her father, she was encouraged to find a passion outside of school. This led to her initial foray into YouTube in 2016.
Chamberlain left Notre Dame High School during the first semester of her junior year, choosing to pursue her growing YouTube career full-time. She formally completed her secondary education by passing the California High School Exit Examination. In a surprising turn, she later completed additional requirements and received her official high school diploma in 2024, at age 23, graduating with the Class of 2024.
YouTube career
Early content and rise to fame (2016-2018)
On June 14, 2016, Chamberlain launched her YouTube channel as a 15-year-old seeking a creative outlet beyond traditional schooling. Her early videos followed common vlogging formats but quickly evolved to feature her distinctive style.
Chamberlain's content included cooking videos, fashion "hauls" featuring bulk purchases of typically affordable clothing items, car vlogs filmed while driving, and collaborations with fellow YouTubers. What set her apart was not the subject matter but her approach: authentic, self-deprecating humor, a willingness to show unflattering moments, and an editing style that broke from YouTube conventions.
Her trademark editing techniques became instantly recognizable and widely imitated:
- Dramatic zooms and Ken Burns-style zoom-ins
- Adding text overlays and sound effects
- Strategic pauses and awkward moments left in rather than edited out
- SpongeBob interstitials and random cutaway humor
- Facial distortion effects
This editing approach was so distinctive that "vlogging like Emma Chamberlain for a day" became its own YouTube genre, with fans creating compilation videos of her techniques. Other YouTubers who adopted similar styles were frequently accused by fans of "copying" Chamberlain.
Her well-documented obsession with coffee became a signature element of her content and personal brand—a passion that would later evolve into Chamberlain Coffee.
Move to Los Angeles and the Sister Squad (2018)
In June 2018, at just 17 years old, Chamberlain made the significant decision to move from the San Francisco Bay Area to Los Angeles to pursue her YouTube career full-time. The move marked her transition from bedroom vlogger to professional content creator.
In Los Angeles, Chamberlain became part of the "Sister Squad," a collaborative group of popular teen YouTubers that included makeup artist James Charles and comedy duo The Dolan Twins (Ethan and Grayson Dolan). The group's collaborative videos generated massive viewership, and all four creators were featured in YouTube Rewind 2018, YouTube's annual compilation celebrating the platform's top creators.
The Sister Squad was nominated for a 2019 YouTube Ensemble Shorty Award, recognition of the group's cultural impact. However, the collaboration became less frequent after December 2018, and the absence of James Charles from subsequent videos led to widespread speculation that the group had broken up. Chamberlain and James Charles reunited for a collaboration video in September 2020.
Professional representation and brand deals (2018-2019)
In July 2018, Chamberlain signed with United Talent Agency (UTA), marking her transition to professional representation and access to major brand partnership opportunities.
Her early brand associations included work with Dote, a shopping app that sent her to events including Coachella in 2018. In July 2018, Dote released a clothing line designed by Chamberlain called "Low Key / High Key by Emma." However, due to controversies surrounding Dote's treatment of creators, Chamberlain cut ties with the company in early 2019.
During this period, Chamberlain also collaborated with other female YouTubers including Ellie Thumann and Hannah Meloche, forming an informal group they called "The Girdies." These collaborations appeared across all three creators' channels throughout 2018.
Tanacon appearance (2018)
In June 2018, Tana Mongeau invited Chamberlain to be a Featured Creator at Tanacon in Anaheim, California. The event was Mongeau's alternative to VidCon, held simultaneously at a nearby convention center. Chamberlain's one-on-one onstage interview with Mongeau was the last event before the convention was abruptly canceled due to severe overcrowding and security concerns. The Tanacon debacle became one of the most infamous events in YouTube history.
Mainstream recognition (2019-2020)
The year 2019 marked Chamberlain's transition from YouTube star to mainstream cultural figure. Her accomplishments during this period included:
Snapchat Creator Show: At VidCon 2019, Snapchat announced that Chamberlain would premiere a Creator Show on the platform. Titled Adulting With Emma Chamberlain, the show premiered on November 4, 2019.
Teen Choice Awards: At the 2019 Teen Choice Awards, Chamberlain won the award for Choice Female Web Star.
Vogue Fashion Week coverage: During September's New York Fashion Week, Chamberlain hosted the Teen Vogue event Generation Next, attended by Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour.
Time recognition: In November 2019, Time magazine included Chamberlain on its "Time 100 Next" list and its list of "The 25 Most Influential People on the Internet." The publication wrote that "Chamberlain pioneered an approach to vlogging that shook up YouTube's unofficial style guide."
Awards recognition: At the 2019 Streamy Awards, Chamberlain was nominated for Creator of the Year, Editing, and First Person categories. She had won the 2018 Streamy Award for Breakout Creator.
Television appearances: Chamberlain appeared in a series of videos on Target's YouTube channel, paired with The Office star Angela Kinsey and Fashion Police host Brad Goreski. She was also interviewed on ABC News Nightline by Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon.
Eyewear collaboration: She collaborated with Crap Eyewear for a line of sunglasses she helped design.
Magazine covers and continued growth (2020-present)
Chamberlain's mainstream crossover continued with high-profile magazine features:
Cosmopolitan (February 2020): Featured on the cover with the caption "The most popular girl in the world." In the interview, she revealed details about dealing with body dysmorphic disorder and struggling with eating disorders, demonstrating her willingness to discuss difficult personal topics.
Allure (June/July 2020): Featured on the cover, cementing her status as a beauty and lifestyle icon.
Harper's Bazaar (March 2022): Cover feature photographed in Louis Vuitton.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chamberlain participated in YouTube's "Stay Home #WithMe" PSA campaign. She also appeared on Kevin Hart's YouTube series What The Fit, playing soccer with LA Galaxy players (recorded prior to the pandemic).
Variety included her in its 2020 "Power of Young Hollywood" list, and in 2020, Forbes included Chamberlain in their "30 Under 30" list in the Social Media category.
Current YouTube presence
As of December 2025, Chamberlain's YouTube channel has reached 12 million subscribers and accumulated 1.7 billion total video views. While she posts less frequently than during her early career rise, her videos continue to generate significant viewership and her influence on the platform's content style remains evident in the approaches of countless other creators.
Chamberlain Coffee
Founding and launch (2019)
In December 2019, Chamberlain launched Chamberlain Coffee, an online mail-order coffee company. The venture was a natural extension of her brand—her love of coffee had been a defining element of her YouTube content since her early videos, with her coffee-making routines and caffeine obsession becoming running jokes among fans.
The company initially launched as a direct-to-consumer e-commerce business, selling coffee products through its website. The original lineup focused on coffee beans and accessories, targeting Chamberlain's young, digitally-native audience.
Product expansion and retail growth
Chamberlain Coffee has since expanded significantly beyond its original offerings to include:
- Various coffee blends and single-origin options
- Tea products
- Ready-to-drink beverages
- Coffee-ware and brewing accessories
- Branded apparel and merchandise
The company achieved major retail distribution milestones, expanding to over 8,500 retail locations. Major retail partners include:
- Walmart
- Target
- Costco
- Sprouts Farmers Market
- Various specialty grocers and coffee retailers
Leadership and business performance
In 2024, Chamberlain was promoted to Co-CEO of Chamberlain Coffee, giving her substantial operational authority over the company she founded. Reports indicate she holds significant equity ownership in the company, likely between 30-50%.
Funding and valuation: Chamberlain Coffee has raised $19.6 million in funding from 14 investors, including Electric Feel Ventures, Blazar Capital, and UTA Ventures. The company reached a peak valuation of approximately $54 million in 2022, though more recent estimates place the current valuation around $20 million following industry-wide challenges in the direct-to-consumer space.
Revenue: The company generated estimated revenue of $21-22 million in 2024 and projects revenue of $33 million in 2025, representing 53% year-over-year growth. However, reports indicate the company posted losses in 2024 as growth slowed.
Fundraising challenges: Internal documents reported by media outlets revealed that Chamberlain Coffee faced difficulties raising capital in fall 2024, with multiple potential investors being approached as the brand navigated fundraising challenges.
Physical retail expansion (2025)
On January 28, 2025, Chamberlain Coffee opened its first permanent physical cafe at Westfield Century City Mall in Los Angeles. The opening generated massive excitement, with crowds forming lines that wrapped around the block. The physical location represents a significant evolution for the brand, moving beyond e-commerce and packaged retail products to offer a direct cafe experience.
Podcast career
Stupid Genius / Anything Goes
On April 11, 2019, Chamberlain launched her first podcast, initially titled Stupid Genius. The show was produced by Ramble Official in partnership with Cadence13 and United Talent Agency. The concept involved Chamberlain attempting to explain or learn about various topics in her conversational, unscripted style.
In February 2020, the podcast was reformatted and renamed Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain. The new format featured Chamberlain discussing a wide range of topics including relationships, mental health, fashion, intuition, and personal growth. The show embraced her authentic voice and willingness to explore topics without pretending to have all the answers.
Spotify exclusive deal (2023)
In November 2022, Spotify announced that Anything Goes would become exclusive to the platform as part of a multiyear licensing deal. Beginning in early 2023, new episodes and the entire back catalog became available exclusively on Spotify.
Chamberlain joined other prominent podcasters who had made their shows Spotify exclusives, including Alex Cooper (Call Her Daddy) and Joe Rogan (The Joe Rogan Experience). The deal terms were not publicly disclosed.
Speaking about the partnership, Chamberlain said: "I've been listening to everything on Spotify since I was 14. Spotify has played a huge role in developing my love and passion for podcasts and music... I couldn't be more honored to be their exclusive partner."
Max Cutler, Spotify's VP of Creator Content & Partnerships, stated: "Emma Chamberlain is one of the most influential voices fueling the creator community today... Her vulnerability, authenticity and contributions to the larger cultural conversation are truly inspiring."
Awards and recognition
Chamberlain's podcast work has received significant recognition:
- 12th Shorty Awards (2020): Won "Best Podcaster" for her work on Stupid Genius
- 47th People's Choice Awards: Anything Goes won the Pop Podcast award
The podcast has garnered over a hundred episodes and more than 1.1 million regular listeners.
Fashion career and brand partnerships
Louis Vuitton (2019-present)
In 2019, Chamberlain became an ambassador for Louis Vuitton, marking a groundbreaking moment in the fashion industry. Her partnership with the French luxury house was the first time a major luxury player teamed up with a YouTuber—a now common arrangement that Chamberlain pioneered.
The partnership was brokered by Derek Blasberg, head of fashion and beauty partnerships at YouTube. Chamberlain attended Paris Fashion Week in March 2019 in a co-sponsorship between YouTube and Louis Vuitton, where she was paired with model Karlie Kloss.
Over the years, Chamberlain has worked extensively with Louis Vuitton, including:
- Creating digital content for the design house's fashion shows
- Attending Paris Fashion Week multiple times
- Wearing Louis Vuitton for major red carpet appearances including the Met Gala
- Collaborating with Vogue on behind-the-scenes preparation videos
Cartier (2022-present)
In 2022, Cartier announced Chamberlain as a brand ambassador, timing the announcement to coincide with the Met Gala. Mercedes Abramo, president and CEO of Cartier North America, said: "Emma's creative spirit and diverse set of talents are a welcome addition to the maison... We're excited to see Emma's bold fearless approach to style translated into her new role as a Cartier ambassador."
At the 2022 Met Gala, Chamberlain wore a vintage tiara from Cartier along with a diamond choker, rings, and earrings to complement her custom Louis Vuitton outfit.
Additional brand partnerships
Lancôme (2023-present): In January 2023, Chamberlain became a brand ambassador for Lancôme, featuring in web series content for the beauty brand's YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok.
Bad Habit beauty: Chamberlain serves as global brand ambassador and creative director for the beauty brand.
Other partnerships: Throughout her career, Chamberlain has worked with numerous brands including Hollister (2019 swim collection), Calvin Klein, PacSun, and others.
Met Gala coverage
Since 2021, Chamberlain has served as the official red carpet host for Vogue at the Met Gala, conducting celebrity interviews that are subsequently posted to Vogue's YouTube channel. Her interview style—casual, conversational, occasionally awkward—has become a signature element of the event's digital coverage.
Her 2022 Met Gala hosting duties generated viral attention when her interview with rapper Jack Harlow featured an awkwardly flirtatious exchange that spread across social media platforms.
Early fashion ventures
Before her luxury partnerships, Chamberlain was involved in earlier fashion ventures:
Dote (2018-2019): In March 2018, Chamberlain became associated with the shopping app Dote, which sent her to events including Coachella. In July 2018, Dote released "Low Key / High Key by Emma," a clothing line designed by Chamberlain. She severed ties with the company in early 2019 following controversies related to Dote's treatment of creators.
Crap Eyewear: Collaborated on a line of sunglasses she helped design.
Other ventures
Books
The Ideal Planner (2020): On August 18, 2020, Chamberlain published The Ideal Planner, a daily planner released through the Gallery Books division of Simon & Schuster. The product reflected her brand's lifestyle orientation and appeal to young audiences seeking organization and self-improvement tools.
Film and television
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023): Chamberlain provided voice acting as a reporter in the DreamWorks Animation teen fantasy comedy film.
Forbidden Fruits (2025): Began filming on the horror film alongside Lili Reinhart, Lola Tung, Victoria Pedretti, and Alexandra Shipp.
While We're Young cameo: Appearance in Noah Baumbach's 2014 film (prior to her YouTube fame).
Television appearances: Appeared on Inside Amy Schumer and various talk shows and interview programs.
Digital content
Styled By Emma (2020): An IGTV series premiered on Instagram on August 26, 2020.
YouTube collaborations: Featured in videos with Target, Kevin Hart's What The Fit series, and numerous other collaborations.
Public image and influence
Pioneer of new vlogging style
Emma Chamberlain is widely credited with fundamentally changing YouTube's content style and vlogging conventions. Her approach—characterized by jump cuts, zooms, text overlays, intentionally awkward pauses, and self-deprecating humor—broke from the polished, aspirational aesthetic that dominated YouTube in the mid-2010s.
Taylor Lorenz of The Atlantic described Chamberlain as "the most talked about influencer in the world." Jonah Engel Bromwich of The New York Times, in an opinion piece, called her "the funniest person on YouTube" and stated that she "invented the way people talk on YouTube now, particularly the way they communicate authenticity."
Her influence is evident in the countless creators who have adopted similar editing techniques and presentational styles. "Vlogging like Emma Chamberlain" became its own YouTube genre, with her approach essentially becoming the new default style for personal vlogging content.
Gen Z icon
Chamberlain is frequently described as a defining voice of Generation Z culture. For millions of young people, "Emma Chamberlain" became almost a verb—shorthand for a certain casual, unfiltered lifestyle and aesthetic approach.
Her willingness to discuss difficult topics including body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and mental health struggles has resonated with her audience and contributed to broader conversations about these issues among young people.
Business of Fashion recognition
Chamberlain has been recognized by Business of Fashion in its BoF 500 list, which profiles the people shaping the global fashion industry. Her inclusion reflects her significant impact on how luxury brands approach creator partnerships and digital marketing.
Controversies and criticism
Podcast criticism
Chamberlain's podcast has faced criticism from some listeners and commentators. A viral TikTok claiming "Emma Chamberlain's podcast is genuinely just a girl who needs to go to college" received over 520,000 likes, reflecting criticism that her discussions can be surface-level or reflect the "bubble" that successful influencers inhabit.
Critics argue that without higher education, the show can be unstructured and echo-chamber-like, leading some to use the nickname "The Echo Chamberlain." Defenders counter that her relatability and willingness to explore topics without pretending expertise is precisely what makes the podcast appealing.
Relatability concerns
As Chamberlain's wealth and access to luxury opportunities grew, some critics argued she had "cashed out on her relatability." The tension between her early appeal as an authentic, relatable teenager and her current status as a millionaire brand ambassador attending Met Galas represents a broader challenge faced by creators who achieve mainstream success.
Patiala necklace controversy
At the 2022 Met Gala, controversy arose surrounding Chamberlain's jewelry. As a Cartier ambassador, she was loaned the Patiala necklace—a piece created for Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala during the British colonial era in India. The necklace had gone missing from the Maharaja's collection and was later acquired by Cartier.
Many Indian-Americans expressed outrage online, with some referring to the necklace as "stolen" and criticizing both Chamberlain and Cartier for displaying the piece. Neither Chamberlain nor Cartier publicly commented on the controversy.
Political silence
Some critics have noted Chamberlain's general silence on political and social justice issues. While she has discussed personal mental health topics openly, she has largely avoided taking public stances on political matters—a choice that some view as disappointing given her platform and influence, while others see as appropriate boundary-setting.
Dote association
Chamberlain's early association with the shopping app Dote, which faced controversies related to its treatment of creators, led to criticism before she cut ties with the company in early 2019.
Personal life
Relationships
From 2020 to 2023, Chamberlain dated singer-songwriter Tucker Pillsbury, known professionally as Role Model. In October 2023, E! News reported that the couple had split after approximately three years of dating.
Residence
Chamberlain resides in Beverly Hills, California. In March 2020, Variety reported that she had purchased a house in West Hollywood.
Hobbies and interests
Beyond her professional work, Chamberlain practices drumming as a hobby and can be seen playing drums in numerous videos. Her well-documented coffee obsession extends beyond business into genuine personal interest.
Mental health advocacy
Chamberlain has been open about her struggles with mental health, including body dysmorphia and eating disorders. She has discussed these topics in magazine interviews and on her podcast, using her platform to reduce stigma and connect with fans facing similar challenges. She has spoken about navigating negativity and the mental health impact of constant public attention that comes with internet celebrity.
Awards and nominations
Chamberlain has received numerous awards and nominations throughout her career:
Won
- 2018 Streamy Award: Breakout Creator
- 2019 Teen Choice Award: Choice Female Web Star
- 12th Shorty Awards (2020): Best Podcaster
- 47th People's Choice Awards: Pop Podcast (Anything Goes)
Nominated
- 2019 Streamy Awards: Creator of the Year, Editing, First Person
- 2019 YouTube Ensemble Shorty Award: Sister Squad
- 45th People's Choice Awards: Social Star
Lists and rankings
- Time 100 Next (2019)
- Time's 25 Most Influential People on the Internet (2019)
- Forbes 30 Under 30 (2020, Social Media category)
- Variety's Power of Young Hollywood (2020)
- BoF 500 (Business of Fashion)
See also
References