James Charles
James Charles is a makeup artist, beauty creator and Painted founder who shares colorful looks, product tests and makeup challenges, alongside original music.
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Latest
James’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus their backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
YouTube
MorpheOverview
- From
- Bethlehem, New York
- Work
- Makeup artist, beauty creator, cosmetics founder and singer
- YouTube beginnings
- December 2015
- Breakout
- CoverGirl’s first male ambassador, 2016
- Own brand
- Painted, founded in 2023
Mini bio
How it started.
Before makeup, James styled hair for people around town. A friend who missed a makeup appointment asked for help before a school dance. The response to that look encouraged James to buy a starter kit and practice on friends. The self-titled YouTube channel launched in December 2015.
The breakout.
A senior-portrait post brought wider attention in 2016. That October, at 17, James became CoverGirl’s first male ambassador. A 2018 Morphe collaboration followed, pairing a 39-shade artistry palette with a brush collection. In 2020, James hosted and judged the first season of the makeup competition Instant Influencer.
A difficult chapter.
In 2021, James apologized for exchanging inappropriate messages with two 16-year-olds, saying they had claimed to be 18. Morphe ended its partnership and YouTube temporarily demonetized the channel. In a 2023 Cosmopolitan interview, James denied grooming and disputed some other allegations.
Building Painted.
James launched the independent makeup brand Painted in 2023 with Create Paint cream colors. The Artistry Canvas followed in 2025. Alongside makeup videos and product development, James records music, including the 2026 single “Lonely” and a live performance filmed at Los Angeles’s Orpheum Theatre.
Creditschronological, newest first
Beauty and campaigns
- 2025Artistry Canvas campaignDirector
- 2023Painted / Create PaintFounder
- 2018James Charles x MorphePalette and brush collaboration
- 2016CoverGirlFirst male brand ambassador
Series
- 2020Instant Influencer, season oneHost and judge
Music
- 2026LonelyPerformer and co-writer
Awards
Quotes
I got into makeup because I loved art.James Charles, PAPER
On the creative roots of Painted’s Artistry Canvas, June 24, 2025. Source: https://www.papermag.com/james-charles-painted
Trivia
- James told Post Run High that building LEGO sets and visiting escape rooms help provide a break from social media.
- Before beauty videos, James designed Tumblr themes and used the income to buy a DSLR camera and a MacBook, according to the Post Run High interview.
- The Artistry Canvas campaign gives classic artworks, including the Mona Lisa, colorful makeup.
Find James
Follow James for new makeup videos, Painted updates and music.
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