Nikkie de Jager, better known online as NikkieTutorials, is a Dutch makeup artist, beauty creator and television personality who built a huge international audience through her love of makeup.
Already famous online, Nikkie became an even more visible transgender public figure when she shared her identity with millions of followers in 2020.
Building a Career Through Makeup
Nikkie began creating makeup videos online when she was young and eventually turned her passion into an international career.
Her detailed transformations, tutorials and creative makeup looks attracted millions of followers. She went on to collaborate with celebrities and major names in the beauty industry.
Long before publicly discussing her transgender identity, Nikkie had already proven herself as a successful makeup artist and creator. The Guardian described her as a Dutch makeup artist with millions of followers and noted her work with celebrities.
Sharing Her Identity
In January 2020, Nikkie publicly announced that she is a transgender woman.
She explained that she had wanted to share her story on her own terms, but people had threatened to expose her. Instead of allowing someone else to control her story, she decided to tell it herself.
In her announcement, Nikkie spoke about wanting other people who felt insecure to see that they could live freely and authentically.
The announcement reached people around the world and added a new dimension to her already successful public career.
Making Eurovision History
Nikkie's career continued to grow after coming out.
In 2021, she joined Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley and Jan Smit as one of the hosts of the Eurovision Song Contestin Rotterdam.
The role made Nikkie the first openly transgender person to host Eurovision in the competition's history.
For a transgender woman who had built her career through online beauty videos, hosting one of Europe's largest televised entertainment events was another major achievement.
Visibility Beyond Beauty
Nikkie has shown that being openly transgender does not have to define every part of someone's career.
She remains known for makeup, creativity and entertainment while also becoming an internationally visible transgender woman.
She has used opportunities outside the beauty world to encourage greater understanding and acceptance. In 2020, she also participated in a United Nations General Assembly event focused on women's rights and challenging stereotypes.
Nikkie de Jager's story is ultimately about taking control of her own narrative.
She was a successful creator before the world knew she was transgender, and she continued succeeding after sharing that part of herself publicly.
Today, NikkieTutorials represents how talent, authenticity and visibility can exist together on a truly global stage.