Jeffree Star is a YouTube beauty guru sensation, with over 18 million subscribers and a makeup brand valued at $1.5 billion, it’s safe to say that Jeffree Star is best known for his role in the beauty industry. However, before he became a beauty icon, Star was well-known in the Hollywood music scene, which leads many to wonder if Jeffree Star was ever in a band.
Jeffree Star was not in a band. He is, however, a successful singer in his own right, having released an album and recorded a song with superstar Nicki Minaj.
Read more below about Jeffree Star’s time as a singer and how he went from famous to infamous with his YouTube channel.
Myspace Music
Jeffree Star was born and raised in Southern California. From a young age, Star took an interest in makeup and fashion, creating bold looks and dying his hair a multitude of colors, even jointly winning the “best hair” superlative in high school.
After graduating from Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, Star moved to Los Angeles. It was there that he held a number of odd jobs, including working as a makeup artist for some of the young Hollywood elite, but mainly focused on his music career.
Star’s singing career took off with the help of the original social media titan, Myspace. Star’s underground following grew so rapidly that he had the largest subscriber count on Myspace eventually.
Fame, Festivals and a First Album
Star began performing at clubs all throughout the Los Angeles area. Described as a combination of electronica and pop, Star made appearances on the festival circuit, including stints on the Vans Warped Tour.
In 2009, Star released his debut album, Beauty Killer, which enjoyed mild success, ultimately cracking the top 10 of Billboard’s Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart. The album had two official singles, “Prisoner” and “Lollipop Luxury,” the latter featuring Nicki Minaj.
You can watch Jeffree Star discuss his music career and working with Nicki Minaj in the YouTube video below.
With the success of the album, Star’s circle of celebrity friends expanded, and he could often be found hanging with the likes of Kat Von D, Nikki Sixx (of Motley Crue fame), and teen star Miley Cyrus, with Star taking to Twitter to call the latter “a legend.”
On the heels of this success, Star was offered the chance to record a second album under Akon’s record label, Konvict Music. However, somewhere along the way, the deal soured and the album was never recorded. Though Jeffree has never plainly stated what went wrong, he alluded to his feelings about the deal, saying, “It was almost like they were dimming my light and they weren’t letting me be me.”
From the Music Machine to Makeup Mania
In the midst of all this. Myspace’s popularity had begun to dwindle and Star had moved his social media platform to YouTube. With his music career at a standstill, Star began filming makeup tutorials and product reviews, intriguing viewers with his no holds barred commentary and approach to makeup.
As his numbers on YouTube climbed, Star took what was left of his money and invested it in a makeup brand, with Jeffree Star Cosmetics debuting in 2014. Since then the brand has gone on to international success, with multiple launches, merchandise and a multi-part documentary about Star helmed by fellow YouTuber, Shane Dawson.
Not only that, but Jeffree Star has wisely invested his money in real estate and other opportunities, including a merchandise company and a shipment and fulfillment center. As his brand’s success continues to grow, Star has created an opulent lifestyle for himself and his entourage.
Despite the fact that his booming business is beauty related, Star is not opposed to returning to music eventually. In fact, the YouTube sensation has music in the works for a 2020 release, which he admitted during a December 2019 podcast with Trisha Paytas, saying, “I would love to and I think next year is the perfect time. I have all the decks lined up.”
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