It’s fair to say 2019 hasn’t been the best year for YouTube sensation Jaclyn Hill. After the fanfare that greeted the launch of her cosmetics line, Jaclyn Cosmetics, was swiftly followed with complaints about quality and even reports of allergic reactions, Hill withdrew from social media entirely in July (well, with the exception of her YouTube channel, which she left open for her few remaining fans to browse). She’s now back and, judging from the very on-pointe pictures she posted on Instagram of her Halloween get up, she’s ready and willing to take on the cyberbullies once and for all. Find out more with these ten quickfire facts.
1. Her marriage to Jon Hill ended in divorce
In August 2009, Hill married percussionist and songwriter Jon Hill. 8 years later, the couple announced their divorce, with Hill stating, “We made good friends, not partners in life.” While the split seemed amicable at the time, things swiftly took a turn when Jaclyn suggested on social media that her husband had cheated on her. Although he’s not confirmed the infidelity rumors, John, a recovering addict, has held his hand up to being a less than ideal husband. “I definitely feel like I could have been more attentive,” he shared during an interview with Substream “ I was so miserable, I just kind of lost interest. I could have been there for her more and I could have been a better husband. When you’re hiding [an addiction] it’s hard to do anything, it’s hard to live. I definitely could have been overall [better], I could’ve shown her that I cared more.”
2. She was born on a pig farm
Born in 1990 on a pig farm in Mineral, Illinois, Jaclyn’s childhood changed for good when her father, James, told the family he’d been called upon by God to become an evangelical missionary. After moving to Tampa, Florida, the family spent the following few years following James around India, Honduras and various other far-flung destinations as he dedicated his life to preaching the gospel.
3. Fashion was her first love
She may have dedicated her life to makeup, but Jaclyn’s first love was fashion. After deciding she wanted to be a fashion designer when she grew up, the young Jacklyn even started to cut up and modify her own clothes in an attempt to make her own creations. Eventually, she started to get more interested in makeup, an interest her mother and sister helped foster by keeping her well-stocked in hand me downs.
4. Her first video was so bad she deleted it
It took Jaclyn some time to master the art of a good YouTube video. Her first video was so bad (in her mind at least), she ended up deleting it. I was so robotic,’ she shared with WWD. “Most of the video I’m just holding my lamp as my light towards me as I’m doing my makeup. It’s so bad.”
5. She’s the brains behind “Champagne Pop”
In 2015, Hill took the first steps towards creating her own line of cosmetics when she collaborated with Australian cosmetics brand BECCA to release “Champagne Pop”, a highlighter that generated so much advance interest, it ended up breaking records when it sold more than 25,000 units within 20 minutes of its release by Sephora. That same year, Hill also joined forced with Morphe Cosmetics to release a palette of her favorite Morphe eye shadows. Her collaboration with the brand continued for the following three years, generating over $12.2 million in sales.
6. Jaclyn Cosmetics was hot… before it wasn’t
In May 2019, Hill announced the launch of Jaclyn Cosmetics, a brand whose signature line revolved around 20 nude “So Rich Lipstick” shades. The positive reaction of her fans to the news was swiftly followed by a backlash that continues to this day. In addition to customers reporting issues with the quality of the lipsticks (with some claiming the product arrived melted or broken), some alleged to have suffered itching, swelling, redness, and cold sores from using them. Given the severity of the complaints, a petition was soon in place calling for Hill to recall the products.
7. Her response to the complaints went down like a lead balloon
After a petition calling for Hill to recall her lipsticks reached over 13000 signatures, Hill, who until that point had been notably silent about the complaints, took to social media to respond. “I plan on breaking my silence and addressing the issues regarding my lipsticks very soon,” she wrote on Twitter. “I have been working hard to gather all of the facts and details so I can give you accurate answers. I appreciate you allowing me time to wrap my head around all of this & investigate.” She subsequently published a video to YouTube in which she explained what may have caused the problems, as well as apologizing and confirming she would compensate anyone who had been affected. Her fans failed to accept the apology, and the furor continued to grow until Hill felt forced to withdraw from social media entirely.
8. Her mom is her biggest defender
When Jaclyn stepped down from social media in the wake of what was rapidly turning into a vicious hate campaign, her mom was quick to rise to her defense. “It was difficult and so very disappointing enough that some of her lipsticks had issues but the onslaught of hate, lies and even betrayal has by far been the worse part. It has been shocking”, she said on a now-deleted Instagram post. “No one deserves to be beaten when they are already sad and down.”
9. She’s a multi-millionaire
Despite the failure of her cosmetics brand, Hill has still managed to accrue enough in endorsement deals and through her collaborations with other beauty brands to keep her in lipsticks for years. According to the New Worth Portal, the YouTube star is currently sitting on the very pretty fortune of $2 million.
10. She doesn’t mind poking fun at herself
If her latest Instagram posts are anything to go by, Hill is starting to move on from the lipstick scandal. At her Halloween party, Hill decided to poke fun at her controversial beauty line by wearing a little black dress featuring the messages “canceled” and “she’s canceled” in glittery red font. If that wasn’t enough to get the message over, the fake blood and scratches on her face and body certainly were. Eager to point out the costume was in no way a jibe at her customers, she took to Twitter to explain. “This costume has NOTHING to do with my fans or customers,” she wrote. “It has to do with “cancel culture” that has become so popular. I adore my subscribers & they know that!”
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