James Charles (model)

James Charles Dickinson (born May 23, 1999), known professionally as James Charles, is an American Internet personality and model.^[1] On October 11, 2016, at the age of seventeen, he became the first male spokesmodel for cosmetics brand CoverGirl, working alongside brand ambassador Katy Perry.^[2][3][4][5] As the first male spokesmodel and brand ambassador for CoverGirl, Charles will be the face of the soon-to-be launched So Lashy! by BlastPro Mascara.^[6][7]

Charles launched his YouTube channel on December 1, 2015 and has more than one million subscribers.^[8][9] His Instagram has 1.5 million followers.^[10] He is from Bethlehem, New York and as of 2016 is a senior at Bethlehem Central High School.^[11][12][13] Charles is openly gay and came out at the age of 12.^[14]

In November 2016, Charles was a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.^[15][16] In February 2017, Charles caused controversy when he tweeted an offensive joke about Africa and Ebola. He later issued an apology by saying "I am extremely sorry for what I said. There are no excuses. No one owes me forgiveness, but I've learned a lot from the experience. I hope that the people who might look up to me will be able to learn from my mistakes and not repeat them" .^[17]

In March 2017, Charles caused controversy again when YouTube make-up artist Thomas Halbert posted screenshots of previous conversations with Charles where he admitted his rise to fame story was falsified. Charles originally claimed he had his high school prom photographs retaken with a ring light,^[18] however the conversation revealed that he had actually edited the photographs and contacted the photographer.^[19] Halbert later claimed he was wrong to post the screenshots online.^[20]

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