Bethany Mota

Bethany Noel Mota was born on November 7, 1995, to Tammy and Tony Mota in Merced County, California.^[2] Mota is of Mexican and Portuguese descent.^[4] She grew up in Los Banos, California and has an older sister named Brittany. She was homeschooled through most of her education but attended public school from third to sixth grade.^[2] Mota attended dance and acting classes briefly during sixth grade.

Bethany Mota was one of the most popular YouTube celebrities.^[5] Bethany Mota's first haul video was in June 2009. She began her YouTube channel in order to escape from the stress of bullying and rapidly gained followers,^[6] which numbered 9.5 million in October 2015.^[7] Business Insider described her as "relentlessly upbeat and bouncy" and "a virtuoso of positivity".^[6] As hauling became more popular on YouTube, retailers began to use it for marketing, and Mota was offered free cosmetics and gift cards.^[8] Mota is ambivalent about promotional videos,^[6] but when she does feature free products, she clearly identifies the products that she has not purchased.^[8] In January 2014, Business Insider estimated that she made $40,000 a month on her videos.^[6] In order to cultivate her fan following, she purchases prizes and awards to give them to fans who promote her videos.^[6] Her fans are called "Mota-vators".^[9] Besides her fashion-related videos, she also maintains a more personal account, which she uses to discuss whatever interests her.^[10] In 2014, she was selected to be among the content creators in YouTube's first advertising campaign.^[11] Mota has also appeared on YouTube's web show IMO, an opinion show aimed at teenagers.^[12] She also interviewed President Barack Obama on January 22, 2015 as part of a White House initiative to reach out to a broader audience following his 2015 State of the Union Address.^[13]

Since April 2017, Mota has been in a relationship with Emmy Award-winning choreographer and fellow YouTuber Dominic Sandoval.^[14][15]

She has partnered with J. C. Penney and Forever 21, and, in December 2013, she launched a clothing, perfume, and accessories line at Aéropostale, over which she retains creative control.^[6] She maintains a close relationship with her fans and incorporates their ideas into her fashion design. Teen Vogue called her style "laid-back-but-girly".^[16] New announcements are made first to her social media accounts, which Aéropostale credits with increasing interest among teenage girls.^[17] The Salt Lake Tribune described this relationship as unique, as both Mota and Aéropostale benefit in prestige from the deal, unlike traditional celebrity endorsements.^[18] As of June 2014, the retailer has yet to gain traction from these efforts.^[19] Forbes reports that the collection has delivered "high average prices and margins" but still underperformed.^[20]

While resting from YouTube, Mota also became the founder and co-designer of Atom&Matter, a line of delicate jewelry meant for everyday use. The brand came to fruition in 2019. The brand's pieces are described by her as a symbol of personal growth and transformation. She believes it can be a good and a new way to reach those audiences who don't watch her or know who she is. "I want this to also appeal to them," she said.^[14] In November 2020, she was the subject of a NYT profile, "Can a YouTube Queen Like Bethany Mota Create a Jewelry Realm?^[21]" In February 2021, Bloomberg interviewed her for a podcast, "Mota Creates Sustainable Fine Jewelry."^[22]

On October 13, 2014, she released a single, "Need You Right Now", with producer-vocalist Mike Tompkins.^[23] The song debuted in the Danish top 40 record chart Tracklisten at number thirty.^[24] On February 10, 2015, the official music video was released on Tompkin's YouTube channel.^[25][26] On May 4, 2015, in an interview at YouTube's 10th anniversary's YT Fan Meet Up, Mota confirmed she is working on new music and possibly her debut studio album.^[26] In June 2015, a video of Bethany Mota singing "Flashlight" on Kurt Hugo Scheneider's YouTube channel was released, which has since amassed over 24 million views.^[27] In August 2015, Mota wrote her own song, "Be Who You Wanna Be", and uploaded it on her YouTube channel.^[28]

In January 2014, she embarked on a tour called the "Motavatour", across the United States.^[29] In March 2014, Mota reported on the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards for Entertainment Tonight.^[30] Mota also served as a guest judge in season 13 of Project Runway.^[31] On September 4, 2014, Mota was announced as a competitor on Dancing with the Stars – season 19. She paired with five-time champion Derek Hough.^[32] Mota and Hough reached the finals but were eliminated on Night 1, finishing in 4th place.^[33] She has also given talks in October 2015 about anti-bullying as part of National Bullying Prevention Month.^[34] In 2016, it was announced that Mota would be publishing her first book, a memoir called Make Your Mind Up: My Guide to Finding Your Own Style, Life, and Motavation!.^[35] Mota recently joined UNICEF Kid Power as a brand ambassador Kid Power Champion.^[36]

Dancing with the Stars performances

average: 36.27

Her debut single is generally pop and dance music, and has elements of electropop.^[26] The follow-up to "I Need You Right Now", is described as an evolution from her first single with a new sound exploring stripped down acoustic music.^[26]

Mota was named one of "The 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014" by Time magazine in 2014^[44] and 2015.^[45]

• Bethany Mota at IMDb