There are thousands of beauty influencers out there, but a few like Claudia Sulewski walked so modern creators could run. Claudia started her YouTube channel in 2009, and she helped build what we now know as the digital beauty industry. She’s an icon, and honestly, the internet wouldn’t be the same without her cozy aesthetic, creative energy, and effortlessly cool presence.
If you’re not sure who Claudia Sulewski is, we’re excited to fill you in. Lauryn and Michael interviewed her on the Him & Her Show and got into all the good stuff—her life, career, relationships, and more. You can listen to the Claudia Sulewski podcast episode with TSC for the full scoop. But if you’re just here for the skinny on who she is and what she’s up to now, we’ve got you covered.
Who Is Claudia Sulewski? Inside Her Rise to Fame
Claudia Sulewski is a Chicago native who got into content creation just a couple years after YouTube’s inception. As one of the original beauty influencers, Claudia’s early videos helped lay the groundwork for the digital beauty community as we know it today.
Here’s what you need to know about Claudia Sulewski:
Why Is Claudia Sulewski Famous?
Claudia Sulewski is one of the OG YouTube personalities. She launched her channel way back in 2009 at just 13 years old, under the screen name BeyondBeautyStar. Before she knew it, she was slowly becoming part of the first significant wave of beauty creators. Within just a couple of years, she went from zero to millions of views.
By 2015, she’d gained enough recognition to become one of the first YouTubers to host Teen Vogue’s official YouTube channel. This milestone earned her major respect and visibility across the digital beauty world.
How Did Claudia Sulewski and Finneas Meet?
Claudia and her long-term boyfriend, Finneas O’Connell, technically met on a dating app, but there’s a little more to the story. Claudia dished and gave us all the details about their meeting when appearing on the Him & Her Show with Lauryn and Michael.
Finneas is a musician, and Claudia has a lot of friends in the industry. After two of Claudia’s best friends had sessions with Finneas, they knew there was potential. So much so that they immediately told Claudio that he would be the perfect match “if the stars aligned.” And, well, that’s exactly what happened! 2.5 years later, Claudia jumped on the dating app Raya and matched with him!
The day after they officially met, Finneas wrote a song about her titled “Claudia.” In response, Claudia painted him something super personal, and he made that the track cover. The rest is history—is anyone surprised these two have been together for over 6 years?
What Does Claudia Sulewski Do?
YouTube and Social Media Content Creation
Claudia started creating YouTube videos at just 13, becoming one of the original beauty influencers—and she’s still posting content today. Over the years, she’s evolved beyond her BeyondBeautyStar days, maturing her style and expanding her focus.
Now posting under her name, ClaudiaSulewski, she occasionally shares skincare content but mostly sticks to vlogs—giving us a peek into her life, travels, and creative projects. With over 2 million subscribers, we’re still just as hooked as we were back in 2009.
Want to hear her talk about her very first YouTube video all the way to her current content? This link takes you right to that part of her TSC podcast episode!
And if you’re craving even more Claudia content, she’s super active on social media. Follow her on Instagram and TikTok to stay in the loop on everything she’s up to.
Film and Television Acting
Claudia began her acting career in a web series back in 2016, but after moving to Los Angeles, she doubled down. To elevate and rebrand, she began working with acting coaches, taking acting classes, and signing with an agent. Since then, she’s landed roles in both TV shows and feature films.
She made an early appearance as Julie in Marvel’s Runaways (2016), and had a breakout role in I Love My Dad (2022), starring alongside Patton Oswalt. More recently, she’s taken on supporting roles in the Apple TV+ series Shrinking and the SXSW-featured rom-com For Worse.
With her acting career clearly gaining momentum, we’re excited to see what she does next.
Creative Direction at Cyklar
In 2023, Claudia returned to her original passion for skincare—but with a fresh approach. She launched her own body care brand called Cyklar, which is gender-neutral, vegan, and cruelty-free. Drawing on her extensive beauty industry experience, Claudia wanted to create a luxury skincare line that’s accessible, high-quality, and sustainable.
Cyklar uses only clean formulations and eco-conscious packaging, so you can feel great about each purchase. Plus, it’s all super affordable—no buyer’s remorse here. Some of the brand’s most popular products include the Sacred Santal Nutrient-Rich Body Cream, Vanilla Verve Vitamin C Body Oil, and Crescent Sensorial Body Wash.
Relationship with Finneas O’Connell
As mentioned, Claudia has been in a committed relationship with Finneas O’Connell since 2018. He’s a singer-songwriter and the older brother of none other than Billie Eilish. Their collaborations have won multiple Grammys, but Finneas also has a successful solo career. He’s done everything from working with other big artists to landing a few acting roles.
Since they’ve been dating, they’ve accomplished a lot. The couple bought a home, adopted an adorable Pitbull named Peaches, and hosted a COVID-19 slice-of-life podcast called We Bought a House. You can catch updates on their life and relationship in Claudia’s vlogs!
Claudia Sulewski is a pioneering beauty influencer who continues to inspire us through her authentic life and engaging content.
Claudia Sulewski is more than just an original beauty influencer—she’s a true trailblazer whose career has evolved beautifully over time. From shaping the digital beauty scene to branching out into acting and launching her own skincare brand, Claudia continues to inspire with her authenticity, creativity, and passion.
Whether you’ve followed her since the early YouTube days or are just discovering her now, she’s a force to watch. We can’t wait to see what she does next!
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