Canadian YouTuber and TikToker Jessii Vee always offers up one key piece of advice to anyone who asks how to get started in the industry: “There are millions of people in this world, so being unique and staying true to who you are will make your channel and videos stand out.”
This advice is something Jessii has stuck to since day one. In 2014, she started blogging and posting authentic and relatable YouTube videos about her life, including the ups-and-downs of dating and creepy neighbours. As her channel took off, it grew with her, evolving into a hub for videos about all things strange and unusual — a theme inspired by the dark and mysterious worlds displayed in pop culture and created by her favourite director Tim Burton. With content that’s equal parts entertaining and educational, Jessii’s audience (2.6 million subscribers on YouTube and 3.7 million on TikTok!) can learn about topics like cursed towns, lost TV shows and, most recently, why everything they know about mermaids is wrong.
As passionate as she is about her subject material, Jessii is also someone who cares deeply about others, and she lets her young viewers know they’re not alone if they’re struggling with anxiety or bullying like she did growing up. In this Take 5 interview, hear from Jessii how she’s prioritizing making the internet a safer space, raising awareness about Lyme disease, and being inspired by her viewers.
At the heart of your brand is your desire to create safe spaces for youth to engage with your content and each other. Why is this important to you?
When I was growing up, anxiety and mental health weren’t spoken about enough. This was one of the reasons why I decided to start posting personal stories on my YouTube channel. I wanted kids to be able to relate to my experiences so they would feel less alone. It has made me so happy to see comments from kids telling me how relieved they feel knowing someone else is going through the same thing as them. It’s so important to know that millions of people are suffering from loneliness, anxiety, depression or being bullied.
Just before the pandemic began, you had started a platform called You Are Not Alone (YANA) and grown it to 50+ schools and counting. What was its mission, and how do you continue to keep the message alive virtually?
YANA’s mission is to be a group in schools where people come together as a community and reach out to others that are feeling isolated or being bullied. It’s meant to be a safe, non-judgmental place where students can be supported and make friends. I was passionate to start this movement because I really struggled in school growing up. I had terrible anxiety and I was very shy. Because of this, I was a target for bullying and I found myself spending my lunch breaks alone in the library. On really bad days, I would have my lunch in the bathroom stall. If I had a group like YANA at my school back then, things would have been so much easier for me.
Unfortunately when the pandemic hit, it became difficult to continue these YANA groups in person, so we moved them online. I created an Instagram page called @yana_group where I posted weekly inspirational quotes to add positivity to people’s timelines. I also do monthly live streams called “Jess Checking In” where I discuss different important topics like bullying, mental health, chronic illness and isolation.
In addition to this being Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s also Lyme Disease Awareness Month — something you’ve publicly struggled with since 2017. How are you using your platform to draw awareness to Lyme disease?
My subscribers have been along the journey with me since day one. I wanted to be completely transparent because I was surprised to find out that not many people know what Lyme disease is. It’s incredibly hard to get treatment in Canada, so I’m hopeful that spreading awareness will change the way Lyme disease is diagnosed and treated in my country and around the world. I’m also donating a dollar from each order placed on my merch website towards The G. Magnotta Foundation’s research. They are aiming to improve a person’s ability to enter a clinic and get a test that will accurately report infection status after having been bitten by a tick.
How have you stayed inspired during the pandemic?
Taking some mental health days has been super beneficial for me. I also love to draw and paint. Letting myself sit down and be creative for a few hours really helps with my video inspiration. But I actually mainly look to my subscribers to stay inspired. I get so many amazing comments and DMs on my social media each day from people telling me how much my videos have helped them during the pandemic, which motivates me to keep going. They also send me some really cool video topics and ideas!
Do you have a message you want to share with your dedicated Vee Team?
A message that I always stand by and love to tell my subscribers is to embrace your weird side because normal is boring and people will love you for who you really are!
