The YouTube Golden Age was a time when the platform had some of its most iconic creators. SMOSH, Ryan Higa, AmazingPhil — they were just our perfect escapism route. Among the many big names popular at the time was Eugenia Cooney, who stood out for her highly popular emo-girl look.
Though she only joined the platform in 2011 (yes, it’s been over 10 years; let that sink in), Cooney quickly gathered over 2 million subscribers for various reasons. She often collaborated with popular YouTubers, but she was also known for her individual content depicting her life and fashion style. Most notably, though, she became known for her deteriorating health, especially after joining TikTok and her videos going viral for all the wrong reasons. So, here’s what happened.
Who is Eugenia Cooney?
You have likely come across Cooney at some point in your life. Since 2011, she has been a content creator and influencer on YouTube, and most recently, on TikTok. Cooney garnered a large following due to her fashion sense, unique style, and her sweet personality. Unfortunately, all of that was overshadowed by her daunting and increasingly obvious eating disorder.
In 2019, the YouTuber’s content became scarce, leading many fans to believe she had passed away. However, she later revealed that she had taken a hiatus to focus on her health with the help of a doctor. At the request of one of her friends, she was placed under a 5150 hold and entered a month-long treatment program for her anorexia.
Later that same year, her popularity surged once again when controversial YouTuber Shane Dawson produced a Youtube series titled The Return of Eugenia Cooney. In this video, the duo delved into her YouTube journey, her struggles with eating disorders, and, of course, her return to the platform. The video has amassed over 33 million views over the years, as more and more people became acquainted with her severe condition.
What happened to Eugenia Cooney?
The major catalyst for her career was arguably the creation of her TikTok account, where many of her videos went viral, largely owing to her distinctive appearance. More specifically, her Barbie cosplay featured Cooney in a pink outfit and blonde wig, unexpectedly bringing her ongoing battle with anorexia into sharp focus. The video has garnered over 16.5 million views.
An increasing number of people expressed concerns about her emaciated figure after her relapse – especially given the large audience of young viewers consuming her content. Suddenly, new petitions were being created to remove her content from the platform, after teenagers were using Cooney’s images in the “pro-ana,” (or promotion of anorexia) community, for ‘thinspiration.’
Over the years, Cooney’s content was always a subject of discussion. The audience often argued that her content should be removed or age-restricted resulting in what many believed to be a glamorization of food restriction and gaunt figure.
Fans are understandably concerned as the TikToker continues to prioritize her viral videos over her health, going as far as to point out that her recovery journey would amass more views than her current content in hopes it would change her mind. Only time will tell if Cooney will eventually win her battle.