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Before TikTok, These Asian YouTubers were Running the 2010s
By Kelli Luu | 22 Jun, 2025
With viral skits and hilarious parodies, Lilly Singh, Ryan Higa, and Wassabi Productions were iconic names in YouTube’s golden age.
YouTube has always been the most popular online video sharing platform and back in the 2010s, Asian creators were dominating.
These three Asian YouTubers were a part of the golden era of YouTube.
Number 1: Lilly Singh
You may know her better as Superwoman. Singh was a groundbreaking force on YouTube with her comedic skits and relatable South Asian humor.
Whether it was her impersonating her parents or just breaking down every day moments we all share, Lilly Singh had the ability to make her viewers laugh and feel seen.
With over 14 million subscribers and more than 3 billion views on YouTube, Lilly secured herself a spot on Forbes’ Top 10 Highest Paid YouTubers list, as well as a People’s Choice Award, a Teen Choice Award, and a Streamy Award.
Beyond being Superwoman on YouTube, she became the first person of Indian and South Asian descent to host a light night talk show in the United States and is now a full-blown mogul filling her time with acting, writing, and running her own production company, Unicorn Island.
Number 2: Ryan Higa
One of the first Asian creators on YouTube who was able to take the platform to a whole new level. In 2006, Ryan began uploading hilarious comedy skits from his home in Hilo, Hawaii not knowing how viral they would get.
Videos like “How to Be Ninja” and "Nice Guys” were bringing in millions of views during a time where Asian Americans were nearly invisible in pop culture.
For 677 consecutive days, Ryan was the #1 most subscribed YouTuber in the world. Today he has over 21 million subscribers and more than 4.4 billion views, which accounts for the loyalty of an entire generation.
He is still collaborating with big creators on his podcast Off the Pill, but has stepped away from his regular uploads to pursue other passion projects and prioritize his mental health.
Number 3: Wassabi Productions
When the world was living for sketch comedy on YouTube, Roi Fabito and Alex Burriss had everyone waiting for their next upload.
The duo blew up because of their parody videos that were fun, chaotic, and purely entertaining. Their parody of Carly Rae Jepson’s “Call Me Maybe” currently has 148 million views and was one of the most viral videos of 2012, leaving the channel with more than 11 million subscribers.
Wassabi Productions underwent some changes in 2016 as Roi left the duo to focus on his own YouTube channel, Guava Juice, which currently has over 16 million subscribers.
While the two are still close friends, they both are separately showing the world their authentic selves and proving that Asian creators have played a huge role in making YouTube feel fun and carefree.
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