Here Are 17 Celebrities Who Started Their Careers on Social Media

Some of the biggest names in entertainment did not start with a big break, they started with a post, a video, or a clip that caught on fast. Social media gave a surprising number of celebrities their first audience, long before the red carpets and headline tours.

This list pulls together 17 well-known stars who built early momentum online, from YouTube and Vine to Instagram and other platforms. Their paths look different, but each one shows how a simple upload can turn into a real career.

Justin Bieber is one of the clearest examples, and he is only the start of the story. Read on.

1. Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber is one of the many celebrities who were discovered on YouTube for their talents.

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Here's a look at one of his past videos that got him discovered.

That early clip changed everything.

2. Cardi B

Cardi B was first discovered on Instagram and Vine, where people fell in love with her personality. This led to her appearance on Love & Hip Hop: New York, which ultimately resulted in her signing with a music label.

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Here's a look into how Cardi started her career.

5. Halsey

Halsey grew up with a love for music and shared it on her YouTube channel. This is where she gained fame, especially when her song "Ghost" went viral and kickstarted her career.

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Here's a peek into Halsey's music.

Some of these early uploads look almost unrecognizable now.

7. Kate Upton

Kate was a successful model from the age of 16, but her fame skyrocketed when a video of her dancing to "The Dougie" went viral across the internet.

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Here is the infamous "Dougie" video.

9. The Weeknd

The Weeknd began by sharing his music on his mysterious YouTube channel, where many wanted to know the face behind the music. This exposure helped his account reach people like Drake, which inevitably kickstarted his career.

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Here's a peek into The Weeknd's music.

6. Alessia Cara

Alessia started by posting her music on her YouTube channel. Someone encouraged her to share her original music, leading to the release of "Here," which marked the beginning of her career.

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Here's what her old content looked like.

7. Doja Cat

Doja Cat was already popular on SoundCloud and signed to a label, but her true fame didn't come until the release of her song and video "Mooo!"

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Here's Doja Cat's video and song "Mooo!"

Viral moments like this helped a lot of careers take off.

Speaking of shocking recovery choices, this is similar to Billy Idol admitting he used crack cocaine to beat heroin dependency.

15. Bo Burnham

Bo went viral because of his song "My Whole Family..." which initiated a snowball effect, leading to his accidental fame. Since then, he has transitioned into comedy.

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Here's the song "My Whole Family..."

9. Shawn Mendes

Shawn began by posting covers on his YouTube channel, but he gained fame by sharing clips of his voice on Vine.

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Here's some of his most famous Vines.

10. Darren Criss

Darren played the lead role in a parody by Starkid Productions about Harry Potter called "A Very Potter Musical." This role launched his career, eventually leading to his part in Glee.

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Here's what the musical looked like.

11. Liza Koshy

Liza began by sharing her comedy and hilarious personality on Vine, later becoming a TV star and internet celebrity by continuing to showcase her comedic talent.

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Here's a look at some of Liza's most popular Vines.

12. Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa initially found success in modeling but later gained recognition for her YouTube channel, where she shared her music, eventually leading to her signing with a label.

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Here's what Dua Lipa's YouTube channel looked like.

13. Quenlin Blackwell

Quenlin Blackwell gained popularity on Vine, TikTok, and other social media platforms. She has gone viral multiple times and continues to build her career through social media, as well as modeling.

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Here's a look at one story that made her go viral.

14. Soulja Boy

At the start of YouTube, Soulja Boy went viral after posting his music to his channel, including the hit song "Crank That Soulja Boy." This could very well have been the first dance challenge.

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Here's the top hit that started his career.

15. Troye Sivan

Troye Sivan began by posting covers and vlogs on his YouTube channel, where he gained the fame that launched his career. Now he has two albums and a role in Boy Erased.

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Here's a look at Troye's YouTube channel.

16. Lil Nas X

Lil Nas X started his career with his hit song "Old Town Road," which completely stunned the internet. He continues to engage in hilarious marketing while releasing chart-topping hits.

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Here's his song "Old Town Road"

17. Dylan O'Brien

Dylan began by posting skits on YouTube, which became so popular that they led him to his role on Teen Wolf. He used his YouTube channel as his resume when auditioning for the role.

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Here is one of Dylan's skits on his YouTube channel.

Social media gave these stars a head start, and the rest took off from there.

Want another social-media ethics fight? See if you were wrong to ask your sister to film her pregnancy announcement.