James Charles has admitted that he has made “mistakes.”
The beauty influencer reflected on her early successes and failures as she prepared to reinvent her personal brand.
“No one’s perfect. I think when you grow up in the spotlight, it’s a blessing and a curse,” James, 25, told Us Weekly.
“You get so many amazing opportunities and are able to take advantage of so many amazing, fun things that most people wouldn’t have the privilege of experiencing in their lives, but you’re also growing in the spotlight. And with that comes mistakes.”
The YouTuber added that he has spent the last two years “rediscovering” himself and “reimagining what the James Charles brand really is for the public.”
He went on to explain that he felt like he had presented a personality since he first achieved fame online in 2015.
“I’ve been using social media since I was a little kid and it’s been the biggest blessing,” he said. “But I also feel like for a long time I was pretending – I don’t want to say a character because that makes it seem fake – but I was just a hyperactive version of myself. Whereas now I just worry about being authentic and telling my truth and my stories and to be able to let people see me for who I really am when the cameras are off.
James has been embroiled in a series of public controversies since he began posting makeup content. In February 2021, he denied allegations that he groomed a minor online. In 2019, he became embroiled in an online dispute with fellow makeup influencer Tati Westbrook.
