Emma Chamberlain on What It Means to Be an Icon in 2022

Bazaar’s 2022 Icons issue celebrates a rising generation of stars—people 30 years old or younger who are making an impact on the world through their ideas and their art. Here, we talk to YouTuber Emma Chamberlain about her legacy, the best advice she’s ever gotten, and life as a Gemini.

What does the word icon mean to you?

The word icon, to me, is something that’s timeless, or someone that’s timeless, that will continue to influence and inspire forever, I think. It’s a big word, though.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

It comes from my dad, and it’s to just do things for me. Don’t do it for anybody else. If I’m not doing something for me, then I shouldn’t be doing it. In general, you’ve got to live for you, not for others.

What do you want your legacy to be?

I’m not really concerned about what kind of legacy I leave because it’s out of my control. And what I can do now is just try to be a good person. But what happens after I’m gone happens after I’m gone, and maybe everybody will forget about me, and that’s okay. That’s okay too.

What do you think is the most iconic astrological sign?

I guess I have to say Gemini because I’m a Gemini, but everybody hates Geminis, so I feel super scared saying this out loud.

Read more from Bazaar’s 2022 Icons issue.

Perri Tomkiewicz is an award-winning multidisciplinary designer, art director, and illustrator. She believes in the power of art and design as a catalyst for individual, communal, and societal transformation. Her visual heroes include Paul Rand, Milton Glaser, Paolo Sorrentino, and Alice Neel. 

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