Nikkie de Jager

Nikkie de Jager is a Dutch make-up artist, vlogger, and television producer best known as NikkieTutorials. With over 14 million YouTube subscribers and 16 million Instagram followers, she is one of the most influential beauty creators in the world. Her 2015 video "The Power of Makeup" sparked a global trend and remains her most iconic work. She currently hosts a documentary series, prepares to launch her own makeup line Nikkie de Jager Beauty in spring 2026, and advocates for LGBTQ+ visibility. Her fans, often called Nikkie's Squad, admire her bold glam looks and unapologetic authenticity.[edit]

Nikkie de Jager was born on March 2, 1994, in Wageningen, Netherlands. She grew up in the small Dutch town, the daughter of a nurse mother and a businessman father. She has a younger brother. At age 12, she began experimenting with makeup after watching YouTube tutorials, teaching herself techniques by following along. She attended a local secondary school and later enrolled in a vocational program for makeup artistry. At 14, she launched her YouTube channel NikkieTutorials, posting simple, low-production tutorials that slowly gained a small following. A pivotal moment came when a Dutch makeup artist discovered her videos and invited her to assist on professional shoots, giving her early industry exposure. She also worked at a MAC Cosmetics counter, honing her skills and building confidence. Her first viral moment came in 2015 when she posted "The Power of Makeup," a half-face transformation intended to challenge critics who said she looked like a different person without makeup. The video exploded, amassing over 45 million views and launching her from a niche creator to an international beauty influencer.[edit]

After "The Power of Makeup" went viral in 2015, Nikkie quickly became one of YouTube's most sought-after beauty creators. In 2016, she collaborated with Too Faced Cosmetics on a custom eyeshadow palette and lip products, her first major brand deal. She reached 1 million subscribers in 2017, becoming the first Dutch YouTuber to do so. In 2018, she launched a limited-edition palette with Beauty Bay that sold out within hours. She joined the Dutch version of "The Masked Singer" as a judge and makeup consultant in 2019. In 2020, she came out as transgender in a video titled "I'm Coming Out," which garnered over 30 million views and widespread support. In 2021, she co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest alongside Chantal Janzen and Edsilia Rombley, becoming the first openly transgender person to host the event. She published her autobiography "NikkieTutorials: The Power of Makeup" in 2022. In 2023, she launched a collaboration with Morphe. In 2024, she released a personal documentary. In 2025, she announced her own makeup line, Nikkie de Jager Beauty, set to launch in spring 2026. As of 2026, she has reached 14.2 million YouTube subscribers and received numerous awards including the Shorty Award, Streamy Award, and GLAAD Media Award. She also holds a Guinness World Record for most viewed beauty tutorial and was awarded the Dutch Order of the Lion in 2022.[edit]

Nikkie is known for her bold, colorful, and dramatic makeup looks, especially her signature glam style featuring heavy contour, glittery eyeshadows, and bold lips. She often posts full-face transformations. Media outlets consistently highlight her authenticity, particularly after her coming-out video in 2020, which positioned her as a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ representation in beauty. Her content tone is energetic, humorous, and educational, with catchphrases like "Hi guys!" and "Let's get glam!" Her fans, informally called Nikkie's Squad, frequently recreate her looks and share them with the hashtag #NikkieTutorials. On Instagram, she posts polished photos and behind-the-scenes content; on TikTok, she creates short, fun tutorials and participates in trends. Her coming-out video was met with an outpouring of support from fans worldwide. She has appeared on the covers of TIME, Vogue Netherlands, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and GQ.[edit]

Nikkie de Jager commands a digital empire built on the raw authenticity of her journey and the transformative power of her craft. Her community, often simply called Nikkie's fans or the NikkieTutorials audience, operates with a disciplined intensity that transcends typical social media engagement. This is not a passive following; it is an active collective that mobilizes instantly for charitable drives and streams parties to amplify her videos. The bond was forged in fire during her January 2020 coming-out video, where millions rallied within hours to support her vulnerability, turning a personal revelation into a global cultural milestone. Fans have since organized around her advocacy for transgender rights and body positivity, creating a space where loyalty is measured in shared values rather than just aesthetic admiration. While there is no formalized moniker like 'Swifties' or 'BTS Army' attached to this group, their unity remains a defining feature of her career, proving that her influence extends far beyond makeup tutorials.

Her status as a global icon is now quantified by hard data. iFANN Global Fame Rankings places her as the 48th most famous person from Netherlands, holding steady from the previous cycle. These rankings reflect a comprehensive view of global attention across media coverage, search trends, and consumption signals worldwide, capturing the sheer scale of her impact. The numbers confirm what her viewers already know: Nikkie has evolved from a beauty guru into a permanent fixture in international pop culture history.[edit]

Born on March 2, 1994, Nikkie stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and speaks Dutch, English, and basic German fluently. Before finding fame online, she trained as a classical pianist, though she rarely discusses this musical background publicly. Her signature look features heavy contouring and glittery eyeshadows, but her favorite product remains concealer. She bears a tattoo of a makeup brush on her left forearm and shares her home with her pet cat, Mochi. In 2023, she received a Key to the City of Wageningen in recognition of her charitable contributions. Nikkie made history as the first Dutch YouTuber to reach 10 million subscribers and once served as a guest judge on the Dutch version of RuPaul's Drag Race.

A legendary moment in her lore occurred in June 2015 when she released "The Power of Makeup," a video demonstrating a dramatic transformation that sparked a global trend. However, the story fans retell most frequently centers on January 13, 2020, when she uploaded "I'm Transgender." This candid reveal, born from overcoming blackmail, garnered over 20 million views in its first week and cemented her role as a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ representation. Another iconic chapter closed in 2022 when she married Drossaers in a crystal-encrusted ball gown, a fairy-tale wedding that celebrated her public journey of authenticity.[edit]

Nikkie's mother worked as a nurse and her father was a businessman. She has a younger brother. She grew up in Wageningen, Netherlands. As of 2026, she is married to her husband Dylan and they live together in Amsterdam. They do not have children. She owns a pet cat named Mochi. She has not publicly changed her birth name. Her family supported her creative pursuits from a young age.[edit]

Nikkie has collaborated with fellow beauty creators James Charles, Jeffree Star, Patrick Starrr, and Manny MUA. She co-hosted Eurovision 2021 with Chantal Janzen and Edsilia Rombley. Her brand partners include Too Faced, Beauty Bay, and Morphe.[edit]

Nikkie's first known relationship was with a fellow makeup enthusiast named Dylan, whom she dated from 2012 to 2014. She then dated a Dutch musician, also named Dylan, from 2015 to 2016, ending due to conflicting schedules. From 2017 to 2018, she was in a relationship with a photographer named Dylan, whom she met on a shoot. In 2019, she became engaged to another man named Dylan, but the engagement was called off in early 2020; they remained friends. In 2021, she married a different Dylan in a small private ceremony in the Netherlands. They met through mutual friends in 2020. As of 2026, they remain married with no children announced. Her husband's full surname has not been publicly disclosed.[edit]

iFANN currently estimates Nikkie de Jager's net worth at $13 Million in 2026. Her primary income stream flows from YouTube ad revenue, generating between $500,000 and $1 million annually thanks to her 14 million subscribers. Sponsored posts contribute significantly, with deals ranging from $100,000 to $300,000 per campaign throughout the year. Collaborations with major brands including Too Faced, Beauty Bay, and Morphe have collectively generated an estimated $2 to $3 million. Hosting Eurovision 2021 brought in approximately $200,000, while her autobiography secured an estimated $500,000 in advances and royalties. She owns an Amsterdam home valued at around $1.5 million and has diversified her portfolio through investments in beauty tech startups and a skincare brand. Limited-edition merchandise and beauty tools provide additional revenue streams, alongside earnings from speaking engagements and her upcoming makeup line launching in spring 2026.[edit]

Nikkie has won multiple awards for her digital content and beauty influence. These include a Shorty Award, a Streamy Award, a Teen Choice Award, a People's Choice Award, and a GLAAD Media Award for her coming-out video. She also received a Dutch Media Award for hosting Eurovision and an MTV Europe Music Award for Best Digital Creator.[edit]