Bethany Mota Explained

Bethany Mota
Birth Name:Bethany Noel Mota[1]
Birth Date:7 November 1995[2]
Birth Place:Merced County, California, U.S.
Channel Name:Macbarbie07
Channel Display Name:Bethany Mota
Years Active:2009–present
Subscribers:9.47 million
Views:839 million
Silver Button:Yes
Silver Year:2011
Gold Button:Yes
Gold Year:2012
Diamond Button:Yes
Diamond Year:2016
Stats Update:January 22, 2024

Bethany Noel Mota (born November 7, 1995) is an American video blogger. Starting with her YouTube channel, Macbarbie07, created in 2009, she rose to fame for her haul videos, in which she shows her fashion and style purchases via the internet. She uploads videos of outfit ideas, makeup and hair tutorials, recipes, and do it yourself ideas. She has since expanded into her own fashion line at Aéropostale. She has gone on multiple tours, which she calls her "Motavatours" to meet and interact with fans. She also appeared on Season 19 of Dancing with the Stars.

Early life

Bethany Noel Mota was born on November 7, 1995, to Tammy and Tony Mota in Merced County, California.[2] Mota is of Mexican and Portuguese descent.[3] She grew up in Los Banos, California and has an older sister named Brittany. She was homeschooled through most of her education but attended public school from third to sixth grade.[2] Mota attended dance and acting classes briefly during sixth grade.

YouTube career

Bethany Mota was one of the most popular YouTube celebrities.[4] Bethany Mota's first haul video was in June 2009. She began her YouTube channel in order to escape from the stress of bullying and rapidly gained followers, which numbered 9.5 million in October 2015.[5] Business Insider described her as "relentlessly upbeat and bouncy" and "a virtuoso of positivity".[6] As hauling became more popular on YouTube, retailers began to use it for marketing, and Mota was offered free cosmetics and gift cards.[7] Mota is ambivalent about promotional videos,[6] but when she does feature free products, she clearly identifies the products that she has not purchased.[7] In January 2014, Business Insider estimated that she made $40,000 a month on her videos.[6] In order to cultivate her fan following, she purchases prizes and awards to give them to fans who promote her videos.[6] Her fans are called "Mota-vators".[8] Besides her fashion-related videos, she also maintains a more personal account, which she uses to discuss whatever interests her.[9] In 2014, she was selected to be among the content creators in YouTube's first advertising campaign.[10] Mota has also appeared on YouTube's web show IMO, an opinion show aimed at teenagers.[11] She also interviewed President Barack Obama on January 22, 2015 as part of a White House initiative to reach out to a broader audience following his 2015 State of the Union Address.[12]

Personal life

Since April 2017, Mota has been in a relationship with Emmy Award-winning choreographer and fellow YouTuber Dominic Sandoval.[13] [14]

Fashion career

She has partnered with J. C. Penney and Forever 21, and, in December 2013, she launched a clothing, perfume, and accessories line at Aéropostale, over which she retains creative control.[6] She maintains a close relationship with her fans and incorporates their ideas into her fashion design. Teen Vogue called her style "laid-back-but-girly".[15] New announcements are made first to her social media accounts, which Aéropostale credits with increasing interest among teenage girls.[16] The Salt Lake Tribune described this relationship as unique, as both Mota and Aéropostale benefit in prestige from the deal, unlike traditional celebrity endorsements.[17] As of June 2014, the retailer has yet to gain traction from these efforts.[18] Forbes reports that the collection has delivered "high average prices and margins" but still underperformed.[19]

While resting from YouTube, Mota also became the founder and co-designer of Atom&Matter, a line of delicate jewelry meant for everyday use. The brand came to fruition in 2019. The brand's pieces are described by her as a symbol of personal growth and transformation. She believes it can be a good and a new way to reach those audiences who don't watch her or know who she is. "I want this to also appeal to them," she said.[13] In November 2020, she was the subject of a NYT profile, "Can a YouTube Queen Like Bethany Mota Create a Jewelry Realm?[20] " In February 2021, Bloomberg interviewed her for a podcast, "Mota Creates Sustainable Fine Jewelry."[21]

Music

On October 13, 2014, she released a single, "Need You Right Now", with producer-vocalist Mike Tompkins.[22] The song debuted in the Danish top 40 record chart Tracklisten at number thirty. On February 10, 2015, the official music video was released on Tompkin's YouTube channel.[23] On May 4, 2015, in an interview at YouTube's 10th anniversary's YT Fan Meet Up, Mota confirmed she is working on new music and possibly her debut studio album.[24] In June 2015, a video of Bethany Mota singing "Flashlight" on Kurt Hugo Scheneider's YouTube channel was released, which has since amassed over 24 million views. In August 2015, Mota wrote her own song, "Be Who You Wanna Be", and uploaded it on her YouTube channel.[25]

Other ventures

In January 2014, she embarked on a tour called the "Motavatour", across the United States.[26] In March 2014, Mota reported on the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards for Entertainment Tonight.[27] Mota also served as a guest judge in season 13 of Project Runway.[28] On September 4, 2014, Mota was announced as a competitor on Dancing with the Starsseason 19. She paired with five-time champion Derek Hough.[29] Mota and Hough reached the finals but were eliminated on Night 1, finishing in 4th place.[30] She has also given talks in October 2015 about anti-bullying as part of National Bullying Prevention Month.[31] In 2016, it was announced that Mota would be publishing her first book, a memoir called Make Your Mind Up: My Guide to Finding Your Own Style, Life, and Motavation!.[32] Mota recently joined UNICEF Kid Power as a brand ambassador Kid Power Champion.[33]

Dancing with the Stars performances

average: 36.27

Artistry

Her debut single is generally pop and dance music, and has elements of electropop. The follow-up to "I Need You Right Now", is described as an evolution from her first single with a new sound exploring stripped down acoustic music.

Filmography

Film and television! Year 2036! Title! Role! Notes
2014Project RunwayGuest judgeSeason 13, episode 4[35]
Dancing with the StarsContestant on season 19Finished in 4th place.
2018Celebrity Undercover BossBoss / Expert advisor on Celebrity Undercover Boss

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryWorkResult
2014Young Hollywood Awards[36] Viral SuperstarHerself
Teen Choice Awards[37] Choice Web Star: FemaleHerself
Choice Web Star: Fashion/Beauty
Streamy Awards[38] [39] Entertainer of the YearHerself
Fashion Program
2015Teen Choice Awards[40] Choice Web Star: FemaleHerself
Choice Web Star: Fashion/Beauty
Choice YouTuber
2016Teen Choice AwardsChoice Web Star FemaleHerself
Choice Web Star: Fashion/Beauty
2019Teen Choice Awards[41] Choice Fashion/Beauty Web StarHerself

Mota was named one of "The 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014" by Time magazine in 2014[42] and 2015.[43]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bethanynoelm on Instagram. Instagram. September 15, 2014.
  2. Web site: Mota. Bethany. Draw My Life. Youtube. May 8, 2013. September 10, 2014.
  3. Web site: Get to Know YouTube Powerhouse Bethany Mota & Win a $100 Aero Gift Card!. Acciardo. Kelli. Latina. August 4, 2014. September 17, 2014. June 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180625022058/http://www.latina.com/beauty/celebrity/bethany-mota-interview. dead.
  4. Web site: Meet Bethany Mota, the teen who turned YouTube shopping sprees into a fashion career. Hollister. Sean. The Verge. January 20, 2014. May 12, 2014.
  5. Web site: Bethany Mota Confirmed As Most Influential Teen By Top Honor. Rivera. Zayda. Latina. October 27, 2015. December 5, 2015.
  6. Web site: THE BIG HAUL: This Teenage YouTube Shopping Star Makes Half-A-Million A Year And Has More Fans Than Vogue. Halperin. Alex. Business Insider. January 18, 2014. May 6, 2014.
  7. News: Teen 'haulers' become a fashion force. Chang. Andrea. Los Angeles Times. August 1, 2010. May 6, 2014.
  8. Web site: From Bullied to Bank: How Bethany Mota Created a YouTube and Fashion Empire. Lybrand. Sarah. Yahoo! Finance. April 21, 2014. May 6, 2014.
  9. Web site: Bethany Mota is the YouTube star you've never heard of (but your teen has). Kim. Eun Kyung. Today.com. January 24, 2014. May 6, 2014.
  10. Web site: Social Anxiety: The Tragic Necessity of YouTube Star Bethany Mota. Friedlander. Emilie. The Fader. May 30, 2014. June 4, 2014.
  11. News: OMG, it's a YouTube channel just for millennials. Chmielewski. Dawn C.. Los Angeles Times. June 24, 2012. June 4, 2014.
  12. News: YouTube stars interview Obama and things get weird. Sommers. Chloe. January 23, 2015. CNN. January 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150125030549/http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/23/politics/youtube-obama-interview/. January 25, 2015 . live.
  13. Web site: 2022-06-13 . YouTuber's Life From Being Bullied to Bethany Mota's Jewelry . 2022-06-26 . US day News . en-CA.
  14. B_Ie2QYhyRU. bethanynoelm. Happy 3 year anniversary to my best friend and soul mate i love you with all my heart honey ♥️ also this post is making me realize we should take more pictures together. . April 18, 2020. Bethany Mota.
  15. Web site: Bethany Mota Models Her Aeropostale Threads and Talks Design Inspiration. Teen Vogue. May 6, 2014.
  16. Web site: Aeropostale Makes Magic With Blogger Bethany Mota. Binns. Jessica. Apparel Magazine. May 19, 2014. June 4, 2014.
  17. News: You've never heard of YouTube star Bethany Mota, but she's going to change the way you shop. Dalrymple. Jim. The Salt Lake Tribune. February 14, 2014. June 4, 2014.
  18. Web site: Aeropostale 'Between a Rock and a Hard Place'. Germano. Sara. The Wall Street Journal. June 2, 2014. June 4, 2014.
  19. Web site: Aeropostale's Future Looks Uncertain Following Subdued Results, Downbeat Guidance And Sycamore Deal. . Forbes. March 20, 2014. June 4, 2014.
  20. News: Felder. Rachel. 2020-11-16. Can a YouTube Queen Like Bethany Mota Create a Jewelry Realm?. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-03-17. 0362-4331.
  21. Web site: Mota Creates Sustainable Fine Jewelry (Podcast). 2021-03-17. Bloomberg.com. en.
  22. Web site: Bethany Mota's New Song 'Need You Right Now' Proves There's Nothing She Can't Do. https://web.archive.org/web/20141016062856/http://www.mtv.com/news/1961448/bethany-mota-need-you-right-now/. dead. October 16, 2014. Lindner. Emily. MTV. October 13, 2014. October 13, 2014.
  23. News: Pittman. Taylor. Bethany Mota Leads A Colorful Dance Party In 'Need You Right Now' Music Video. Huffington Post. May 9, 2015.
  24. Web site: Van de Wall. Virginia. EXCLUSIVE: Bethany Mota Is Working on New Music!. J-14.com. May 4, 2015 . J-14 Magazine. May 9, 2015.
  25. Web site: Be Who You Want To Be Bethany Mota. Deadline Hollywood. Bethany. Mota. August 14, 2015. March 29, 2016.
  26. Web site: Check Out The Insane Line Of People Waiting To See Teen YouTube Superstar Bethany Mota. Peterson. Hayley. Business Insider. February 4, 2014. June 13, 2014.
  27. Web site: YouTube Star Bethany Mota Gets Celebs' Orange Carpet Beauty Tips. Seemayer. Zach. Entertainment Tonight. March 30, 2014. May 6, 2014.
  28. Web site: 'Project Runway' Season 13 Premieres Next Month. Seikaly. Andrea. Variety. June 23, 2014. July 12, 2014.
  29. 'Dancing with the Stars': Meet the season 19 competitors. Perlman. Jake. Entertainment Weekly. September 4, 2014. September 4, 2014.
  30. News: 'Dancing With the Stars' 2014: Bethany Mota Falls Out of Season 19 Finals. Clarke. Suzan. ABC News. November 24, 2014. December 5, 2015.
  31. News: YouTube star Bethany Mota visits Twin Cities for bullying prevention campaign. Sawkar. Vineeta. Star Tribune. October 21, 2015. December 5, 2015.
  32. Book: 978-1501154492. Make Your Mind up: My Guide to Finding Your Own Style, Life, and Motavation!. Mota. Bethany. June 13, 2017. Gallery Books .
  33. Web site: Bethany Mota: UNICEF Kid Power Champion. UNICEF Kid Power.
  34. Web site: Bethany Mota discography . Hung Medien . danishcharts.dk . October 25, 2014.
  35. News: 'Project Runway' Season 13, Episode 4: The designers suit up. Turnquist. Kristi. The Oregonian. August 15, 2014. September 4, 2014.
  36. Web site: 2014 Young Hollywood Awards Nominees Include 'Pretty Little Liars,' 'Fault in Our Stars' . . 22 December 2020 . 26 June 2014.
  37. Web site: Hernandez. Brian Anthony. YouTube and Vine Stars Win Big for #TeamInternet at Teen Choice Awards. Mashable. August 10, 2014. August 22, 2014.
  38. News: Tyler Oakley, Bethany Mota, Shay Carl take home Streamys. September 8, 2014. September 8, 2014. USA Today. Hurwitz. Daniel.
  39. Web site: Grace Helbig, Hannah Hart To Host 4th Streamy Awards. Bloom. David. Deadline Hollywood. August 27, 2014. September 10, 2014.
  40. Web site: Winners Of Teen Choice 2015 Announced. Fox. August 16, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150818075858/http://www.teenchoice.com/article/winners-of-%E2%80%9Cteen-choice-2015%E2%80%9D-announced. August 18, 2015.
  41. Yang . Rachel . Teen Choice Awards 2019: See the full list of winners and nominees . . December 12, 2020 . EN . August 11, 2019.
  42. The 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014. October 13, 2014. Time. December 5, 2015.
  43. The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2015. Time. October 27, 2015. December 5, 2015.