Jeffree Star
Jeffree Star | |
---|---|
File:Jeffree Star 2018.png Star in 2018 | |
Born | Jeffrey Lynn Steininger Jr. November 15, 1985 |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 2003–present |
Partner | Nathan Schwandt (2015-present) |
Website | jeffreestar |
Jeffree Star (born Jeffrey Lynn Steininger Jr.; November 15, 1985) is an American Internet celebrity, makeup artist, entrepreneur, and musician. He is the founder and owner of Jeffree Star Cosmetics.
By 2006, Star had become the most followed person on MySpace. He frequently used the platform to promote his music career. In 2009, Star released his first and only studio album, Beauty Killer, which included songs such as "Lollipop Luxury" featuring Nicki Minaj. He embarked on several world tours to promote his music. In 2010, he signed to Akon—who described Star as "the next Lady Gaga"—with plans to release a second album. However, it was never released and Star abruptly left the music industry in 2013 under unclear circumstances.
The following year, he founded his own cosmetics company, Jeffree Star Cosmetics; he subsequently began promoting the brand on YouTube, where he has since amassed more than 10 million subscribers and over 1 billion views, as of 2018.
Early life
Star was born in Orange County, California.[2] His father, Glen Steininger, committed suicide when Star was 6 years old and he subsequently was raised solely by his mother, Laurie Steininger, a model who frequently went on assignments. As a child, Star began regularly experimenting with his mother's makeup and convinced her to let him wear it to school when he was in junior high.[3] He moved to Los Angeles following his graduation from high school, supporting himself with various makeup, modeling, and music jobs.[4][5] He later recalled spending his time on weekends "using a fake ID to attend Hollywood clubs dressed in mini dresses and nine inch high heels, where celebrities would contract [Star] for makeup work at their homes".[6] Star reports that his weekend socializing at clubs and the makeup advice he offered eventually led to his modeling career.[6]
Career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Jeffree_Star_2007.jpg/170px-Jeffree_Star_2007.jpg)
MySpace
Star used popular social networking website Myspace to further both his music as well as fashion design career.[10] He also used Myspace for blogging about his life, while making social commentary on "self-image and confidence",[11] fame, beauty, and life. Star had built up a fan base on several websites but convinced many to join him on Myspace, giving his profile a large number of followers from the beginning. His Myspace photoshoots would frequently get over 50,000 comments when posted.[3] Star also gained fame as one of the most popular independent artists, with the daily rankings placing him in the top tier on Myspace.[12]
Music career
Star's music career as an electronica and pop vocalist began when he befriended Peaches' drummer Samantha Maloney, who encouraged him to make music.[3] During the summer of 2007, Star was advertised as a part of the True Colors Tour 2007,[13] which traveled through 15 cities in the United States and Canada.[14] The tour, sponsored by the LGBT Logo channel, began on June 8, 2007, to coincide with Pride month.[14]
Star released his first and only studio album Beauty Killer in 2009, which peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard Top Electronic Albums chart.[15] The album included songs such as "Lollipop Luxury" featuring Nicki Minaj. He embarked on several world tours to promote his music. In 2010, he signed to Akon—who described Star as "the next Lady Gaga"—with plans to release a second album. However, it was never released and Star abruptly left the music industry in 2013 under unclear circumstances. He later described signing to Akon's record label as "the biggest mistake I've ever made."[16]
He appeared in the second version of Kesha's music video for her single "Take It Off" in 2010.[17] Star has worked with several other musical performers, including Blood on the Dance Floor, Deuce,[18] Millionaires,[19] and Larry Tee.[20]
Jeffree Star Cosmetics
In 2014, Star founded his e-commerce makeup brand, Jeffree Star Cosmetics, using his life savings.[21] He started making videos promoting the brand on YouTube, where he subsequently became a popular YouTuber and amassed more than 9 million subscribers and over 1 billion views, as of 2018.[22] Bustle magazine described Star as "a musician and onetime Myspace celeb that reinvented himself in the YouTube makeup tutorial space."[23] His first cosmetics release was a collection of velour liquid lipsticks, which were followed by highlighter palettes, lip scrubs, eyeshadow palettes, clothing, and accessories, such as mirrors and make up bags. The first physical Jeffree Star Cosmetics store opened at Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey on August 11 2018.[24]
Personal life
Star resides in Calabasas, California with his boyfriend, Nathan Schwandt.[25][26]
Discography
- Beauty Killer (2009)
References
- ^ "Calabasas". Jeffree Star Cosmetics.
- ^ "About". Jeffree Star Cosmetics. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Immediato, Linda (May 9, 2007). "Jeffree Star – The fairest one of all". LA Weekly. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
- ^ "LAist Interview: Jeffree Star". laist. March 10, 2008. Archived from the original on March 14, 2008. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b Star, Jeffree (July 20, 2007). "Jeffree Star's MySpace profile". MySpace. Archived from the original on September 11, 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
- ^ "Jeffree Star – tickets, tour dates, news". Allgigs.co.uk. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ Bolter, Helen (November 29, 2007). "Let's Talk About C*NT! - Jeffree Star". Gigwise. Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Haglund, David. "Tila Tequila, the first star of MySpace. - Slate Magazine". Slate.com. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ [3][7][8][9]
- ^ Emonds, Craig (April 2, 2007). "MySpace continues to expedite music careers". South End Newspaper. Retrieved July 21, 2007.[dead link]
- ^ Weiner, Jonah (April 11, 2006). "Tila Tequila for President". Slate. Retrieved July 29, 2006.
- ^ Naff, Lycia (June 23, 2007). "Britney to Join Cyndi Lauper's Tour for Surprise Show – Britney Spears". People.com. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ a b "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Wayback.archive.org. September 30, 2007. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ "Jeffree Star Chart History".
- ^ "Jeffree Star - Shane And Friends".
- ^ Lecaro, Lina. "Which Flamboyant LA Underground Characters Are Infiltrating the Mainstream? And Which One is the Next Cross(dressing)over Star?". www.laweekly.com. LA Weekly. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- ^ "Deuce Nine Lives". sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
- ^ "Review:Millionaires Ft. Jeffree Star – Catch Me If You Can (Single)". Hit The Floor Magazine. April 4, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
- ^ "Larry Tee Club Badd review". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
- ^ "Meet the Real Jeffree Star: "I'm in a Different Place. I'm Growing Up."". Cosmopolitan.
- ^ "About jeffreestar". YouTube.
- ^ "When Is Jeffree Star's Beauty Killer Eyeshadow Palette Coming Out? You Can Buy It On This Date". Bustle.
- ^ "YouTube makeup star Jeffree Star coming to Garden State Plaza to launch cosmetic store". North Jersey. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- ^ Star, Jeffree. "Boyfriend Q&A: Part 1".
- ^ Star, Jeffree. "Boyfriend Q&A: Part 2".
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Wikinews-logo.svg/40px-Wikinews-logo.svg.png)
- 1985 births
- American bloggers
- American cannabis activists
- American electronic musicians
- American make-up artists
- American YouTubers
- Male models from California
- American male singer-songwriters
- American performance artists
- American pop singers
- American singer-songwriters
- American synthpop musicians
- Jeffree Star
- LGBT fashion designers
- LGBT models
- LGBT musicians from the United States
- LGBT people from California
- LGBT rights activists from the United States
- LGBT singers
- LGBT songwriters
- LGBT YouTubers
- Gay musicians
- Living people
- Singers from California
- Warner Music Group artists
- Beauty and makeup YouTubers