James Charles

James Charles Dickinson began experimenting with hairstyling before developing an interest in makeup. After a friend asked him to do her makeup for a school dance, he taught himself cosmetic techniques and soon began working as a local makeup artist in Bethlehem, New York.

He graduated from Bethlehem Central High School in 2017. His father, Skip Dickinson, helped convert part of the family basement into a makeup studio with a desk, mirror, dimmable lights, and storage areas, giving Charles a dedicated space to develop his online work. His younger brother, Ian Jeffrey, became a professional model represented by IMG Models.

Charles began posting makeup tutorials on YouTube in December 2015. He attracted major attention in September 2016 after a tweet featuring his retaken senior portrait, ring light, and full makeup went viral. In October of that year, at age 17, he became CoverGirl's first male brand ambassador and appeared in advertisements for the So Lashy mascara line.

He expanded his business activities by launching the Sisters Apparel clothing line and the Sister Collection makeup range with Morphe Cosmetics in 2018. He also worked with public figures including Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Lil Nas X, Kesha, Madison Beer, Doja Cat, JoJo Siwa, Charli D'Amelio, Addison Rae, Trixie Mattel, and Bretman Rock. In 2019, he did Iggy Azalea's makeup for promotional material for her single "Sally Walker" and appeared in its music video.

In 2020, Charles hosted, directed, and co-produced Instant Influencer, a YouTube Originals reality competition series. He won a Streamy Award for Show of the Year for the program and did not return as host for its second season. He released his debut single, "Call Me Back," in 2024.

Charles became prominent as a young male makeup artist and was recognized for using online video to present makeup as a creative outlet and art form. He refers to his fans as "sisters" and has cited Jaclyn Hill and Nikkie de Jager as major influences.

His work has received multiple awards, including People's Choice Awards, Streamy Awards, a Shorty Award, a Teen Choice Award, and a Kids' Choice Award. His 2019 Sisters Tour was canceled after a highly publicized dispute with fellow beauty creator Tati Westbrook.

In 2019, Tati Westbrook, a fellow makeup artist and frequent collaborator, posted a 43-minute video titled "Bye Sister." The video accused Charles of disloyalty and of attempting to seduce a heterosexual man despite knowing the man's sexuality. Jeffree Star and Zara Larsson also commented on or supported claims connected to the dispute.

Charles responded with an apology video and later released "No More Lies," a 41-minute video addressing and disputing statements made about him. He became the first YouTuber to lose one million subscribers in 24 hours. Westbrook later removed the original video and posted a follow-up in 2020 saying that Jeffree Star and Shane Dawson had manipulated her into making it. The dispute prompted wider discussion about cancel culture, online feuds, and stereotypes involving gay men.

In 2021, several underage boys accused Charles of sending sexual messages or nude photographs and pressuring them to sext. Charles denied grooming one accuser and said the boy had claimed to be 18. In an April 2021 video titled "Holding Myself Accountable," Charles acknowledged sending sexually explicit messages to two people under 18 who, he said, had each told him they were 18, and called the conduct reckless, desperate, and unacceptable.

Morphe announced later that month that it was ending its business relationship with Charles, while YouTube temporarily demonetized his channel. He returned with the video "An Open Conversation" in July 2021. In a 2023 interview, Charles denied grooming the accusers and said that screenshots circulated online had been fabricated. One of the initial accusers also told the publication that he had falsely claimed to be 18 and had privately apologized to Charles.