The content creator on life after YouTube.
I know its trite to say that I felt an instant connection during an interview.
But in the case of Emma Chamberlain, theres no way around it.
Its kinda her whole thing.
So yes, our call did, in fact, feel like catching up with a friend.
Of course, theres also the fact that Ive been interacting with Chamberlains content for years now.
Max Montgomery. SHIRT & SKIRT: GAELYN & CIANFARANI, JEWELRY: STYLIST’S OWN.
SHIRT & SKIRT: GAELYN & CIANFARANI, JEWELRY: STYLISTS OWN.
At 23, Emma Chamberlain is no muse.
After years of being a canvas, shes taking creative controlshes the artist now.
Now, her videosposted months apart instead of weeklyare almost unrecognizable from her earlier work.
They feel more like short films directed by Wes Anderson, scored with classical music and soothing voiceovers.
JEWELRY: STYLISTS OWN.
The shift was necessary but not entirely planned.
DRESS: BAD BINCH TONGTONG, SHOES & EARRINGS: STYLISTS OWN.
Danessa Myricks Colorfix Mattes in Primary Red
Now, she takes a more intuitive approach.
Max Montgomery. JEWELRY: STYLIST’S OWN.
But she wasnt just creatively stuck.
It got to a point where she was simply terrified to post on the internet.
She felt like people were constantly waiting for her to mess up.
Max Montgomery. DRESS: BAD BINCH TONGTONG, SHOES & EARRINGS: STYLIST’S OWN.
Being a public figure on the internet right now is just waiting for attack.
Add some complicated feelings behind the scenes and a step back was necessary.
Im really trying to get over my overall fear of the witch hunt that is the internet.
Danessa Myricks Colorfix Mattes in Primary Red
But Im fighting that demon.
Im getting through it.
These experiences can be very isolating, she says.
it’s possible for you to feel like everyone hates you.
When even 10 people can comment that they hate you, you just think that everyone hates you.
Because 10 is a lot to a human brain.
Max Montgomery. DRESS: DAUPHINETTE, EARRINGS: TIFFANY & CO.
Chamberlain doesnt take her success for granted.
I dont believe in that.
I dont take free handouts from my brand.
Max Montgomery. DRESS: VICTORIA’S SECRET PINK, SHOES: STUART WEITZMAN, EARRINGS: STYLIST’S OWN.
If I need a new product, I buy it.
I do not take shortcuts.
I have a head start because Im a public figure already, and I never want to abuse that.
Violette_FR Yeux Paint in Poison des Délices
Some fans dont like this new and improved Emmain fact, they would already say shes someone else.
They miss her long brown hair and once-signature high pony, and they miss her more casual video style.
DRESS: VICTORIAS SECRET PINK, SHOES: STUART WEITZMAN, EARRINGS: STYLISTS OWN.
She laughs, but she stands firm in her feelings.
I was a child.
I dont want to be anything like that, because I celebrate my own growth.
Max Montgomery. DRESS: GRACE LING, SHOES: PARIS TEXAS, JEWELRY: STYLIST OWN.
So shes happy to be changing for the better.
I push myself constantly to make that trajectory go upward.
And so Im proud of that.
Max Montgomery. DRESS: GRACE LING, JEWELRY: STYLIST OWN.
Her quirky-cool style has spawned countless trends and earned her deals with Louis Vuitton and Lancome.
To me, its a little toxic.
There being It girls makes the internet feel like high school to me.
She also finds it a little stifling to be put in that (or any) box.
Shes no longer an It girl.
Butyoumade me that way!You told me thats who I was.
DRESS: GRACE LING, SHOES: PARIS TEXAS, JEWELRY: STYLIST OWN.
When it comes to her personal style, Chamberlain has both followed and kick-started countless trends over the years.
She dabbled in the quirky knits trend.
Max Montgomery. TOP & SKIRT: MISS CLAIRE SULLIVAN, SHOES: JIMMY CHOO, EARRINGS: STYLIST’S OWN.
DRESS: GRACE LING, JEWELRY: STYLIST OWN.
My current style is definitely pretty minimal, she says.
I just cant justify it anymore.
Max Montgomery. TOP & SKIRT: MISS CLAIRE SULLIVAN, EARRINGS: STYLIST’S OWN.
TOP & SKIRT: MISS CLAIRE SULLIVAN, EARRINGS: STYLISTS OWN.
When it comes to beauty, self-expression is the name of the game.
It was such a shame that my hair didnt feel like an accessory.
It was just brown and straight.
I was just so bored.
I was like,This is such a bummer.
I feel like I could be using this to express myself, and Im not.
I think anyone whos had acne for years on end knows what that feels like.
I wish that I knew how to crack the code of not feeling this desire to cover the acne.
I wish that I had that answer.
Every time I have acne, Im like,Oh god, here we go again.
It sucks, and theres no sugarcoating it.
TOP & SKIRT: MISS CLAIRE SULLIVAN, SHOES: JIMMY CHOO, EARRINGS: STYLISTS OWN.
These days, Chamberlain is taking things easy.
She sat out fashion month to rest and focus on quieter work.
She loves early morning yoga and a smoothie and loves exploring her city even more.
Like many influencers, Chamberlain still struggles with the contradictions between her relatable persona and high-impact life.
But harnessing her creativityin her videos, brand, and Instagram postsis how shes making it work.
Now, instead of her persona, shes putting her artistic vision front and center.
Shes been special all along, and now shes going all in.
