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5 YouTube megastars that kids (and parents) should know

By Shannon Prather

October 6, 2017 at 9:57PM

Lilly Singh, the comedian, actress and YouTube sensation at the Xcel Center in 2016 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

These five YouTubers have garnered millions of views (and millions of dollars) for their goofy antics.

PewDiePie
Real name: Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg.
Subscribers: 57.4 million.
Views: 16.2 billion.
Video game commentator, comedian and video producer from Sweden is the most-watched YouTuber in the world. Recently, PewDiePie stirred controversy after using racially and ethnically offensive language.
Watch: youtube.com/PewDiePie

IISuperwomanII
Real name: Lilly Singh.
Subscribers: 12.4 million.
Views: 2.2 billion.
Comedian and actress originally from Toronto renowned for parodying her Indian parents. In 2015, Singh launched a world tour called "A Trip to Unicorn Island" based on her YouTube material. Her book "How to Be a Bawse: A Guide to Conquering Life," released in March, was ranked No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
Watch: youtube.com/IISuperwomanII

Markiplier
Real name: Mark Fischbach.
Followers: 18.6 million.
Views: 8.2 billion.
Video game commentator and comic who grew up in Cincinnati, specializing in narrating survival horror video games. Markiplier has used his fame to raise more than $1 million for charity.
Watch: youtube.com/markiplierGAME

Smosh
Real name: Ian Hecox.
Subscribers: 22.7 million.
Views: 6.7 billion.
Sketch comedy and animated channel started by California natives Daniel Padilla and Hecox. Padilla left to start his solo YouTube channel this summer. "Smosh: The Movie" came out in 2015.
Watch: youtube.com/Smosh

Miranda Sings
Real name: Colleen Ballinger.
Subscribers: 8.2 million.
Views: 1.4 billion.
California comedian, actress and singer known for her nerdy, nasally, talentless, lipstick-loving alter ego Miranda. Ballinger performs a one-woman comedy act worldwide.
Watch: youtube.com/mirandasings08

about the writer

Shannon Prather

Reporter

Shannon Prather covers Ramsey County for the Star Tribune. Previously, she covered philanthropy and nonprofits. Prather has two decades of experience reporting for newspapers in Minnesota, California, Idaho, Wisconsin and North Dakota. She has covered a variety of topics including the legal system, law enforcement, education, municipal government and slice-of-life community news.