I was very unfamiliar with YouTube; I thought it was the place for dog and cat videos.

All the things I do in my videos - the jumps, twirls and back bends - will also be onstage.

I never would've tried YouTube if I hadn't had so many doors slammed in my face.

The great thing about YouTube is there are no gatekeepers. No one is waiting to tell you if you're good enough. It's just your audience.

I think YouTube used to have a negative connotation, like it was the place where the rejects went and made careers, but I'm proud to be YouTuber. I wanted to be in that first generation of YouTube stars who transitioned into the 'real world.' It was a really good way to build my business.

I tried to work with a record label; I tried to work with a booking agency, variety shows. I went to Vegas. I just tried everything I could think of, and nothing took. No one thought there was a place for my style and my music; it was just too different.