YouTube Millionaires: Marissa Rachel Adopts “Big Sister” Mentality For Her Videos

Welcome to YouTube Millionaires, where we profile channels that have recently crossed the one million subscriber mark. There are channels crossing this threshold every week, and each has a story to tell about YouTube success. Read previous installments of YouTube Millionaires here.

The YouTube community as a whole is known for conveying an honesty and immediacy that viewers won’t necessarily find on other platforms, and few creators embody those qualities as well as Marissa Rachel. Rachel, a vlogger from California, makes videos that help young women the topics that are most relevant to their lives. Alongside her sister Shanna, she dishes out boy advice, talks about periods, completes challenges, and shares other videos through which her voice can shine. Now, she’s over one million subscribers, so we talked to her about her digital strategy.

Tubefilter: How does it feel to have one million subscribers? What do you have to say to your fans?

Marissa Rachel: Chester, my Panda, wants to go on a world tour and give each and every one of you a hug!

TF: Your channel has grown tremendously in the past year. Why do you think viewers have latched on to your videos?

MR: I hope my viewers think of me as a big sister they can trust to talk about whatever is on their mind, serious or silly.

TF: Who are your biggest influences? Are there creators you would like to collaborate with in the future?

MR: My dream collab would be Caspar Lee. I think his accent is so cute! I’ve collabed with Jessii Vee before but never in person, so I’d love to do that if we’re ever in the same city! I also LOVE pranking other YouTubers so that’s something I’d like to do more of in the future!

TF: You’re well known for your videos about periods. Why does that subject appeal to you?

MR: Every girl needs straight-up advice and needs to know her body is completely normal.

TF: What’s one way in which you would like the “public perception” of periods to change or shift?

MR: Talking about periods should be as normal as having them!

TF: Which challenge you’ve performed on your channel have you most regretted?

MR: I don’t really regret any challenges or videos I’ve done. Every video is still a good learning experience for what I can do better next time.

TF: Given the subject matter of your videos, your primary audience is obviously women. That said, do you feel your videos can appeal to men as well? Why or why not?

MR: Guys can learn a lot from my videos, and I don’t mean just watching the ones about boobs! Some guys actually enjoy getting to see things from the female perspective and getting into the mind of a girl.

TF: As you grow older, do you envision your videomaking style changing in any significant ways?

MR: My style is always changing and developing with every video, just like in real life. Doing the same thing all the time would be boring. But basically I’m always true to myself and I don’t try and copy anyone else. It’s just me and my sister Shanna making videos we would like to watch ourselves.

TF: What’s next for your channel? Any fun plans?

MR: I have lots of exciting plans, but Chester the Panda has sworn me to secrecy! I think I’m allowed to give a little hint that we have some really awesome period ideas that no one on YouTube has ever done before. Also, I’ve started to get sent movie scripts, so maybe I’ll try acting, who knows?