Celebrities Who Got Started Going Viral Online
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Social media is a powerful tool; in a matter of hours a video, tweet, news article, song, or photo can go viral and make its way around the world and back again. While some people who go viral only experience their fifteen minutes of fame, other people turn those fifteen minutes into a lifelong career. These celebrities were bursting with talent and were simply waiting for the right audience to come along and recognize their potential. Today, they are household names but long before we were singing along to their songs or watching them on the silver screen, they were regular people with big dreams. Thanks to the internet and the speed of social media, we are able to enjoy their art and continue to witness their success.
Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber is perhaps the biggest success story of going viral on social media. When he was just a kid he was discovered on YouTube, and he has since gone on to become one of the biggest stars on the planet.
Rebecca Black
Rebecca Black was just thirteen years old when she became an overnight sensation for all the wrong reasons with the infectious song, "Friday." The then-teen never intended for the song to go viral, and while she faced relentless cyberbullying and tremendous backlash, she ultimately took back the narrative and launched a successful music career.
Halsey
Before Halsey was a household name, they were posting songs on SoundCloud with a dream of making it big in the music industry. In 2014, their song "Ghost" went viral which led them to get signed by a record label, marking the beginning of their wildly successful career.
Kate Upton
Kate Upton has modeled for countless publications all around the world. Though she got started in the industry as a young teen, it was a video of her dancing "The Dougie" at a basketball game going viral that launched her into international stardom.
Bo Burnham
Bo Burnham is one of the biggest names in comedy today but long before he was performing to sold out crowds he was a teenager posting songs on YouTube. When his song, "My Whole Family..." started to make the round on the internet, Bo's career really started taking off.
The Weeknd
Many people don't know that The Weeknd got his start posting his original songs on YouTube. All it took was Drake discovering his YouTube channel and the rest of The Weeknd's career unfolding from there.
Doja Cat
Doja Cat gained traction on SoundCloud which let to her getting signed to a label, but when she released her song, "Mooo!" and the accompanying video she was catapulted into superstar territory. Since then, Doja Cat has released hit after hit with no signs of stopping.
Shawn Mendes
Shawn Mendes got his start in music first by posting original songs to his YouTube channel and then to the now defunct Vine. In 2013 a six-second clip of one of his original songs went viral, and the rest is history.
Troye Sivan
It's easy to forget that before Troye Sivan was a superstar he got started by posting song covers and vlogs on YouTube. Today he's a successful actor and musician beloved for his personality as much as his talent.
Soulja Boy
Before Soulja Boy was signed to a major label, he self-released his hit single, "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" and made his own video for the track. His unique dance moves and catchy tune made him a viral phenomenon and it wasn't long before he had a record deal.
Darren Criss
Darren Criss became a celebrity when he made his debut on Glee, but he actually got started by starring in a lo-fi production of A Very Harry Potter Musical that got uploaded to YouTube. The video has since racked up countless views and Criss is a celebrity recognized for all of his incredible talents.
Cardi B
No matter what Cardi B is doing, she is entertaining. Her witty and often hilarious online presence on social media platforms garnered her just enough attention to be cast on Love & Hip-Hop: New York, and her star only continued to rise from there.
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