YouTube is the revered cultural space of the 21st century. It’s where we go to listen to songs from our childhoods, where we learn how to use Photoshop and, of course, where we argue with strangers in comment sections. Since the company’s launch in 2005, network executives and cable providers have scrambled to adapt to a world where YouTube stars reach global audiences in the millions. Every culture, subculture, and niche is represented on the platform. And in recent years, Latinxs have made their mark in worlds as disparate as gaming, beauty, and film criticism. Here are nine Latinx (and Latin American) vloggers you should follow:
1
TheAlmonteFilms
Jeffrey Almonte is the Afro-Latinx New Yorker bringing sharp wit and Uptown humor to the lily-white world of film criticism. Still, film critic falls short of fully describing a young man who produces everything from comedic skits about fuckboys to self-assured monologues about the racial politics of Latin America and the Caribbean. In recent months he’s shifted to producing content for his own website, TheAlmonteFilms channel is still a treasure trove of laughs, information, and food for thought.
2
Kayla Marie
With the beauty vlogging world completely saturated, it’s difficult to stand out. Kayla Marie – aka cutesygirl09 – stands out with her mix of videos. Though she mostly focuses on makeup, it’s not rare to see an adorable goldendoodle, her law school graduation, and other aspects from her life. The bilingual Chicanx vlogger is responsive to her fans and provides practical advice and in-depth tutorials to look your best for every season and special occasion.
3
SunKissAlba
Alba Ramos is the Dominicana vlogger who has amassed nearly a million subscribers with a steady diet of skin care videos and tips for styling curly hair. Her channel, SunKissAlba, has evolved since its initial launch and now includes vlogs about parenting, bathroom organization, and going fully organic on a budget.
4
Karina Garcia
There are few examples that illustrate the power of YouTube better than Mexican-American slime vlogger Karina Garcia. Making slime tutorials since before the internet became obsesses, Garcia notched millions of views and helped usher in a craze that hit schools around the country with intense fervor. Recently, she bought her family a house and retired her parents after forging lucrative relationships with corporations who see the power in her extensive network of kids eager to make slime at home.
5
Josh Leyva
Josh Leyva is one of the internet’s funniest characters, and his YouTube channel is brimming with skits and challenges meant to make you laugh out loud. Some of his most popular videos are titled “Normal People vs. Justin Bieber,” “Relationship Goals vs. Reality,” and “Hype Man Girlfriend.” His channel also features a number of gags and pranks on unsuspecting strangers. He also showcases his identity throughout, with videos like “Drake Telenovela” and “Latino Relives Childhood Spankings.”
6
Deafies in Drag
Deafies in Drag is the brainchild of Casavina and Selena Minogue. The YouTube channel features a range of videos, including parodies, skits, and their experiences as deaf. But mostly, the duo hopes their channel will bridge several communities.
“The deaf community is not strongly exposed to drag queens or [LGBTQ] culture, and the [LGBTQ] community is not strongly aware of deaf people either,” the pair told OUT. “So we try to expose both of them along with our third identity, being Latino, to share that we all experience unfortunate oppression, discrimination and face a lot of challenges in life. We take these unfortunate moments and turn them into comedy to forget the seriousness and not let it get us down.”
7
David Lopez
The death of Vine left a generation of social media stars without a platform. David Lopez, one of those stars, made the jump to YouTube where he now produces funny skits and sketches like “Never Rob a Magician” and “Batjuan and Ruben” which have millions of views. Often reprising his role as “Juan,” a Chicano trope, Lopez is able to imbue his heritage into a number of situations and films.
8
iHasCupquake
Tiffany Herrera is a Southern California Latina known to the gaming world as iHasCupquake. Her fine art background and penchant for making some of the best Minecraft videos on the internet have made her a star. With nearly 6 million subscribers in tow, she’s carved an important lane for herself in a world where women remain underrepresented.
9
EnchufeTV
EnchufeTV is the Ecuadorian web series making hilarious 5 minute comedic skits with real production value. Launched in 2011, Enchufe TV has earned upwards of 15 million subscribers in the time since, earning its place in Youtube’s top 40 most subscribed channels. Entirely in Spanish, the series’ videos — namely “Viendo Como Novia Celosa” and “Compra Condones” — have become international sensations by highlighting hilarious truths about the human experience.