12 burning questions for YouTube sensation Grace Helbig

Charming idiot at your service. This is how Grace Helbig describes herself to anyone who dares to click on her Twitter feed (1.2 million strong) and YouTube channel (3 million). She may be a lot of things: ballsy, brazen and, yes, oh so charming, but there is more to Grace than good highlights and a growing fanbase. In many ways, Helbig is a non-traditionalist when it comes to her fashion approach (she barely does department stores, thinks red carpets are ridiculous) but with all her antics, and rants combined, she never comes off as an idiot. The 30-year-old’s second book, Grace & Style: The Art of Pretending You Have It, is a testament to her intelligence. Filled with the kind of real talk tips one would get from a sensible best friend, Helbig is big on sharing her views on dressing in a way that mocks most style bibles and how-to books. In person, Helbig is also a delight and uses her skills as veteran improv comedienne to make magic out of any random question thrown at her. Here are 12 of her wittiest responses.

One of the inspirational quotes in your book—which clearly mocks inspirational quotes—is “Fashion is about having that depression within you that motivates you to spend $300 on gap.com” There seems to be a deep truth to that…

They call it retail therapy for a reason. The fact that you can shop online is wonderful and terrible. If I could count how many days I’ve been hungover and felt so awful that I decided to shop online and buy clothes—hoping the clothing would inspire me to lead a better life?

What has been the most insane online purchase you’ve ever made?

My purchases are pretty rational. My friend Mamrie [Hart] ended up buying an animatronic deer head that you can talk through in a microphone that she got on eBay one late night while she was drinking by herself.

In Grace & Style, you write “you can’t spell Icon without the word con”—which celebs or people of note are conning us the most?

Michelle Obama is a icon who is not fooling us. She has naturally good style and is a wonderful human being. I feel like Heather Dubrow—who is on The Real Housewives of Orange County—has a great style but her and her plastic surgeon husband, Terry, look overly sophisticated.

Your first commandment of online shopping is “Thou Shalt Worship Tabs”—what are your top three?

Topshop.com, hm.com, and jossandmain.com — The last one is a furniture and décor site and I recently bought a classy Ninja Turtle print from it.

You wrote about what you call the “7 Deadly Sins of Travel Style.” Which one do you commit the most?

I always over-pack. I had to sit on my luggage for 15 minutes just to zip it up. Most of the tips I write are for myself.

There is a shout out to Saved By The Bell in the book. Which character on the show do you most relate to?

Kelly Capowski…but I have a mix of Jessie Spano. There’s an intelligence in me that’s very Jessie but its usually masked by an overwhelming amount of flightiness—which is so Kelly.

What has been the most impactful comment you’ve ever received?

Whenever anyone says they can relate to a situation or that they understand me. If knowing about my anxieties helps them through the day, it makes me feel like I’m doing something right with my brain.

If your dressing anxiety had a soundtrack, what track would be on repeat?

The theme song to Benny Hill.

One of your YouTube videos on “Presidential Candidates,” explores the world of Donald Trump. What do you think he could get out of your book that would help him with his journey?

If Trump would just read my book and stop his presidential journey altogether and let the other people continue on theirs…everything in the world would be good.

One of your most watched YouTube episodes was your response to Nicole Arbour’s body fascist “Dear Fat People,” video. Why do you think so many are willing to do so much to leverage subscribers, likes, and attention?

It’s easy to create click bait. It’s easy to make salacious, offensive content. Creating videos like “Dear Fat People” don’t necessarily have the right message. She’s smart enough to know that. When people seem intelligent and rational and self-aware, it feels irresponsible when there is something that is created that ignore their rational senses. I think deep down that is something that Nicole knows.

Who do you think is the most stylish person alive?

Beyoncé. She’s effortlessly beautiful. After Beyoncé? It looks like Blue Ivy is getting up there.

Who are your favourite YouTubers?

Hank and John Green. The take intimidating thoughts and ideas that exist in the world and break it down for people in a more consumable, entertaining way. I love Lily Sing — her content is always creative and she’s always trying to outdo herself, which motivates me. I also love Miranda Sings. I watched her do live shows years ago and I was cry-laughing. She’s a great representative of the Internet community.

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