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Ava Jules is the good vibes influencer we *all* could use in our lives rn. The 20-year-old YouTuber, who's been making content since she was still in middle school, has a lot to say about creating an authentic and positive outlook—especially in the world of social media. 

In an exclusive interview with GL, Ava opened up about her earliest cringe-worthy days on YouTube, what body positivity means to her and who inspires her raw and realest content. Keep reading for the 10 things you *totally* need to know about Ava (including some that may surprise you!): 

1. She owes her YouTube career to...Justin Bieber.

"It's kind of a funny story. I was a *huge* Bieber fan. I felt the need to show the internet all my posters and my cardboard cutout, so I made a Justin Bieber fanpage channel. I didn't show my face on most of the videos, I was only 13 and just doing it for fun. It was purely to show my love for the Biebs. As my initial obsession for JB faded, I started to discover more OG YouTubers and beauty gurus, and that's when I made my makeup channel, 'Beauty By Ava' that transformed into my lifestyle channel now." 

2. She's met best friends through social media.  

"My girl Hannah Meloche reached out to me when we both had under 100K [followers]. I was kind of shy and so nervous and didn't reach out to people. Hannah was my first YouTube friend and we're still super close. Since then, I've also gotten to meet a ton more YouTube friends and connected with so many amazing people who go through the same things that I do."

3. She's super empathetic.

"I think people would be surprised to know that I'm deeply emotional, because it's hard for that to always come across in a YouTube video. I just care so much about people. I feel other people's emotions deeply, even if it's just a stranger who tells me a sad story."

4. She's passionate about body positivity.

"It's about being nice to yourself and your own body—but accepting other people's bodies, too. I know it's a hard journey for a lot of people, and that's why I wanted to use my platform to share my story and advice. It's not something people are always open about because it's very personal, but I know from my own experiences how important it is to spread that message." 

5. She's made it her mission to be nice to herself.

"If I could tell my younger self anything, it'd be to look in the mirror and say nice things, even if you don't believe it yet. Your brain subconsciously hears that statement, so negative thoughts can grow into self-hatred. Speak kindly to yourself." 

6. She looks up to other YouTubers. 

"I'm a huge YouTube watcher as well as creator. Lately, I've been loving Claudia Sulewski. I've followed her for about five years and she just seems so down-to-earth. She doesn't try to portray a lifestyle that isn't grounded, and I appreciate that." 

7. She loves living in Hawaii.

"I think living in Hawaii has made me more down-to-earth. Social media isn't as big here as it is in Los Angeles. People here are so nice and calm and it never fed my ego. I'm surrounded by people and family who keep me down-to-earth and that's the kind of person I am anyway. Especially in the fast-paced world of social media, it's nice to live a more laid-back life." 

8. She's ready to ditch perfection in 2021. 

"One trend I want to leave behind this year is the trend where you make your life look overly perfect on social media. I feel like that would just be better for everyone, seeing real life instead of that highlight reel." 

9. She's hopeful for her future.

"I finally have some projects in the works, so you can expect some really cool stuff coming up. I know a lot of people in this world get caught up with success and money and stuff, so I just want to stay in the moment, be smart by saving money and set myself up for a long career. I'm also pursuing a degree in digital marketing along with YouTube. I feel like I'm a pretty well-rounded person so I'm not too worried about what's to come or what could happen to social media as a career." 

10. She has the *best* advice for GL girls. 

"Be unapologetically yourself. You are already the person you were meant to be." 

Image Credit: Sienna Morales. Parts of this interview were edited and condensed for clarity.

by Katherine Hammer | 1/13/2021