Miss Benny
Ben J. Pierce | |||||||
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Born | Dallas, Texas, U.S. | February 19, 1999||||||
Occupations |
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Years active | 2010–present | ||||||
Musical career | |||||||
Genres | Synth-pop[1] | ||||||
Instrument | Vocals | ||||||
YouTube information | |||||||
Channels | |||||||
Years active | 2011–present | ||||||
Genre(s) | Music, make-up | ||||||
Subscribers | 293 thousand (BENNY) 206 thousand (Ben J. Pierce) 29.2 thousand (MISS BENNY)[2] | ||||||
Total views | 31.26 million (BENNY) 3.45 million (Ben J. Pierce) 999.2 thousand (MISS BENNY)[2] | ||||||
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Last updated: June 27, 2020 |
Ben J. Pierce (born February 19, 1999), also known as Miss Benny, is an American singer, YouTuber and actor.
Early life
Ben J. Pierce was born in Dallas, Texas on February 19, 1999.[3][4][unreliable source] They lived as a closeted teenager before coming out. As Pierce began posting on YouTube, they found an outlet with other similar individuals in the online community. They befriended fellow YouTube artists Troye Sivan and Tyler Oakley.[1]
Career
Pierce began posting on YouTube using various channels when they were 11 years old in 2010 as a way to feel less isolated and lonely.[3] In 2012, they began posting under the YouTube channel, KidPOV. They began posting under their own name in 2016.[5] They frequently discuss gender and identity. Pierce has done makeup tutorials and collaborated with other media personalities including Tyler Oakley and James Charles.[6][7] Their YouTube channel also includes humorous skits.[8]
In 2014, Pierce released the song "Little Game". They wrote the lyrics and directed and produced the music video with assistance from Tumi Mphahlele. The song and video rebuff forcing children into traditional gender roles.[9]
In 2016, Pierce was cast as Smiley in season 2 of go90's Guidance.[8]
Pierce also produces music under the name Miss Benny. Pierce released the single "Boys Will Be Boys" in 2016. The song's music video was filmed and edited by YouTuber and filmmaker Chase vs Everything. Kalama Epstein is featured in the music video.[10][unreliable source?] The song is about toxic masculinity and heteronormativity.[8][10][unreliable source?] It features melodic tones, smooth vocals, and drum beats.[8] Nic Kelly of Project U had a positive review of the song, describing its style as somewhere between Odesza and Drumaq.[11][unreliable source]
In 2017, Pierce released the single "Never Apart". They directed the video which was shot by Chase vs Everything. The video earned praise from Project U which described it as having a "90s vibe."[12][unreliable source] Kelley of Project U describes the song as an dark R&B track similar to Leland and Tom Aspaul.[13]
In 2017, Pierce was managed by Lisa Filipelli of Flip Management.[14]
In 2018, Pierce appeared in the sitcom Fuller House as Casey, the shows first openly gay character.[15] They were cast in the series Reverie.[16] In 2019, they were cast as the lead for The CW pilot Glamorous playing Marco, an "ambitious and creative gender-nonconforming teenager who uses makeup and fashion to let his queer self bloom."[17]
Pierce is the voice of Angel in Craig of the Creek since season 4.
Artistry
Pierce names Bob Mizer as one of their aesthetic influences.[1] They strive to create music that is glittery synth-pop, bubbly, and "very gay and very queer." Pierce listens to pop musicians Charli XCX and Carly Rae Jepsen. They also listen to rap and hip hop.[1] Pierce often goes by the nickname Miss Benny to portray a masculine but still feminine image.[1]
Personal life
Pierce lives in Los Angeles, California As of June 2018[update]. Pierce identifies as gay, queer,[1] and non-binary. They have three older siblings who assist in aspects of video production including crafting props and design hair and makeup.[18]
Discography
Singles
- "Little Game" (2014)[9]
- "Boys Will Be Boys" (2016)[11][unreliable source]
- "Never Apart" (2017)[12][unreliable source]
- "Rendezvous" (2019)
- "Every Boy" (2019)
- "That's My Man" (2019)
- "One Damn Good Mistake" (2019)
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | BrainSurge | Himself | Television |
2016 | Guidance | Smiley[8] | Television |
2018 | Fuller House | Casey[15] | Television |
2021 | Love, Victor | Mylo | Television |
2021 | American Horror Stories | Dee | Television |
2022-present | Craig of the Creek | Angel (2nd voice) | Television |
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f Geiger, JJ (November 28, 2018). "Get Ready — Miss Benny Is Making Gay Glitter Pop Music About Kissing Boys". them. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ a b "About BENNY". YouTube.
- ^ a b Alexander, Julia (June 26, 2018). "Four YouTube stars on being young, lonely, then wildly successful". Polygon. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Ben J. Pierce Snapchat, Twitter, Tumbler, Wiki, Net Worth In 2019". Top Networth. January 8, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
- ^ Low, Celine (November 13, 2016). "YouTuber of the Week: Ben J. Pierce". CelebMix. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ Santiago, Sean (January 3, 2017). "Why You Should Follow Beauty YouTuber Ben J. Pierce". Teen Vogue. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ Votta, Rae (January 1, 2016). "9 underrated YouTube channels to watch in 2016". The Daily Dot. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Low, Celine (December 10, 2016). "Ben J. Pierce releases new single "Boys Will Be Boys"". CelebMix. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ a b Cueto, Emma (November 12, 2014). "15-Year-Old Ben J. Pierce's "Little Games" Music Video Takes on Gender Roles In an Epic Way". Bustle. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ a b "Pop Singer/Songwriter Benny Highlights the Toxicity Within Masculine Culture in New Single "Boys Will Be Boys"". Ouch That Hertz!. December 13, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ a b Kelley, Nic (December 10, 2016). "Benny's 'Boys Will Be Boys' is a carefully considered triumph". Project U. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ a b Jake, Nathan (June 16, 2017). "Benny's 'Never Apart' video is so cute". Project U. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ Kelley, Nic (June 2, 2017). "Benny's put out a plodding R&B song called 'Never Apart'". Project U. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (May 15, 2017). "Tyler Oakley and Ingrid Nilsen's Manager Lisa Filipelli Exits Awesomeness' Big Frame". Variety. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ a b Broverman, Neal (December 18, 2018). "A Gay 'Fuller House' Writer Dishes on the Show's Queer Characters". Advocate. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ Cooper, Mariah (February 28, 2019). "YouTuber Ben J. Pierce cast as gender non-conforming lead on CW series". Washington Blade. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 26, 2019). "The CW Pilot 'Glamorous' Finds Its Gender-Nonconforming Teen Lead In Ben J. Pierce, Casts Pierson Fodé, Adds EP". Deadline. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
- ^ Votta, Rae (November 12, 2014). "This 15-year-old created a hauntingly good music video about gender roles". The Daily Dot. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
External links
- Miss Benny at IMDb
- Living people
- 1999 births
- 21st-century American singers
- American male singer-songwriters
- LGBT people from Texas
- Musicians from Dallas
- LGBT YouTubers
- YouTubers from Texas
- Beauty and makeup YouTubers
- Music YouTubers
- American child singers
- Singer-songwriters from Texas
- American gay musicians
- Queer musicians
- American gay actors
- Queer actors
- 20th-century LGBT people
- 21st-century LGBT people
- YouTube channels launched in 2011