This story was originally published on Passionfruit.
Let’s rewind to 2008: Twilight hit movie theaters, Katy Perry dominated the pop charts, and the first group of YouTube “vloggers” emerged. Among the OG influencers was Alisha Marie from Riverside, California. As of 2023, she amassed over 8 million subscribers.
Marie started posting videos in 2011, with content ranging from makeup tutorials and morning routines to fashion hacks and back-to-school tips. She partnered with top brands—Marc Jacobs, Tarte Cosmetics, BMW, Amazon, Hollister—and designed her own Casetify X Alisha Marie phone case collection. Marie’s social media empire further extends to her own size-inclusive clothing brand, Parallel Apparel, which she founded alongside her sister, Ashley Nicole.
