Wonder Woman of the Week: Grace Helbig

The spotlight for this week’s post has made a name for herself in the online community through her witty sense of humor and her professional-level facial expressions. But body language aside, this week’s Wonder Woman was an accomplished track star turned YouTube actress. Through her own talent for the craft and through the assistance of her two compatriots, the spotlight for the week has become a household name in the e-world and a major player in the modern market for online entertainment. The Wonder Woman of the Week is Grace Helbig.

Grace Helbig was born and raised in southern New Jersey where she excelled as a track star all the way through high school- receiving numerous medals in the pole-vaulting event. Beginning in 2008, Helbig entered a new field in which she would excel- online entertainment. Starting with the short-lived animated web series Bedtime Stories, Helbig began working on online web series. The show helped the rookie web actress earn a hosting gig for her own online video blog (vlog). DailyGrace began in April of 2008 and would launch Helbig into her present stardom. [1]

After her vlog gained three million subscribers, Grace Helbig received her own show on cable television as well as multiple podcasts and two bestselling books. Helbig’s success was largely tied to her personality of never taking herself too seriously. Her books highlight this philosophy and emphasizes her advice for young women. Helbig started one of her books with a narrative about body image issues she had early in her life and how she overcame those negative self-image with her early involvement in YouTube. [2]

While a great number of online personalities tend to mask their real-life personas, Grace Helbig managed to maintain her true self. Part of this feat came as part of a combined team effort with Helbig’s peers Mamrie Hart and Hannah Hart who as a trio form a team of personalities well known among the online comedy community for their awkward antics. When asked why showing one’s “humanness” was so important as an online personality, Helbig replied with a personal story. “I know that when I was sixteen-years-old, all I wanted was a strong female voice to say ‘Everything will be okay.’ So when girls remind me of younger me come up and say thank you, it makes everything worth it. Even if it’s just one person.” [2]

Grace Helbig grew up as an award winning pole-vaulter with body image issues who transformed herself into an internet star. With the right group of peers and through the success of her career, Helbig gained not only a fresh look at her own self-image but a more positive view on her future and the world around her. Through her career successes and her ability to garner the respect of fellow online comedians, Helbing managed to maintain her authentic self on the internet and inspire the next generation of online blogging young women to do the same.

“Biography.” GraceHelbig.net; 2014. Web. 1 March 2017.

Gannon, Emma. “Grace Helbig interview: “All I wanted was a strong female voice to say: Everything will be OK.” Collectively; 3 April 2016. Web. 1 March 2017.