James Charles Dickinson, known professionally as James Charles, is an American internet personality, makeup artist, and YouTuber who rose to prominence as a pioneering figure in the beauty community. Born on May 23, 1999, in Albany County, New York, he was raised in Bethlehem, New York, by his mother, Christie Dickinson. His initial foray into the public eye began on social media, where his artistic makeup skills quickly garnered a dedicated following.

While working as a local makeup artist, Charles launched his YouTube channel, uploading makeup tutorials that showcased his transformative and often bold aesthetic. His career trajectory changed dramatically in 2016 when a tweet featuring his makeup went viral, leading to a historic milestone: he became the first male brand ambassador for the cosmetics giant CoverGirl. This groundbreaking achievement solidified his status as a major new voice in beauty and significantly boosted the growth of his online platforms, eventually making him the most-subscribed beauty guru on YouTube.

His influence expanded beyond tutorials into entrepreneurship and television. Charles collaborated extensively with Morphe Cosmetics, launching a highly successful eyeshadow palette and later his own makeup line. In 2020, he leveraged his industry expertise to host, direct, and co-produce the YouTube Originals reality competition series Instant Influencer, which aimed to discover the next generation of beauty content creators. His work has been recognized with numerous awards, including two People's Choice Awards, three Streamy Awards, one Shorty Award, and one Teen Choice Award.

Charles's career has been marked by significant online controversies that have impacted his public image. In 2019, a highly publicized feud with fellow beauty YouTuber Tati Westbrook led to a massive loss of subscribers. Later, in 2021, he faced accusations of sexting with underage boys; he addressed these allegations by stating he was unaware of their ages at the time. Despite these setbacks, he has continued to maintain a substantial presence on social media, producing content and engaging with his audience. James Charles remains a prominent, albeit polarizing, figure whose early achievements broke gender barriers in the beauty industry and helped redefine the landscape of digital influencer culture.